Fairfield Parlour
From Home to Home

The Fairfield Parlour emerged at the end of the 60s, although in reality the group was already known (not too much, to be honest) as Kaleidoscope. The latter, in fact, after releasing two very well-crafted but not very successful Psychedelic Rock albums, decided to change their name and vary their musical offering, trying to update themselves according to the emerging trends of the period (from progressive to folk) without losing their identity more tied to the late Sixties. Preceded by a couple of singles, in 1970 "From Home To Home" was released, the first and last album of Fairfield Parlour.

The style, very original, blends with great taste and sophistication folk elements, psychedelic roots (inherited from the Pink Floyd and the Kaleidoscope period), brit pop, some very vague hints of the Beatles, and even progressive touches. In general, the album is delicate and romantic, dominated by acoustic guitars and sweet brass, while the voice glides softly often accompanied by light choruses. The acoustic sound and the structure of the tracks, all quite short (never over 5 minutes), highlight the intention not to fully bend to the trends of the time, but to pursue a less aggressive music, more melancholic and aesthetically linked to the British pop-folk traditions. However, one should not judge "From Home To Home" as a purely pop record, especially if we consider the commitment of the lyrics and the absence of "saccharine" material.

The opening track "Aries" immediately frames the entire LP: it starts quietly with a tinkle, continuing with voice and guitar in a climax that leads to the chorus where strings and drums intervene. Numerous are the melodic and melancholic ballads like the excellent "By Your Bedside", "Soldier Of the Flesh", and above all "Emily". "In My Box", "Sunny Side Circus" and "Free" embody the more rock soul of the project. The work closes with "Drummer Boy of Shiloh", a track that condenses a gentle lyricism with a march worthy of McCartney & Co. The CD version includes numerous Bonus Tracks (including released singles) that undoubtedly enrich the album.

I highly recommend listening to "From Home To Home", because the album is well performed, contains interesting ideas without any stylistic slips, and conveys a very British sense of melancholic contemplation of autumn, without excess sadness.