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Review: Syd Arthur - On An On [Album]

Dawn Chorus | 'A good one for the barbecue’s and garden parties, but it could’ve been so much more'

by Alex Taylor, June 5th, 2012 and has been Read 946 times.
Last Edited by: Alex Taylor June 6th, 2012.

The first thing that hits you about Canterbury band Syd Arthur, is how comfortably recognisable they are. Although the quartet describe themselves as producing ‘psychedelic funk rock’, it requires a big stretch of the imagination to find any basis for the implied edgy, bohemian sound. Instead, debut On An On features Liam Magill (guitar, vocals), Raven Bush (violin), Fred Rother (drums), and Joel Magill (bass), using a cacophony of different instruments, to create an overall package that resembles the love child of David Gray and Jamie Cullum more than Jimi Hendrix or Talking Heads.

This is not necessarily bad, there’s a large audience for soulful 30 something rock; most of Radio 2 in fact. Add summer into the mix, and the melodic, orchestral sounds work well; Bush’s violin kicking off ‘First Difference’ and flowing through the rest of the album.



‘Where are you going’ asks Magill, ‘what is your name’? Questions, questions. These become even broader on next track, ‘Edge Of The Earth’: ‘where does it end\how’d you know?’ delivered in quavering, harmonious fashion. The voice is the epitome of soft rock, particularly reminiscent of Morning Runner’s lead singer, Matthew Greener. Unfortunately the vocals are never left to flourish fully, much like the different sides of the album, so we’re also left to question just how far could this band could go if they let loose and took a few more magic mushrooms during the recording sessions.

‘Edge Of The Earth’ symbolises the apparent lack of confidence. Building grandiosely, it promises much before losing nerve and sliding into a middling, tepid guitar section, at the exact moment Magill should be knocking everything for six. ‘Ode To The Summer', whilst lyrically clear, suffers from the same frustrating faults.

These shortcomings are even more infuriating considering the second half of the album sheds light on what could have been. ‘Truth Seeker’ and ‘Moving World’ are both rewardingly spicy, making better use of the guitar; the latter offering a raspy blues sound. However, it is closer ‘Pardaise Lost’ which is the most pleasant surprise, introducing a true transcendent psychedelic sound, 8 minutes long. Sadly, this flash of intriguing character is not given a chance to breathe, thereby summing up the biggest problem with the record.

Genres can be bent together, just ask Radiohead and present day funk/folk Bombay Bicycle Club, but not if the sounds are competing against each other. A good one for the barbecue’s and garden parties, yet it could’ve been so much more.

Keep working boys, there's potential - so long as the musical daring matches the hair!

On An On is released July 2nd

Worth listening to:

• 'Moving World'
• 'Truth Seeker'
• 'Pardaise Lost'