Short but sweet return from LA’s Beachwood Sparks.
Beachwood Sparks and GospelBeach are a bit like Clark Kent and Superman – never seen in the same place at the same time. Only a few weeks ago AUK reviewed the final album from GospelBeach and now we have the return of Beachwood Sparks after more than a decade away.
“Across The River Of Stars” comprises nine songs spread over 28 minutes recorded at John Dwyer’s Discount Mirrors Studios in Los Angeles with Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes), producing and house engineer Eric Bauer. The core band of Christopher Gunst (vocals, guitar), Brent Rademaker (vocals, bass) and Farmer Dave Scher (vocals, keyboards, lap steel) are joined by Benjamin Knight (guitars), Andres Renteria (drums) and Jen Cohen Gunst (keyboard, guitar) while Mapache’s Clay Finch contributes backing vocals.
As with Beachwood Sparks earlier records, there is no doubt listening to these songs that they’re a product of Los Angeles and in particular the pop-rock-country-folk of the 1966-72 period. The record isn’t an exercise in nostalgia, more that they’ve used those sounds as the basis for making music in the 21st century.
Opener ‘My Love, My Love (Meet The Love Puppets)’ sets off at a fair old tick driven by the rhythm section and with the guitars overlaid by wordless harmonies punctuated by distorted guitar. Halfway through the song drops into a slower-paced folkie verse sung in harmony with a more melodic guitar part, some gentle piano fills and hints of synths.
Next up ‘Torn In Two’ is a gentler poppier song which starts simple and gets more complex musically as it develops with synth strings. The guitar break surges out of the tine and takes it to the end. An acoustic, twangy electric and drum beat lead out ‘Falling Forever’ which has a dreamy harmony-drenched chorus: “It feels like I’ve been falling forever. And the world keeps turning round whatever”. The song brought The Association to mind.
The fourth song ‘Gentle Samurai’ sounds like a Gene Clark-penned Byrds song and references both Clark and Tom Verlaine songs. ‘Gem’ has more of a country rock feel to it with a gentle vocal. It has a nice piano melody underpin. The latter part has more distorted guitars preceded by a short spoken-word interlude.
The sophisticated pop theme resumes for ’Faded Glory’ which features a breathy vocal and some nice guitar/keyboard interplay. ‘Dolphin Dance’ ups the tempo with a western beat and some nice slide guitar. There’s a punchier vocal and some sweet harmonies
There is more of a 1970s sound to ‘High Noon’ with soft keys and harmonies that recall the first Crazy Horse album. The vocal is more wistful and wearier. The final song on the record ‘Wild Swans’ switches back to California folk pop with an imaginative bass line and some sweet phasing effects.
The publicity blurb identifies Rose City Band and The Hanging Stars as comparators and they are fair references. “Across The River Of Stars” marks a strong return from Beachwood Sparks.
