SYRUP: THE TASTE OF MULTI-FLAVOURED ROCK!
October 2003
After their impressive performance at this year’s Beer Festival, Syrup
has clearly become one of the ‘new’ bands to watch out for. Music
correspondent Michael Bugeja grabs a spoonful to check out what flavours
their music!
Every visit I make to the grey Marsa concrete block that houses so many
of Malta’s rock bands always takes me back to the fruitful Rokarja AST
music commune that inhabited the Tigne area throughout the 80s. Mostly
it’s the thought of the creativity buzz that is ongoing that brings back
the memories, although I do now realise that I have several memories of
Marsa itself, having interviewed a good number of bands there these past
few years.
This particular visit was to sit in at a Syrup rehearsal and have a
casual interview to find out more about this ‘new’ band that actually
has a bit of history already. I had been to a couple of Syrup rehearsals
some years ago, when the line-up, and perhaps even concept, was
altogether different. Back then the band also included Matthew Cuomo on
bass and Toby – now a solo artist and DJ in his own right – on drums.
Guitar duties were left in the able hands of Shaun Grech, and so was,
apparently the future of the band, for it was Shaun who gradually
rebuilt Syrup as we know it today – a close-knit four-piece promising
band with clearly much to offer.
Anyone who heard the band’s performance at this year’s Beer Festival
will already understand that Syrup has potential. They’re not short on
experience either, and besides Shaun’s steadfast years in music, the
band also boasts bassist Cliff Smith of Corkskrew; guitarist Jesmond
Psaila of Voices and formerly of Avatar, and drummer Sergio Bellizzi
formerly of Orbus Vitae, in its ranks. The accent is today based on a
largely straightforward set-up, almost all hints of the band’s earlier
fling with what Shaun terms ‘gadgetry’ put aside. I say almost because
drummer Sergio still likes to slip in the odd electronic twitch into the
mix, and the band is pretty open-minded regarding electronica,
especially where it is applied to support a song rather than dominate
it.
The fact that the band considers itself at starting point also means
that there is no defined Syrup sound – at least just yet. Asking them to
describe their music was in fact a bit of a brainteaser, which remains
pretty much unanswered. This may be mainly due to the fact that the new
Syrup was set up in gradual steps – from Jesmond and Shaun’s sporadic
acoustic sessions through to the eventual full line-up, there was never
any real pursuit of a particular style. A rather fluid attitude, I
thought, but probably a natural one, given the diversity of influences
involved. As a matter of fact, I did sense some common threads in a good
number of their songs – aside from Shaun’s voice, of course!
Clearly the main factor in Syrup’s music is rock – although throughout
the ten-track session I am treated to a light variety, ranging from the
classic rock strains of Dust In Ashes and The J Song via a one-off funk
jam called Funky Duck and a pretty original interpretation of Depeche
Mode’s Enjoy The Silence! The latter is the only cover they do (although
there may be an occasional surprise, I’m told!), and the fact that the
band set out to write and perform its own material has been beneficial
to their musical growth. This is most evident on the bulk of their
current repertoire, namely songs like Silver Screen, Phema, Penny
Leaves, Static H and the grittier Space. All of these songs expose an
amalgam of subtle grunge references layered with Shaun’s warm vocals and
sharp melodic inclinations, perhaps more so on Static H which is clearly
destined to become a hit radio pick and a surefire crowd favourite.
That said, it is a song with a particular style of its own that seems to
attract the closer attention of Syrup’s crowd. Gravity Pull is an
unusual number that relies on a stripped down approach, punctuated by
basic rhythms and glazed over with lashes of guitar swell. Even in its
raw form, this song has a singular magnetism that grows on you, and the
potential to offer a field day for any producer up for a challenge.
Equally promising is the song Litter Friends, a powerful track
brandishing searing guitar that echoes the new wave bloodline of the
great 80s rock icons, complete with that all-important catchy riff. It
is also an important reminder that although Syrup influences are
practically found all over the place, focusing on what is essential,
inspiring and constructive is a core part of the music they make. This
concept is also a vital factor in keeping the band’s musical horizons
not simply vast, but interesting and above all, stimulating!
Recommended weblink: www.syruponline.com
