Mordecai Smyth - Things Are Getting Stranger On The Shore

The name Mordecai Smyth brings to mind an eccentric English gentleman, and for over 10 years as a musician, Smyth has lived up to that image. Still, it should be noted he’s gone through some major changes in that time. Sticky Tape and Rust, his 2011 debut on the independent record label Mega Dodo was filled with offbeat gems that spoofed British pop culture and American film noir. The first single, “Georgina Jones,” along with “Mr. Hitchcock,” and “Sinister Cyclist” were just a few of the highlights. Smyth took an entirely different and more serious approach on his 2017 collection of prog rock songs The Mayor of Toytown is Dead. 

His 2022 effort Things are Getting Stranger on the Shore, despite its clever pun of a title, continues in that prog rock mode. Smyth’s knack for silly fun may still be on hold, but he’s also adept at crafting imaginative lyrics and adventurous arrangements. He gets expert help from former Renaissance member Jon Camp, as well as his Mega Dodo mates guitarist Icarus Peel and vocalist Crystal Jacqueline. The 15-minute “That Late Autumn Sun” drifts though energetic and ethereal passages, and the eight-minute “Mercy” evokes Syd Barrett with its exotic, peaceful vibes.

The slow, ornate “Fear Of Flying” sounds similar to Barrett era Pink Floyd, while “Out Of Thin Air,” matches Crystal Jacqueline’s soaring vocals with classical instrumentation. The more hard-hitting and psychedelic “In Your Dark Space” deals with emotional issues, as Smyth sings, “Each day, you question why you try.” It’s tempting to think the clever and quick rhymes in the delicate “The Love That We Found” and the very short vignette “The Upholsterer’s Wife” are a nod to Smyth’s Sticky Tape and Rust days. “High Once More,” with its boundless psychedelic energy, gives Things Are Getting Stranger On The Shore a triumphant finale.