Alan Sparhawk/Charles Atlas - split 7"
(Star Star Stereo)
Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker (from the band Low) just celebrated the birth of
their first child, Hollis Mae Sparhawk. Charles Wyatt's (from Charles Atlas)
wife, Tamara, just had their first child, Maia K. Wyatt. To mark the
occasion, they have each written and recorded a song to express their feelings
about their new daughters.
This isn't the first time that Sparhawk and Wyatt have worked together on a
project. A few years ago, Low participated in a joint writing/recording
session with Transient Wave, and Piano Magic (featuring Charles Wyatt) for a
wonderful split 7" released in the UK. Unlike that 7" though, the songs on
this split 7" are recorded completely separate from each other and are only a
collaboration in the sense that they are both celebrating the same experience
of becoming fathers.
The Alan Sparhawk songs, "Sleep Song," starts off with a soft, subtle, guitar
or keyboard single-note drone with light guitar finger picking of an electric
guitar. Alan and Mimi's fragile and nearly perfect voices both sing together
throughout the song, singing "Day so long, life so new. All our fears and
hopes for you. Oh, close your eyes. Sleep, sweet little child."
"Pondcup," is an instrumental song, with mellow, meandering guitar lines
played by Charles Wyatt and M. Greenberg. Because all of the guitar
picking/playing is based on one pedal note that regularly repeats itself throughout
the guitar parts, there is very little motion in the song. However, the lack
of movement in the song is not a negative thing; it causes the song to take on
a soothing drone feel to it that eventually fades out into a beautiful haze
of harmonics.
Not only is this 7" a collection of two great songs, it also gives us all an
opportunity to celebrate with Alan Sparhawk and Charles Wyatt this wonderful
occasion.
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