Sycamore with Friends (Ubisano)

4 stars
Off-duty Tattie Toes drummer Shane Connolly and band-mate Jer Reid 
alongside Arab Strap-and-a million-others guitarist Stevie Jones form 
the core of this low-key side-project super-group, but on this 
organic-sounding debut are emboldened by an all-star cast of similarly 
off-piste mavericks,  including pianist Bill Wells, viola player Aby 
Vulliamy and vocalist Nerea Bello. The result on these six instrumental 
workouts veers from angular Mediterranean thrash to post-Tortoise 
twang, with wonky piano and viola scrapes pulsed by busy drum patterns. 
Beautifully textured, it beguiles one minute before going into orbit 
the next, a bit like a post-rock Mahavishnu Orchestra with all the 
indulgences chopped out. Lovely.

The List, August 2012

ends

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