Syd Arthur - On and On

City Boys

The band Syd Arthur hail from Canterbury which is a godsend for reviewers referencing their progressive and psychedelic rock sounds, the former of those musical tags most closely associated with that city. I understand, hear and now use the generic touchstone as well, but its folk roots are as evident, as are the jazz grooves, for example those of fourth track Dorothy which is a smooth ballad shifting away from the speedy and at times complex rhythms that precede and immediately follow this track, fifth Truth Seeker returning to jagged edges and a fuzzed then plucked violin. Both the folk and 60s/70s rock echoes waft from the violin of Raven Bush, and it is a distinct feature perhaps reminiscent of East of Eden.

What separates the band from its Canterbury musical precursors is the pop awareness of melody as well as actual length of songs, averaging 3 minutes, with the longest being final number Paradise Lost at 8.22. This track uses that time to present the band’s more psychedelic edge and apt musicianship, though again this isn’t sustained across indulgent jams and I’d actually like to hear some of that musical self-obsession. I don’t, however, feel the comparisons with bands like Caravan and Soft Machine are that useful or fair, the former much more memorable in their melodic expansiveness [this is to do with length of songs] and lyrical playfulness, and the latter having a jazz expertise and innovation Syd Arthur aren’t actually attempting to emulate. The gentle vocal of Liam McGill is a grower and Syd Arthur is overall a fine band in its own right.