Earlier this year I reviewed a surprising and important bit of psychedelic/pop-rock history from The Syn (a precursor to prog-rock giants Yes). I mentioned in that review that The Syn was back in the studio preparing a new release after a nearly 40-year silence. I am happy to report that the end result is now spinning madly on my CD player -- Syndestructible has arrived! Original members Chris Squire (Yes) on bass/background vocals and Steve Nardelli on vocals are joined by classically trained keyboardist Gerard Johnson (also on BGVs), Paul Stacey (Oasis) on guitar/vocals, and brother Jeremy Stacey (Oasis) on drums. Gerard Johnson and Paul Stacey also add their first-rate production talents to Syndestructible.
So what's the verdict? Syndestructible is a satisfying surprise -- 52 minutes of solid rock/pop songs with delectable progressive rock touches added. The individual parts of The Syn add up to an enjoyable whole. Vocalist Steve Nardelli has a pleasant, laid-back vocal style vaguely reminiscent of Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd. Chris Squire's virtuoso bass lines drive the low-end without overpowering, and his classy background vocals and harmonies are a highlight (I would have loved to see at least one lead vocal spot by Squire). Gerard Johnson's keyboards provide rich, atmospheric tones ranging from smooth synthesizers to big retro-organ sounds. Paul Stacey's guitar licks are tasty (especially the slide guitar bits on "Golden Age"), and Jeremy Stacey's drums contribute a solid backbeat with some cowbell thrown in for good measure. The 2005 version of The Syn is TIGHT!
Syndestructible features a number of great vocal harmonies (check out the intro "Breaking Down Walls") and extended (but not TOO long) instrumental breaks with dreamy keyboards (the excellent "Reach Outro" is a good example of this) and even a banjo (!) thrown in for an unexpected sonic switch-up ("Golden Age").
Syndestructible is a bit mellower than I expected, but this is not a bad thing. The production is clean and has a '70s feel, reminding me of favorite album rock classics of the past (Ambrosia, Alan Parsons Project, Pink Floyd, etc). In these days of overblown and over modulated/dense productions it is nice to listen to an album that features some space and BREATHES without shoving an endless barrage of noise down your ears. The 13-minute wistful epic "The Promise" is a good example of this; some gentle Squire bass work chases Johnson's almost ambient keyboards until the song starts to rock, then veers into a section with some sweet vocal harmonies. Finally the song takes a Traffic-like left turn with a rocking instrumental break and closes with a gentle fade out. There are even a few psychedelic touches added to Syndestructible that harken back to the early sound of The Syn, and lyrically the band focuses on '60s-style themes that still resonate today (peace, love, and understanding).
The verdict is in -- The Syn sounds great in 2005 with an updated sound and style on Syndestructible. Check out The Syn on the web: http://www.synmusic.net/
Barry Nothstine hosts Soul Frequency (http://www.soulfrequency.com) a weekly FM radio show showcasing progressive rock, instrumental rock, power-pop, psychedelic rock, rock classics and more -- great rock for the ages!
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