Search - Spirogyra :: St Radiguns

GOTHIC.MEDIEVAL.ACID.FOLK

seashellz@wa.freei.net | Bill Gatesª backyard | 12/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First off, make certain you get the SECOND edition of this CD. It was REMASTERED at singer Barbara Gaskins insistance-the first pressing used rotted tapes for reasons unfathomable. This being their first album, came out on the PEGASUS label in 1971. It has a dark raw country-folk sound. It is well recorded. Some of the standouts are songs with historical and seafaring contexts: The future wont be long; Islands, Duke of Bueafoot. This was perhaps the bestselling of the SPIROGYRA albums.SPIROGYRA was started in the UK by Martin Cockerham, later joined by the lovely voice of Barbara Gaskin, with able assistance from regulars Julian Cusak, and Steve Borril. Guests usually included, among others, Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, on drums. This music has a lyrical, compositional quality, overall. It would have to be considered 'acid folk rock', not too wierd, but with touches of middle eastern, classical, and medieval influence. The music can be jarring or dreamy, acidly bitter, or gently evocative of green fields and forests, the ocean, and of the magick of days gone by.....or perhaps pointed comments on love, or the social order... The lyrics are written with wit, sarcasm, intelligence and a sense of wonder by Martin Cockerham, who sings also. Ms. Gaskins instrument is her voice, which is the sound of velvet, flowing and...feminine. Adding to that the string pyrotechnics of Cusack-who can play both very avant-garde, as well as down home fiddlin in style, weaving in, above and amongst the songs. Add to that the very busy, fluid, yet always just in the right places bass guitar of Borrill, and you have a group that will give you a taste of the sixties that you never knew existed. I cant recommend this group highly enough, if you like Folk Rock with a sense of pizzaz, history, romance, wit and irony..."

FOLK ROCK = MASTERPIECE OF MASTERPIECES

mehmet capan | istanbul Turkey | 06/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"FANTASTIC COMPOSITION. AMONG 1000 SELECTED ROCK CD'S OF MINE IT IS IN FIRST 15 . CONCEPT ALBUM, VERY IMPORTANT FOR EVERY ARCHIVES ALSO RECOMMANDED:OLD BOOT WINE"

Remaster of a masterwork

Mark C. | Seattle, WA United States | 12/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First off, this review is for the Oct 2007 edition-it has been remastered after 17 years and sounds stunning.

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This being their first album, came out on the UK PEGASUS/B&C label in 1971. It has a dark raw country-folk sound. It is well recorded. Some of the standouts are songs with historical and seafaring contexts: The future wont be long; Islands, Duke of Bueafoot. This was perhaps the bestselling of the SPIROGYRA albums.

SPIROGYRA was started in the UK by Martin Cockerham, later joined by the lovely voice of Barbara Gaskin, with able assistance from regulars Julian Cusak, and Steve Borril. Guests usually included, among others, Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, on drums. This music has a lyrical, compositional quality, overall. It would have to be considered 'acid folk rock', not too wierd, but with touches of middle eastern, classical, and medieval influence. The music can be jarring or dreamy, acidly bitter, or gently evocative of green fields and forests, the ocean, and of the magick of days gone by.....or perhaps pointed comments on love, or the social order... The lyrics are written with wit, sarcasm, intelligence and a sense of wonder by Martin Cockerham, who sings also. Ms. Gaskins instrument is her voice, which is the sound of velvet, flowing and...feminine. Adding to that the string pyrotechnics of Cusack-who can play both very avant-garde, as well as down home fiddlin in style, weaving in, above and amongst the songs. Add to that the very busy, fluid, yet always just in the right places bass guitar of Borrill, and you have a group that will give you a taste of the sixties that you never knew existed. I cant recommend this group highly enough, if you like Folk Rock with a sense of pizzaz, history, romance, wit and irony...





NOT to be confused with the 1980's US Jazz-pablum of SPIRO-GIRA"