Flower Days

The recording location is no mere backdrop; the historic estate with its Victorian walled garden and surrounding woodlands served as a silent collaborator. Under Douglas Whates's guidance as both producer and arranger, these songs bloom in the liminal space between tradition and experimentation, each one approaching floriography—the language of flowers—from different perspectives and story songs.

Samantha brings her versatile, understatedly forceful delivery (the same that once moved Dolly Parton to declare "I love her voice") alongside her distinctive, self-taught finger-picking style. M G, the "weapon's grade songwriter" (R2 magazine) known for his keen observations of ordinary life and coastal communities, contributes his equally persuasive yet gentle voice and accomplished guitar work. Though individual sensibilities shine through in certain pieces—Whates's touch evident in Daffodils, Boulter's voice unmistakable in Lily-Rose—the album represents a truly democratic partnership where authorship often blurs into shared vision.

These songs examine how different blooms have carried human stories across centuries—from devotion to grief, celebration to remembrance. The album captures that particular quality of winter light when the garden appears dormant but beneath the soil, preparations for spring are already underway.

For those acquainted with either artist's substantial body of work—from Boulter's psychogeographical excavations of seaside towns Clifftown (Hudson Records) to Whates's location-specific Waiting Rooms (Wonderfulsound)—Flower Days represents a natural evolution of their artistic concerns. The collection approaches its subject with both playful curiosity and emotional intelligence, allowing listeners to discover their own connections within its carefully tended soundscapes.