 |
| THE SYN-Flowerman/14 Hour Technicolour Dream U.K. Deram DM 145 1967 |
The Syn, like their label mates Virgin Sleep, are one of those bands who cut two amazing singles on Deram and left nothing else....they're frequently name checked because future Yes man Chris Squire was their bass player.
The Syn were Marquee Club regulars, check out a Marquee gig flyer for '66 and '67 and see how they're playing almost weekly (the logged in an epic 36 appearances at the club between August of '66 and November of '67!). They were signed to Deram records and debuted in June of 1967 with "Created By Clive" (Deram DM 130), a number the band despised and were forced by their management to record (which was foolishly issued by Decca by The Attack at the same time!). Their line up was: Steve Nardelli (vocals), Peter Banks (guitar), Andrew Jackman (keyboards), Chris Squire (bass) and Gunnar Jokull (drums).
"Flowerman" their second (and final single) was issued in September 1967 and penned by band member Steve Nardelli. It starts off with a melody borrowed from the British children's program "Bill And Ben The Flowerpot Men". It's a cheery pop with harpsichord, subtle brass and the band's lush harmonies, no doubt influenced by their heroes and fellow Marquee Club stalwarts, The Action. The lyrics are cheeky "flowers are like people they get temperamental all of them from the daisy to the rose, and flowers are a thing of beauty they need care from somebody like me, someone who knows...". The trumpets add a regal feel to it and sit perfectly with the earlier mentioned harmonies. The number stemmed from an aborted project the band were doing "rock opera" called "Flowerman".
 |
| The Syn at The Marquee Club, pictures by Jacki Downey c/o the Progarchy Website |
The flip side, "14 Hour Technicolor Dream" was written to commemorate the great British underground happening of the same name that was held on April 29, 1967 at the Alexandra Palace where The Syn played along the likes of Tomorrow, The Move, The Pretty Things, The Pink Floyd, John's Children etc.
Once again the band's high Action-esque backing vocals are the centerpiece of the track with the number relying more on the band's guitar, bass and drums formula instead of added orchestration. There's some great Keith Moon inspired drum rolls mid way through the song and blistering guitar throughout. They also name check scenester Susie Cream ("and Susie Cream Cheese is gonna be there...) towards the fade out that exhorts you to "Do what you want to". This would be the last record by the group with Banks and Squire leaving to form the short lived Maybel Greer's Toyshop which eventually mutated into Yes.
Both sides of the single are available on a host of Syn compilations/collections, most notably Cherry Red's excellent "Flowerman: Rare Blooms From The Syn 1965-1969" and are both available on streaming as well.
Hear "Flowerman":
Hear "14 Hour Technicolor Dream":
No comments:
Post a Comment