Daidrum – All at Sea | Progressive Rock Central.com

Daidrum, is a London, UK-based band, who have released their second album, All at Sea, on April 10th of this year, independently.

The Daidrum, music project is the creation of progressive rock musician David Foster. The album features elements of prog, pop, folk, and rock, and draws on Foster’s diverse musical background. The central theme explores the challenges and losses of life, as reflected in the album’s title.

David Foster took on the name Daidrum, from a nickname he had as a drummer in the 1980s. He has played in a wide range of bands from death metal to funk. He began his solo recording project in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. He has released two singles: “Merry Go Round” (September 2023), and “Lonely Planet” (November 2024). His new album was delayed by the personal tragedy and influence, of the loss of his oldest daughter, Hannah, who passed away in February 2024. While all the songs for All at Sea were written before this event, Foster used the album’s production process as a form of therapy during this difficult time. Hannah sings with Fred throughout the album. David Foster’s debut album, The Wild Winds Coldy Blow, was released in 2021. Foster states, “I feel I’ve developed hugely as a songwriter, musician and producer over the last 4 years.” The album has been well-received by critics, who have praised its emotional depth and honest songwriting.

Foster recorded the album at his home studio using software instruments, guitar, and his own vocals. The production includes both analog and digital elements, creating a textured and meticulously layered sound. The lyrics tackle subjects such as family roots, the challenges of parenthood, and grappling with loss. The overall message is that people often feel “all at sea” during different phases of their lives. Foster says, “Music has proved to be a therapy for me, and the processes involved in arranging, mixing, and producing these songs has been one of the few things that have kept me going through some really bleak times. Above all I want to write good songs, songs that tell stories and music that is beautiful, accessible, and thought provoking” says Foster. Hannah Foster, David’s daughter, who passed, sings with him throughout the album. The album also features musical contributions from respected fiddle player and violin channel founder Chris Haigh, former TTF singer Layla Armini, and Foster’s daughter Hannah who sings backing vocals and plays flute. Mastering completed at LANDr. Artwork: Anna Marie Souti.

“Trafalgar Blues,” is a sad song. It opens with rolling ocean surf, and what sounds like boat horns, and brass horns. Then, violin and David Foster playing guitar, as he sings, “Now my dreams are dark and my days are long. All my friend are gone, but you need to hear my tale. A steady breeze, a bloody dawn. The sails high, on our decks they shone. On such a day are our heroes born. Our enemies they lay ahead. From Spain and France, every ship of the line. Our hearts they raced. As we approached the Spanish canon roared. Aboard the Belleisle. We were second in the line. We had ample time to pray that day. But hours left to live. I was scarce 16, just a boy from some Cornish town. How I survived there. God only knows. As we punched a hole right through their line.” There is a very Rod Stewart’ Every Picture Tells a Story feel to the sound of this song; filled with the history of UK sea battles. The duet of Fred and Hannah, gives the sound an emotional lift. A story of battles of old in the wars that preceded us. David Foster’s voice has a rougher Roger Waters’ sound to it. Which is meant as a full complement. The sounds of violin and the rolling surf, complete the song.

“There for You,” opens with cool synths and electric guitar. Followed up, by acoustic guitar, and David Foster singing, “Watching you grow. Watching you learn. Hearing how you see your future. Watching as the wheel turns. It is shocking as you realize the truth. Hearing the wind blow, feeling the grass grow. There beyond the bounds where the truth lies. And the hurt flies. Carrying the weight of expectation and adolescence. Near the sun in highest fields, at the corner of my street. Moving through the silent crowd. Their eyes upon you, but I am there with you. I’ll try to see you through. Staring out the window.” Another sad song, seemingly about the loss of his daughter. Fred sounds even more like Roger Waters on this song. The electric guitar soloing and playing is fantastic throughout the song.

“Run,” opens with choirs of vocal incantations, along with strings, and soft acoustic guitar. Then, electric guitar enters the soundscape. David sings, “Such a gentle soul, such a wonderful sight. Running like the wind. Such a terrible fate. Such a priceless end. Caught in the troubles of men. You beautiful bay. What a sad day. 40 long years since your peerless prime. Winning every time. Such a senseless time, such a national crime. A truly incompetent gang. You beautiful bay. Run boy run, you’re gonna rule the nation. Run boy Run, you’re gonna fool the nation.” A sad song, set to an upbeat melody. There seems to be a statement on horse racing, or politics, in the song. Later, flutes and a soundscape of wonderful strings fills the air. It sounds like something out of the 1960s at times. Or one of your favorite Canterbury prog songs.

“Merry Go Round,” opens with soft acoustic guitar, keyboards, and flutes, with David and Hannah singing, “Merry go round. Once I had a dream and the dream became real. Once I had a girl and the girl she knew. Always to be the one for me. You were lovely. Love lost, love found. Merry go round. Once I lost a love and my heat was blue. Once I was on fire and the flames they grew. Once I came so close to losing you. Always to be the one for me. You were lovely. Love lost, love found. Merry go round.” Another tough song that sounds like a memory of Hannah. This song also has a real Canterbury/1960s feel to it.

“Lonely Planet,” opens with Fred singing, along with acoustic guitars, Hannah’s voice, and keyboards, “How you feeling now? Is it too late to make a change? How you doing my friend? It’ll be alright in the end. Is it too late to make a change? It is a lonely planet. Full of wonderful things. Of dreams and sweet machinations. Of hovels, despots and kings. Praise the Sun salutation. Reach the stars in the sky. Write your name into history. But don’t you stop to say why. Come and dig in the Earth. Or come and drink in the sky. Don’t you sink in the sand. And take a slice of the pie. It’ll be alright in the end. It’ll be alright.” The Hammond-like keyboards and strings which come later are wonderful. A fun, upbeat melody, along with Fred’s “La, la, La’s” adding levity, despite the tragic feeling in the lyrics.

“Breathe,” opens with wonderful acoustic guitars. David sings, “Within my arms. You feel so right. Your eyes shut tight. Sleep now child. All my life till now like scattered showers. My heart is bound. With the tightest of chains. To your dreams and your future. Shine, shine a light in my soul. Unconditionally yours. Till I draw my last breath. Borne, from the womb to the ward. Come from hospital now I will make you a home.” The guitar playing on this one, at times, reminds me of Martin Barre. Just then the flutes, strings, and highlight keyboards fill the soundscape.

“Salt Requiem,” opens with sitting bass long bows and deep chords, along with mixed violin. Then, strings and the full soundscape of guitars, bass, drums, and keyboards fills the air. David sings, “Sing this song. Come my boys now sing your hearts out. Westward bound, sailing on the salt and briny. Turn the screw. Rolling port now rolling starboard. Crack the ice. Pitching forward pitching sternward. Sing with me your sons and daughters. Raise your hearts and hands. We’ll live forever. You’re my sons of bitches, cussed and drowned in oily britches. Northern skies, the salt it stings my eyes. Convoys run the U boats hunting ground.” This sounds like a requiem to all the sailors who have fought in wars to defend their “Green and Pleasant Land.”

“Neither Street,” is a song that discusses the economic plight and the stratification of the financial classes of people in the UK…and maybe beyond. David sings, “On Nether Street, we live our lives. Revolution, evolution, ecology. Living and dying, babies crying. Here on Nether Street. I cross the bridge and take the train (trains into London Town). All life is here on Nether Street. I pass the Chinese takeaway (been there so many years). Children and dreamers in Nether Street. All life is here On Nether Street. We dance in the shadows. The lovers and widows. Bankers and builders. Thrown here together.” Although we all live together, in the same place; I think this song asks, “Do we all live fair and equitably?”

“Song of Time,” is the epic closing, and longest song on the album, at over 10 minutes. It opens to soft piano and long electric guitar chords. This opening is followed by drums and synthesizers. David sings, with his daughter Hannah Foster accompanying him, “I sing a song of time. Like desert sand blown by the wind. I write your name with mine. Millennia have passed us by. Your name still stands. High priestess in forgotten times. I sing to you of time. We’re born together. Tenants of this rhyme. We’re crumbling in the sun. In the seconds of our lives. This miracle of ours. I sing a song of death. Cosseted and slave bound, roasting in the sun. I sing the song of slaves. Of good and evil born together in one heart. Not free nor loved. Sacred enchantress, captured in the stones. I sing to you of time. We’re born together. Draw a line in the sand. Cos I’ve got to understand. Stop the hour hand. You feel so close at hand. And I don’t understand, Here in this mystery land. Flailing in the darkness, hopelessly lost. Waiting for your time to come around again. To be with me again. Sitting on your cloud, with these, feelings all around. What will it take to make you realize the truth. Theres nothing else to lose. Blue flowers blossom as the lilies grow. The scent of ancient perfume lingers on your skin. Of life and fate. You no longer speak. Beneath this cool half-light the people meet. I sing to you of time. We’re born together. Tenants of this rhyme. We’re crumbling in the sun. In the seconds of our lives. This miracle of ours. Miracle of chance, this miracle of life. We’re born together.” A powerful and epic song, sung with his daughter examining life and its wonder of chance, with a wish for all of us to make the most of it, instead of fighting each other, all the time.

Daidrum’s All at Sea, is a wonderful glimpse at life, and how we overcome or deal with the tragic death of a loved one. Anyone experiencing these events should listen to this album for answers and ideas on how to cope. David sang on this album, “Now my dreams are dark and my days are long. All my friend are gone, but you need to hear my tale.” And yes, we all do. Fred is a songwriter determined, “Above all. I want to write good songs, songs that tell stories and music that is beautiful, accessible, and thought provoking” And yes, Daidrum’s All at Sea, is all of that. This is a deep look into how we face adversity and live through it; and then share our experience with others, so that they may learn and grow. I absolutely recommend this album. It deserves your time and grace.