St Radigunds - SPIROGYRA***

The Future Won't Be Long/Island/Magical Mary/Captain's Log/At Home In The World/Cogwheels Crutches & Cyanide/Time Will Tell/We Were A Happy Crew/Love Is A Funny Thing/Duke Of Beaufort

St Radigunds was the debut album from the Canterbury scene progressive folk band Spirogyra. The vocalist Barbara Gaskin would later collaborate with Dave Stewart achieving a UK No.1 hit single with their cover of Its My Party.

“Spirogyra are a group who most fans of the 1970s progressive-folk scene should pay close attention to. They showed a mastery of a range of moods, from scary stuff to happier, sunnier moments to songs of great melancholy. The keyboards and, in particular, his violin are the keys to the band's command of atmosphere, though the bassist’s performance is also particularly deserving of mention.”

“Orchestrated all acoustic psych/folk with both male and female vocals which stand out, but musically nothing tremendously impressive to be found here.”

“A good progressive folk album. Sometimes it reminds me of acts such as Comus and Curved Air. The album is unfortunately a bit uneven; the final tracks aren't as good as the rest, but it is still warmly recommended.”

“Spirogyra are master at the craft of building tension within a song, be it in short songs or in complex multi harmonies, rhythm changing tracks like Duke Of Beaufort, through a tasteful choice of instrumental colours, and a genuine sense of dynamics. This happens in every track of this folk masterpiece where there is no weak spot.”

“Considered to be their most consistent album, Spirogyra's debut, has proved its timeless quality. The male, Dylanesque vocals might be something for an acquired taste, however you might allow it some time to flourish. Barbara Gaskin's voice on the other hand is top of the bill and about the finest of its kind. A very diverse album of staggering beauty and intense, heart-felt musicianship. The viola sounds particularly sinister; the acoustic guitar exceptionally driven. An important progressive-folk disc that deserves to stand in the spotlights.”

“This music has a lyrical, compositional quality, and would have to be considered as 'acid folk-rock, not too weird, 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.”