* En anglais uniquement
Since their formation in 2006, British psych-rock quartet
Syd Arthur have immersed themselves in the rich musical history of their native Canterbury, drawing influences from late-'60s and early-'70s progressive pioneers like
the Soft Machine and
Caravan, and filtering them through a more contemporary lens. Brothers
Liam and
Joel MaGill (guitar and bass, respectively) met drummer
Fred Rother and violinist
Raven Bush (nephew of
Kate Bush) while in school and the group was formed, spending the following fundamental years gigging, developing their ornate jazz-rock sound, and eventually building their own recording studio, Wicker Studios, in 2009. The group set about recording their debut EP, Moving World, which was released in 2010 on their own New Dawn Recording Company imprint and garnered praise from prominent U.K. publications. The single "Ode to Summer" was released the following year and in 2012,
Syd Arthur released their first LP,
On and On. The album was well received and caught the attention of Britain's legendary revived Harvest Records, who signed the band and reissued
On and On in late 2013. They quickly followed up in May 2014 with their second album,
Sound Mirror. In 2015,
Liam and
Joel's younger brother,
Josh Magill, began filling in for drummer
Fred Rother, who had been suffering from severe tinnitus. It was later confirmed that
Josh had permanently replaced
Rother and made his first recorded appearance a year later on
Syd Arthur's third full-length for Harvest,
Apricity. ~ Timothy Monger