Frankie Sparo - Welcome Crummy Mystics
(Constellation)
Frankie Sparo might be the solo flag barer for troubadours on Constellation's instrumental roster, but by no means does he sound out of place. His sepia toned vocals and smoky room swagger fit right in with the labels apocalyptic tendencies. It's no wonder that the record was record by Efrim Menuck (Godspeed You Black Emperor, A Silver Mount Zion) and features many a player form said projects and their side projects.
On the whole, Sparo's vocals are slightly louder than a breath and have a charming way of slightly walking around the key of the songs. The instrumentation is extremely choice, often spare but full of chatter, never feeling arbitrary, nor too mannered. Guitars are always present, slowly churning through sexy, classy melodies. Strings make occasional appearances, as do pianos, organs, and an array of other sounds witch may or may not be analog devices.
Tim Buckley's Blue Afternoon is maybe a point of departure, as well as Syd Barret's Madcap Laughs, which is called to mind on the track "Akzidenz Grotesk" with its psychedelic drumming and layers of doo wapp/blah blah vocals.
Sparo's songs are truly elevated on tracks like "Sleds to Moderne" and "Hospitalville," were the delicacy and craftsmanship of the studio production and the burlesque musicianship lays a spectacular backdrop for his codeine soaked fables.
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