Fuchsia

Originally released in 1971, the FUCHSIA album is one of the best examples of British progressive & psychedelic folk-rock, full on inventive arrangements and songwriting.
Produced by David Hitchcock (Caravan, Mellow Candle…)
Fuchsia was formed by a group of Exeter University students. They were Tony Durant (previously of psych band Louise) on acoustic/electric guitars and vocals; Michael Day on bass and Michael Gregory on drums plus the three-piece classical ensemble of Vanessa Hall-Smith (violin, backing vocals); Janet Rogers (violin, backing vocals) and Madeleine Bland (cello, piano, harmonium, backing vocals). Signed to Pegasus Records (the “progressive” branch of B&C Records), Fuchsia recorded their self-titled album at Sound Techniques studio with producer David Hitchcock (Caravan, Mellow Candle, Genesis, Camel…) The main inspiration for the album was Tony Durant’s readings of Marvyn Peakes gothic novels such a Titus Groan and its fictional character Lady Fuchsia Groan.
Like some of their contemporaries (Comus, Mellow Candle…) Fuchsia only started gaining recognition in the following decades, thanks to fans of obscure psychedelic folk.