Sir Cadian Rhythm

Sir Cadian Rhythm see themselves as the personification of the biological process – or at least the musical equivalent such. Whether the Long Island band’s productivity or purpose alters depending on the time of day is anyone’s guess but we kind of get the clever wordplay. One thing is clear – with a healthy mixture of classically trained performers from vastly different backgrounds, the ‘Sir Cadian Rhythm’ EP provides a uniqueness from start to finish.

Blending together an eclectic array of genres including prog rock, jazz, funk and metal, this five-track album interweaves unexpected musical choices together. Hybridising genres can be a tricky feat – one typically fraught with threat of inharmoniousness – but ‘Sir Cadian Rhythm EP’ executes it with precision creating an album that is at the very least endearing if not downright entertaining throughout. With the experimental complexity of the album, the band display their versatility and have eked out a competent EP.

Flood Of XIV is an uplifting anthemic pop rock song with an edge. It’s very guitar heavy and contains a sweeping dynamic range. This would be one of the songs that would draw comparisons to Maroon 5 more than the others, but it’s one with a memorable melody that is kept enjoyable by some interesting electronic keys and structural changes.

Holly’s On Fire has more of a jazz accent, sustaining the band’s typical bouncy energy. Possibly my favourite song on the album, Holly’s On Fire displays intricate instrumentation combined expertly to create a beautiful composition rather than a cacophonous headache. It’s like a half big band, half rock boogie with lashings of sophisticated sex appeal.

Ouroboros begins with the inaudible static of an old record player before a folky guitar riff fiddles in and onward. Unexpectedly however, the minor chord riff is largely drowned out by a heady mixture of distorted vocals, guitars and drums till it is no longer in the song at all. I’m not sure what this song attempted to achieve but it comes across more like a skit of the band’s artistry rather than anything of meaningful substance.

Finally, Run Around Town with its catchy chorus that has you hanging on through the bare-boned verses, and Villain Fear’s counterblow to the band’s typical vigorous tempo complete and enjoyable listen. Though both are a lot less elementally constructed as the other songs, they’re in no way slack from the five-piece band. Particularly Villain Fear which is enriched with a classic jazz sound that makes a silver lining out of a theme as sombre as love loss.