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Syteria – new album “Reflection” and live at Trillian’s 05/03/20
Obviously, opinion is subjective and my views are no more or less relevant than the next person, but given how difficult it seems to be for a second album to receive greater critical acclaim than a debut offering, Syteria have produced something special with their recent release “Reflection”.
The wonders of technology can make even my voice seem reasonably tuneful, so there is no great surprise at Syteria’s musical sound and quality … the acid test comes in a live setting; more of that later.
Having a lead guitarist with the experience and presence of Jackie Chambers is clearly a huge benefit; Jackie is every bit as good as you’d expect, but this album does far more than showcase the talents of the long-time Girlschool member.
All of the band are fine musicians in their own right; lead singer Julia Calvo has a wonderful voice, as well as adding depth to the guitar sound. Her highlight comes in the quieter moments of “Sorry” – it is so much harder to be note perfect when singling softly, but Julia does this brilliantly well … and with real emotion too. It is a stunning song.
There is something inherently “cool” about a female bassist; think Gaye Advert, Kathy Valentine, Kim Gordon, Annie Holland et al. Steph Dawson is a natural on stage, a fine musician who also provides backing vocals and harmonies – she’s also left-handed, which I am able to confirm is an absolute pre-requisite of “cool”!
Pablo Calvo completes the line-up; the rock-solid drummer, the sole male in the quartet, and he’s Julia’s brother too. He and Steph provide the solid foundation upon which Jackie’s guitar and Julia’s voice have the chance to shine.
It is a combination that definitely works, but for me, it is Syteria’s use of vocal harmonies that makes the band, and this album, well worth a second (and third) listen.
The combination of three female voices and Pablo’s deeper tone is quite unusual … think a Boney M for the 2020s (actually, don't); but at times, the blend creates a sound that sends a shiver down the spine. The exceptional “Goodbye World” is a prime example, as is “I Want It All”; the former is one of the strongest tracks on the album, and the latter starts with a brother/sister duet, that has echoes of early Annie Lennox and Peet Coombs of The Tourists.
I also found myself thinking of early 80’s Asia during the song “Sorry” – round about the time when the lyric “Only Time Will Tell” repeated one of the tracks from their self-titled debut album. Surely no more than a simple coincidence?
I’m sure there have also been comparisons with bands such as The Donnas (“Back Off” is very reminiscent), but there is a real variety and individuality to the twelve songs on the album, including the undeniably catchy “Gossips”, a track which will surely send reviewers looking for new genres into which to unnecessarily pigeon-hole Syteria…
The band launched the album at Trillian’s in Newcastle, a venue I hadn’t visited since the early 1990s – a year or so before the gents’ toilets were last cleaned. As I arrived, Syteria were completing their soundcheck, and they also did a couple of a cappella harmonies that sounded amazing…
I hadn’t met any of the band before, but Jackie recognised me from my Facebook photo, despite it having been taken a couple of years ago during my “single chin” phase. She took the time to come and say hello and have a quick chat, as well as posing for a couple of photos later in the evening. We were born just a couple of months apart, but the photo suggests Jackie is at least a decade younger. I’ve tried everything I can to edit the photo to make her look older, but sadly it didn’t work…
The rush of adrenaline I got when I first saw The Alarm in concert back in 1982 is a feeling that has never been fully replicated since. They had a unique look (remember the big hair?), and played a style of music with anthemic choruses that simply reached out and grabbed me as a teenager. Syteria have a great look of their own, and a whole host of songs that equally compel you join in, but the main thing they share with my all-time favourite band, is that they sound as good live as they do on record.
No fancy technology, keyboards, synthesisers, computers and the like; just four people up on stage proving just how talented they are … and how much their music deserves to be heard.
The wonders of technology can make even my voice seem reasonably tuneful, so there is no great surprise at Syteria’s musical sound and quality … the acid test comes in a live setting; more of that later.
Having a lead guitarist with the experience and presence of Jackie Chambers is clearly a huge benefit; Jackie is every bit as good as you’d expect, but this album does far more than showcase the talents of the long-time Girlschool member.
All of the band are fine musicians in their own right; lead singer Julia Calvo has a wonderful voice, as well as adding depth to the guitar sound. Her highlight comes in the quieter moments of “Sorry” – it is so much harder to be note perfect when singling softly, but Julia does this brilliantly well … and with real emotion too. It is a stunning song.
There is something inherently “cool” about a female bassist; think Gaye Advert, Kathy Valentine, Kim Gordon, Annie Holland et al. Steph Dawson is a natural on stage, a fine musician who also provides backing vocals and harmonies – she’s also left-handed, which I am able to confirm is an absolute pre-requisite of “cool”!
Pablo Calvo completes the line-up; the rock-solid drummer, the sole male in the quartet, and he’s Julia’s brother too. He and Steph provide the solid foundation upon which Jackie’s guitar and Julia’s voice have the chance to shine.
It is a combination that definitely works, but for me, it is Syteria’s use of vocal harmonies that makes the band, and this album, well worth a second (and third) listen.
The combination of three female voices and Pablo’s deeper tone is quite unusual … think a Boney M for the 2020s (actually, don't); but at times, the blend creates a sound that sends a shiver down the spine. The exceptional “Goodbye World” is a prime example, as is “I Want It All”; the former is one of the strongest tracks on the album, and the latter starts with a brother/sister duet, that has echoes of early Annie Lennox and Peet Coombs of The Tourists.
I also found myself thinking of early 80’s Asia during the song “Sorry” – round about the time when the lyric “Only Time Will Tell” repeated one of the tracks from their self-titled debut album. Surely no more than a simple coincidence?
I’m sure there have also been comparisons with bands such as The Donnas (“Back Off” is very reminiscent), but there is a real variety and individuality to the twelve songs on the album, including the undeniably catchy “Gossips”, a track which will surely send reviewers looking for new genres into which to unnecessarily pigeon-hole Syteria…
The band launched the album at Trillian’s in Newcastle, a venue I hadn’t visited since the early 1990s – a year or so before the gents’ toilets were last cleaned. As I arrived, Syteria were completing their soundcheck, and they also did a couple of a cappella harmonies that sounded amazing…
I hadn’t met any of the band before, but Jackie recognised me from my Facebook photo, despite it having been taken a couple of years ago during my “single chin” phase. She took the time to come and say hello and have a quick chat, as well as posing for a couple of photos later in the evening. We were born just a couple of months apart, but the photo suggests Jackie is at least a decade younger. I’ve tried everything I can to edit the photo to make her look older, but sadly it didn’t work…
The rush of adrenaline I got when I first saw The Alarm in concert back in 1982 is a feeling that has never been fully replicated since. They had a unique look (remember the big hair?), and played a style of music with anthemic choruses that simply reached out and grabbed me as a teenager. Syteria have a great look of their own, and a whole host of songs that equally compel you join in, but the main thing they share with my all-time favourite band, is that they sound as good live as they do on record.
No fancy technology, keyboards, synthesisers, computers and the like; just four people up on stage proving just how talented they are … and how much their music deserves to be heard.
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