Spirogyra
Album: St. Radigunds/Old Boot Wine/Bells, Boots And Shambles
Label: Esoteric
Tracks: 31
Website: http://www.esotericrecordings.com

A few years ago, Sanctuary released a generous two-disc anthology (A Canterbury Tale) that whetted the appetite and made me keen to hear a more complete representation of the output of this legendary progressive-folk outfit; but it turns out that was their entire recorded output, since the final lineup never got it together in the studio. I use the term "progressive-folk" advisedly but also deliberately, since Spirogyra straddles the two genres, and yet the band is often neglected when either (or indeed the nascent Canterbury scene of the time) is being discussed. The band's music was critically well-received, albeit invariably oddball and unusual in matters of both scope and structure, and thus could be difficult to assimilate on first hearing, let alone on subsequent playthroughs.

Spirogyra was essentially centred around the songwriting talents of Martin Cockerham, who moved to Canterbury to study at Kent University, teaming up with violinist/keyboardist Julian Cusack, then bassist Steve Borrill and finally pure-voiced singer Barbara Gaskin (who'd been introduced to the band by Steve Hillage, a contemporary of theirs at the Uni), who gave a Judy Dyble-like demeanour to the vocal blend. Displaying echoes of Dando Shaft, Family, East Of Eden, Principal Edwards, Caravan and even on occasion the ISB, but remaining very much its own animal, Spirogyra's astonishing debut LP, St. Radigunds, was released upon an unsuspecting public by B&C in late 1971. It gained further cred by featuring Dave Mattacks on drums on some tracks and some attractive, if quirky arrangements by Robert Kirby. Highlights include the tricky Time Will Tell (whose neo-classical piano meanderings strongly recall Keith Relf's Renaissance), the delicate pastel-folky Love Is A Very Funny Thing and multi-layered adventures like The Duke Of Beaufoot and Magical Mary, and the remastered Esoteric reissue provides a welcome chance to re-evaluate the LP's charms and peculiarities. No bonus tracks unfortunately (pity there's no extant recording of The Forest Of Dean!), but four such are appended to the reissue of the group's second LP, Old Boot Wine, which dates from 1972; recorded at the album sessions, these prove of more than passing interest.

The album itself was a more accomplished affair which, though boasting a more polished studio production, happily didn't iron out either the group's stylistic eccentricities or Martin's pointed, intellectually and politically aware songwriting. With the reintroduction to the lineup of original pre-Canterbury band member Mark Francis and a scaling-down of Julian's contributions, the sound of Spirogyra's second LP was more rock-oriented, but never in any way merely "ordinary", for it conveyed remarkably well the band's artfully energetic (and drummer-less) stage act (even though a certain Mr Mattacks again featured strongly in the recording sessions). Roadie Rick Biddulph brought his mandolin-playing skills to the mix too (he was to join the band, replacing Steve on bass, the following year). Favourite moments include the visionary Van Allen's Belt and the dark tale of social alienation Dangerous Dave, but interest is maintained even on the comparatively sprawling mantras of World's Eyes, and much capital is made of the contrast between Martin and Barbara's respective vocal styles.

The third Spirogyra album (Bells, Boots And Shambles) appeared on Polydor in 1973, and is considered by some to be the finest of the three. I'm not sure I'd agree, although it had its moments (the strange philosophical An Everyday Consumption Song, a lovely Dolly Collins arrangement on Old Boot Wine, and the episodic, ambitious 13-minuter In The Western World). By that time, Spirogyra had to all intents and purposes "coalesced" around the core duo of Martin and Barbara, although Steve and Julian both played on the album sessions (along with the loyal Dave Mattacks), while Steve Ashley, Henry Lowther and others also made occasional appearances. The Esoteric reissue pays its debt to completeness by including the cheery A-side of a contemporaneous single release. As it turned out, the band enjoyed a fruitful post-album period gigging with Rick Biddulph and John Gifford, but sadly were unable to acquire a record contract, so Bells… would be the final LP to be released under the Spirogyra name. Congratulations to Esoteric on this well-presented set of reissues.

David Kidman