Spark and Whisper – Monument

Spark and Whisper came to life in 2010.  The core duo of Anita Sandwina and Velvy Appleton came together out of a mutual appreciation of each other’s respective styles as lore tells it.  They’re road dogs that constantly tour, record new albums on a regular basis and just keep pushing their dream forward as far as it can go.  Quite admirable in a world where most bands never leave the garage or basement confines.  No sir, Spark and Whisper are living it, writing it and doing it.  After a pair of critically acclaimed albums, the band’s newest offering Monument is ready and raring to go.

Threaded with banjo, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, shuck n’ jive percussion and some quicksand thick bass playing, there are a multitude of pleasures to enjoy on the group’s third outing.  Anita and Velvy’s songs are all about establishing a pocket groove thanks to a stellar rhythm section and opening up a cascade of irresistible vocal melodies/harmonies, a myriad of string instruments and a soaring positivity that provides respite from all of the negative, boring post-grunge populating modern rock radio.  The title track is all you need to be converted with its plucky acoustic guitars, layered strings and Anita’s soothing voice waxing some true storytelling lyrics.  Despite not being a “rock band” per say, the cracking drum fills, throbbing bass lines and grimy rhythm guitars created a sound weathered, worn and torn with just a single gleam of light beaming through the ceiling.  They’ve got more energy than a thousand folk wannabes and the powerful instrumentation when coupled to the vocals makes for a progression that’s unforgettable.  As someone moving out of a broken down house out in the country, I can relate to every word. 

“Bottom of the Well” is best served on a hot porch with a case of cold beer at your side.  Velvy takes the lead vocal here and he gets plenty of support from the electrified riffs, acoustic strums and mandolins.  The rhythms hit harder than they have to, but not too hard, finding that delightful middle ground between attack and retreat.  Special props go to the little lead guitar lick that goes colliding into some starlit mandolin; the two interplaying with each other so gleefully that you can’t help but crack a smile.  Dialing down the mood with some midnight magic “I am yours” kicks off with sparse, melodic guitar chords and tender vocals from Anita which slowly build up into a gravelly rocker that’s happier to travel down a dirt path than sit around and have a candlelight dinner with you.  It’s a ballad with teeth; something that the world needs a lot more of. 

The cello-dabbed “Far from this World” sees Appleton back in the lead vocal department as he croons about the mysteries of the world over hard blues-guitar down-strokes which slowly whip into a mid-tempo rocker.  That magical combination of Anita and Velvy’s voices are a true highlight here, in addition to the lively mandolin workouts and crying pedal steel guitars.  It has a catchy pop aura lurking throughout but before it comes to a close the band lays into a riff/rhythm workout with some serious chops and a tough backbone that proves Spark and Whisper have both a light and heavy side. 

There are no bad tracks to be found here, despite my own preferences enjoying some more than others.  If the first half of Monument plays it straight, it’s the second half which really branches out into experimental tendencies like the soul/funk explosions of “A Little Bit More” or the slightly Latin flavored “Mojo.”  Spark and Whisper are so locked-on to their personal tendencies, energies and nuances though that even experiments such as these never drag the record off course.  There’s a reason Spark and Whisper have built a sizable buzz and following around their work; their music is as real as it gets.  They aren’t afraid to adhere to traditions, nor challenge them, which makes Monument a standout record for all fans of instrumentally sound grooves. 

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Spark-Whisper-150854864968444/?ref=hl

URL: http://www.sparkandwhisper.com/

Rating:  9/10

Cyrus Rhodes