Synanthesia were a hybrid of The Incredible String Band , acid folk, Comus-esque darkness and jazz. These styles/genres combined to make for quite an original sound with sax and haunting flute to the fore.
These styles/genres combined to make for quite an original sound. Jim Frazer's sax and flute sounding somewhat like a cross between Keith Gemmell (Audience/ Stackridge), David Jackson (Van Der Graaf Generator) and Harold McNair (Donovan, et al). The closest sounding bands that can be referenced are probably Dr Strangely Strange and Jan Dukes de Grey.
Formed in London, England in 1968 by guitarist, Les Cook, Synanthesia were a trio with an 18 year old, ex-soul bassist, Dennis Holmes, who switched to guitar and vibes. The trio was completed by jazz sax and flautist, Jim Fraser. They performed in and around the London area and garnered interest from the newly formed Chrysalis record label. One of the venues that they would frequent was the infamous Three Tuns in Kent, home to David Bowie’s Arts Lab. It is rumored that Synanthesia were briefly Bowie’s backing band, before he recruited the Hype and, subsequently, Hull’s Rats, who became the Spiders from Mars.
Synanthesia recorded their sole, eponymous album Synanthesia in 1969 for RCA. Unfortunately, RCA weren’t interested enough to promote the band. Without RCA’s backing and the lack of airplay on the radio, Synanthesia split and the threesome went their separate ways.
Synanthesia's only album has a unique sound, falling somewhere between Forest, Incredible String Band and Jan Dukes de Grey with a hint of Audience and Van Der Graaf Generator, the last two owing to Les Cook's sax and flute styles.
Members:
Dennis Homes - vibes, guitar, vocals
Jim Fraser - alto/soprano saxophone, oboe, alto/nose/concert flute
Les Cook - guitar, bongos, violin, mandolin, vocals
Full Album:
Discography:
Synanthesia (1969)
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