What a delightfully eclectic and unique-sounding opus this is! The musically playful and adventurous act known as Sykofant clearly knows how to engage, thrill, and challenge its listeners as evidenced by the dynamic and irresistibly unpredictable nature of their song material and clever arrangements.
This debut album of theirs is filled to the brim with inspired and creative ideas, and they sure do pack a lot of action and excitement into their diverse and always interesting compositions. In some ways, the tone and atmosphere of the record evoke vague parallels to early King Crimson, Camel, Syd Barrett, Soft Ffog, Needlepoint, and Soft Machine without sounding like neither one of them, but similar to some of the aforementioned artists this talented ensemble specialises in jazz-influenced prog rock that defies and transcends musical norms and conventions, and I love the fact that their tunes possess so much energy and drive while also covering a lot of musical ground. On top of that, the production is of the warm, organic variety, which lends charm and appeal to the entire creation, and the thick, rumbling grooves that underlie the six sprawling tracks are just to die for. Several explosive segments are to be found too with ‘Pavement of Colors’ and ‘Between Air and Water’ quite possibly being the most hard-hitting entries whereas ‘Monuments of Old’ feels hypnotic even though it never stays in one place for long. In fact, that one possesses a couple of quirky riffs and a sense of drama that would not have been entirely out of place on Pink Floyd’s Meddle LP. However, the standout moment occurs halfway through when the hauntingly elegiac ‘Between the Moments’ rears its majestic head, but points must also be awarded to the cheeky and funk-laden ‘Strangers’ for sounding like something that could have appeared in a Quentin Tarantino movie – until it segues into a mesmerizing ambient part towards the end, that is.
This forward-thinking slab of eclectic and original prog possesses style and class and is a beautifully strange record that feels familiar yet different. Although these gentlemen are by no means playing it safe, the album maintains a steady identity throughout and is as cohesive as they come. Sykofant have clearly spun their various influences into something distinct and imbued their material with a certain otherness that is wildly attractive, which means that this is stylistically diverse and essential stuff that you should make a note of.
Sykofant will be released on May 31, 2024.
