Post Description

Studio Album, released in 1971, United Kingdom.

Debuut album van deze Engelse Prog Folk formatie.

Not to be confused with the flower (fuschia), this group took its name from Mervin Peake's book Titus Groan (just like the proto-prog group of the same name, Steerpike and Gormenghast) and was the project of Tony Durant. Having dabbled in the music business since 66 (he started with Henry Cow's Chris Cutler in a band called Louise), but leaving it for a University spell, he started writing again eventually forming a trio with drummer Gregory and bassist Day. But Durant was interested in using and integrating string instrument in another fashion than using them as a string section for embellishment, so they joined forces with a truio of classical music student babes (what a coincidence, them being a trio too ;-). The project was contemporary of the start of ELO and Jan Dukes De Grey. The music developed then very charmingly as a folkish trio with extended strings arrangements integrated fully in their music.

Dark, but optimistic atmosphere of these songs surrounds this record wholy. The kind of folk I love, enhanced by something more, providing much needed free mood, air of choice and good will. There are orchestral (like, private orchestra consisting of violin) arrangements, but the problem is that they're quite muted, as other instruments are more prominent (guitar). Vocals are fine, sounds quite new (reminding me vocalist of Art Brut group, which as fact is strange). Backing vocals aren't that pleasant, but they're sparse. For folk group of this time (no psychedelic influences to be heard here), compositions are quite long and gives a lot of space to develop the song, to the good of this album as whole.
I also like this lazy English feeling I have from this album.
Nice prog folk, full of usual stuff and something more, but together working extremely good. 



Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Gone With The Mouse (4:59)
2. A Tiny Book (8:03)
3. Another Nail (6:57)
4. Shoes And Ships (6:14)
5. The Nothing Song (8:23)
6. Me And My Kite (2:34)
7. Just Anyone (3:33)

Total Time: 41:43

Line-up / Musicians

- Tony Durant / acoustic & electric guitars, vocals
- Michael Day / bass
- Michael Gregory / drums, percussion
- Janet Rogers / violin, backing vocals
- Madeleine Bland / cello, piano, harmonium, backing vocals
- Vanessa Hall-Smith / violin, backing vocals