Keep Yer 'and On It

Chronique

The original classic String Driven Thing lineup may have disintegrated in at the end of 1973, but violinist Graham Smith soldiered on, re-forming the band and releasing two further albums, neither of which had much of anything to do with the original band and should be approached for what they were -- the legacy of a band that simply had the same name as another one, because that is as far as the similarity goes. Not that this is a bad thing. Following firmly in the footsteps of its predecessor, Keep Yer ‘And on It is packed with catchy hooks, and the sound is rich throughout. Both "Call Out for Mercy" and "Stand Back in Amazement" are bona fide rock numbers and stand strong and hold up well against any other of their ilk, while String Driven Thing's psych-tinged take on the Beatles' "Things We Said Today" is one of the standouts on the album; it's loose and free without sprawling and overall a nice reinvention. Where this album will be of most interest, though, is across the bonus tracks -- of which a generous five have been appended to this reissue. Comprised of live and studio outtakes, the songs may not be without their bumps and bruises, but are still an integral look into String Driven Thing's working process, especially across "Jardarfarardagur" and "Surdurnesjamenn," which markedly take steps back from the album's rock-oriented format and slide instead into more experimental waters.

© Dave Thompson /TiVo