Two of my favourite albums of recent years have artwork featuring images of, or in, The Laurieston. The debut album from Album Club featured a shot of the outside of the legendary institution, while the latest album from Syvdoh, Gentlemen, features an image of the door of… well I’m sure you can guess.
Syvdoh’s new album is, as I would have come to expect, a work of utter genius, both musically and lyrically. For the unacquainted, I believe when I reviewed their last album, Death 1 Syvdoh 0, I described it along the lines of “death shouldn’t be this enjoyable”, a tag which could also sit well with Gentlemen. Who else but Syvdoh could tackle weighty subjects linked to death, dying, our demise, the end, expiration – whatever you call it, it comes to us all. Their songs, which are unblinking and unapologetic in their coverage of topics such as the vagaries of political crises, living under the reign of Naziism, serial killers, drug deaths, and just tales of just sheer sadness about the human condition, among others, are delivered in a manner which is all at once clever, heartfelt, empathetic, non patronising, and includes elements of dark humour with nary a misplaced word, never is anything sung throwaway or callous.
These songs can both fill the listener with sadness and joy in equal measure. This listeners befuddled brain often feeling confused as it listens to songs whose messages tug at heart strings while musically they soar and inspire. Should I cry or feel a warm glow? I have no idea. All I know is that I can’t get enough of this feeling…
If I told you before you listen to any of this album that just the first two songs deal with living under Naziism and the rule of the Gestapo and then the serial killer Dennis Nilsen you could be forgiven for giving me a confused look and thinking what the fuck? But fear not, despite how that may sound, this is an inspirational listen, yes, the topics may not be what your average band sing about, but then again, thankfully, Syvdoh are not your average band. Everything about them is extraordinary in its very definition – strange and wonderful. What may seem at first bizarre in their choice of song topics are dealt with in exceptionally sympathetic manner, using marvellously arresting arrangements to draw in the listener.
It is hard to pin down a musical style to the music of Syvdoh other than utterly captivating. The album opens in folky acoustic style with Syvdoh’s retelling of the novel Every Man Dies Alone a story of several people living in the same block in Nazi German and the individual ways in which they stood up against the regime. The added tragedy is that writer Hans Fallada never lived to see the publishing of the book due to his own overdose.
Elsewhere the styles take in elements from country to post punk while also showing some ballad writers over the years how it is really done. Money Makes the World Go Rand is the song that both Noel Gallagher & Robbie Williams wanted to write when they came up with the utter drivel that is Wonderwall and the cringeworthy dross of the unlistenable Angels. Forget everything you thought you knew about chartbusting ballads. Political crises paired with a melody and arrangement to die for are the way to go. The Beach Boys and Teenage Fanclub would both listen to this and nod along approvingly. My Name is Joe Smith has a hypnotic bassline that single-handedly creates the desire to jump up and dance.
The stark post punk of Dennis Nilsen sends shivers up and down your spine as you listen to chilling rhyming couplets such as “Dennis Nilsen blocking drains – that looks like flesh and bone to me, its probably just a KFC”. And while the Iffland Ring has an air of unadulterated beauty musically, it covers sinister tales as to who holds the ring, signifying the best male actor in Germany…
One of the most summery, upbeat sogs on the the album has to be Memory Stick, but its breezy country intro soon reveals the opening couplet “To die alone, in rented accommodation, to be found, not by relations” it almost has an upbeat carefree 90s Britpop/Bluetones sound (without the misogynist lead singer) covering the sheer desperation of the protagonist. The Inmost Light with its refrain of “I never want to go outside” tugs at the heartstrings, while album closer Panzer Days has epic movie connotations to it. If I knew I was facing the final curtain, I would want to die listening to As I Lay Dying such is its soothing grace and beauty.
Nine songs in total and nine toppermost highlights. Absolutely no filler. How do you make music so utterly beautiful and addictive while often singing about tales tinged with sadness, despair and, well, death and despondency? I have absolutely no idea, but Brian Canning and Ralph Hector have the formula down to a T. You better ask them. A remarkable album. Officially it came out at the end of last year, but this is sure to feature in my end of year list for 2023.