Spirogyra – Indefinable Realms

Spirogyra born in Bolton Lancashire 1968 approached ‘Apple Records’ with a demo. This incredible psychedelic folk group were headed by vox songsmith Martin Cockerham, the first seed known as T’Bolton Beatalls comprising Mark Francis & Neil Duckworth. The groups official debut kicked off at Keynes College with eighteen musicians which later downsized to four members. The Northern accented Barbara Gaskin would add that luster of the indefinable North, ironically later ending up with Egg and it’s older brother Hatfield & The North. Future Square Dancing Machine Julian Cusack plays the haunting violin that has been become the characteristic of the group. With intuitive bass by future Mellow Candle Steve Borrill they went on to record three albums which often featured Fairport’s Dave Mattacks on drums. Slowly the members faded with a new enlistment of Jon Gifford sax & flute, Rick Biddulph bass and Barbara keyboards.

Not quite Canterbury this infectious group massaged almost childlike in their sing- along chants, like reborn Christian praises they sang from the heart and soul -“Mackerels And Fishes” and “Bring Me Back”. Cusack’s violin is really speedy on “She’s The One” while Borrill bends his bass backwards on the childlike “Bring Me Back”. Cusak could really achieve that haunting mystique as in the eerie “Counting The Cars” and sadly “Forest Of Dean”, a number they always closed with on live sets. Barbara reaches into heavenly ascent on “Where There’s a Will There’s a Way” with a tone delivered straight out of the middle earth sanctuary. The groups debut St Radigund launched in 1970 was a finely fused work of folk rock illuminated by the eerie “Captain’s Log” and the opus arrangement called “The Duke Of Beaufoot”. Spirogyra would then evolve into the 1971 Old Boot Wine, courtesy of drummer Mattacks & Bill Bruford original guitarist Mark Francis, Alan Laing cello and Rick  Biddulphs mandolin. Magic wold continue it’s spell through “Van Allen’s Belt” (“Diamond Dave”’s sexual exploits), the angelic “Canterbury Tale” (their home town) and psychedelic “Disraeli’s Problem” that has Francis playing his guitar like Gandalph’s wand.

The groups last and finest endeavor Bells Boots and Shambles comprised flautist Stan Sulzman, cellist John Boyce & Keef Hartley trumpeter Henry Lowther. The group also launched “I Hear You Going Somewhere” (Joe Really), not included on Bells Boots , yet “Burning Bridges”, recorded as a duet between Barbara & Martin was magic majestic. Bells Boots and Shambles enchants with Lowther‘s trumpet theme fused with strident flute on “The Furthest Point”. All roads lead to the Gaskin’s soul severing “In The Western World” that encapsulates fused medieval patterns and rocky folk elements. Although joyful moments jump forth as in the flute whiffling “Spiggly” the albums holds an intensity close to medieval sorcery. The haunting “An Everyday Consumption Song” is their opus with its transcending tempo and harmony changes, yet the technical 13min epic “Western World” is really where they were at.

Added: December 22nd 2010
Reviewer: Shiloh Noone | See all reviews by Shiloh Noone
Category: Music
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Related Link: Seekers Guide To The Rhythm Of Yesteryear