Spirogyra - Bells, Boots And Shambles [1973]
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Artist: Spirogyra
Album: Bells, Boots And Shambles
Released: 1973
Repertoire (.)
Genre: folk-prog
Although this group is hailing from Canterbury, they are not to be classified as such. Those musicians developed one of the better examples of prog-folk or folk-prog. The original line-up consisted of main writer Martin Cockerham as singer and guitarist, the beautiful and well known to progheads Barbara Gaskin on vocals, Steve Borrill on bass and Julian Cusack on violin. Although Dave Mattacks (of FAIRPORT CONVENTION fame) played drums on all three SPIROGYRA albums, he was never a member but a guest.
Their first album, "St-Radiguns" was quite successful and very adventurous and can compared to COMUS's First Utterances. Very moody, politically conscious songs full of great interplay (much like THE TREES) and with a great duo of voices of COMUS or JEFFERSON AIRPLANE manner are the main assets of the highly recommended album. The follow-up "Old Boot Wine" however did not manage to succeed quite as well and Cusack appear only as a guest but they had a keyboardist instead. By the time of the third album "Bells, Boots and Shambles", the band was down to just Cockerham and Gaskin with both ex-member Cusack and Borrill appearing as guest. This album was quite a return to form and there are some real epics full of cello for great melancholy moments. Sadly, this proved to be their last album. Barbara will go on with local bands as HATFIELD AND THE NORTH as one of the Northettes, than work with NATIONAL HEALTH and in the 80's work with Bill Bruford and
Dave Stewart.
Highly recommended and much more so than some other folk band (FOREST, HORSLIPS) especially regarding the prog contents.
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I found it for 3 $ in a Lugansk bargain store. No, wait: in THE Lugansk bargain store; the owner knows me well since those times when I got GANDALF and STUD almost for a song here. So he said he has something unique for me. I believed and bought some CDs he proposed.
Have you ever got that feeling that all albums you enjoy were written in 70s? There are major exceptions, but only prove the rule! I mean, every third obscured Prog album from 70s is a guaranteed Masterpiece! This time it is SPIROGYRA’s latest release for me.
Good Lord. This is simply one of the most touching records I ever chanced to experience. Emotions, beautiful melodies, eerie atmosphere, no crappy (as Hugues noticed) traditional songs covers, wonderful female (Barbara Gaskin will later sing in Canterburish projects like NATIONAL HEALTH) and male vocals, excellent songwriting skills…That bridge in opening 3-parts epic “The Furthest Point” on 3:27 makes me cry!!! “In the Western World”, band’s swan song and their multi-layered magnum opus evokes best RENAISSANCE moments, but it’s derived from their pathos and pompous approach, filled instead with more soul and emotions. Another good comparison is COMUS – just check sad “Old Boot Wine” or biting “An Everyday Consumption Song”. Some songs like “Parallel Lines…” and “Sergeant Says” recall BEATLES melodic genius, but SPIROGYRA is absolutely original all way thru. Shame they didn’t survived, and double shame they’re so damn overlooked!!! I’d give away 20 other reviews of mine for this album just to make it less obscure! Check it; otherwise you’ll definitely regret you didn’t!
http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=135729
Track List:
1. The Furthest Point (8:16)
2. Old Boot Wine (4:18)
3. Parallel Lines Never Separate (5:05)
4. Spiggly (1:12)
5. An Everyday Consumption Song (4:29)
6. The Sergant Says (3:43)
7. In the Western World (12:59)
Part 1: In the Western World
Part 2: Jungle Lore
Part 3: Coming Back
Part 4: Western World Reprise)
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