Syrinx formed in 1970, when composer and multi-instrumentalist Mills-Cockell joined forces with percussionist Alan Wells and saxophonist Doug Pringle.
After a time, Canadian music executive and talent manager Bernie Finkelstein signed the trio to his newly-created True North Records.
In its wake, the group found itself newly in demand from a variety of quarters: Syrinx opened for Miles Davis on his Bitches Brew tour, and played bills with Ravi Shankar.
[1] In addition, the first release attracted the attention of executives from CTV, which commissioned a theme song for its forward-looking television series Here Come the Seventies.
[1] The first album also resulted in a 1971 commission, from the respected Toronto Repertory Orchestra under the direction of Milton Barnes, of Stringspace, which Mills-Cockell composed for Syrinx, the TRO, and additional percussion.
[3] Undeterred, and with fundraising support from the Toronto musical community, the group purchased new instruments and pressed on to record the album.