UK label Fruits de Mer Records started out back in 2008, with a clear concept in mind and learning the skills of marketing along the way. From the initial phase of being more or less ignored, in the span of a few years they have established themselves as a strong name in their specific field of the music business. The compilation “Plankton” features a selection of material released in the first two years of the label’s existence, initially made as a cover CD for Record Collector Magazine in 2013 and then in late 2016 also made available to buy as a regular CD from the label itself.

As usual the quality of the material is good to excellent, and for those with an interest or passion for vintage style psychedelic rock it’ll be quite the pleasant experience indeed. From a psyched up take on George Martin’s classic Theme One to a cover of Brian Eno’s Baby’s on Fire there’s great variety in the source material covered, ranging from pastoral excursions and 60’s psychedelic pop/rock to vintage space rock and krautrock. Tracks originally from Pink Floyd and Amon Duul II representing the latter, while Tudor Lodge and Strawberry Alarm Clock are examples of the former. As they are presented in these cover versions at least: I haven’t checked with the originals to hear just how much these reinterpretations are different from the originals.

In my view there’s one cut here that stands a head and a shoulder above the rest though, namely Vibravoid’s take on Pink Floyd’s classic Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun. A firmly retro-oriented take on this track, with a plethora of odd and eerie sounds, but with a firmer and more concise delivery that adds a tension and hardness to this track that manage to elevate the sheer cosmic nature of the song and a highly appealing manner.

If you have an interest in psychedelic rock, be it progressive or not, this is a fine collection of material of classic tracks and forgotten jewels from yesteryear as explored and performed by contemporary artists. Those with an interest for material of this kind should not be disappointed by the material presented here.

My rating: 80/100

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Track list:
Theme One; Stay: Rainy Day, Mushroom Pillow; Eye Shaking King; Day Is Done; Dreaming With Alice; Home To Stay; Red Chair, Fade Away; Silver Birch; Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun; Baby’s On Fire; Midnight to Six Man