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Imagine walking into a subterranean lounge where candles light your way as you descend a narrow, uneven stairwell. With each step, you become increasingly enveloped in smooth, funky sounds that are dark, sexy, and a bit ethereal. Such is the sound and mood on Sparrow’s EP, View, where the female-fronted band offers songs that bring to mind the sound of Zero 7 tunes mixed with Sophie Barker and Sia Furler.
Vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist on the album, Christine De Michele wears a number of hats, and she wears them well. She does not do it alone, though, as driving drums and swirling, echoing guitars offer great counterpoints.
The opening track, “Fable,” begins slowly with smoky keyboards and minimal instrumentation. Christine sings, “You don’t need a book to be sure of the story you’re telling / What do they know, do they know, about your fable?” A certain mystique resonates from within the song and, like many of the songs on the album, begs the listener for repeated listens.
What is additionally impressive is that these songs do not stay mired in slow rhythms that might tire a listener after a few tracks. “Entre,” the second song, consists of a lively upbeat minor groove highlighted by the hollow-body electric guitar work of Max Cantlin and the ripping hi-hat pattern of drummer John Marcato. Moreover, “What Quiet Looks Like,” incorporates a slick samba rhythm that keeps the audience moving through the close of the album.
Small issues on the album include some indecipherable lyrics, as well as a meandering vocal and guitar pass on “Hungry” that slows the song’s momentum before the final chorus. However, this does little to change the endearing, overall effect of View, as Christine and her mates throw us happily into the sultry world of Sparrow with their slinky grooves and sensual, yet eerily affecting vocals. (Self-released)
www.myspace.com/christinedemichele
-Michael Oliveri - -Michael Oliveri
Sparrow are fronted by the dulcet-toned Christine de Michele.
Their sound is trip hoppy and recalls Lamb and Morcheeba.
Your Fable starts the ep with a quiet, determined song that showcases de Michele’s vocal gifts.
Entre is fluid and delightful, de Michele sings beautifully to a rhythmic backing.
“Your nose is so cute I want to eat it” she sings casually on Hungry? while oddly resembling Jane Siberry.
This is a sparkling collection of songs.
Posted on September 28, 2007 - Anna Maria Sterjnell
Discography
"VIEW" EP June 2007.
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Bio
Sultry, dancey, sexy, noir, and a little bit playful, "Sparrow is fronted by the dulcet-toned Christine de Michele." -Collected Sounds (Sept 07). "Christine Vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist wears a number of hats, and she wears them well. She does not do it alone, though, as driving drums and swirling, echoing guitars offer great counterpoints." - Performer Magazine (Dec 07)
Sparrow begin taking shape in a Boston attic during the winter of 2007. Hailing from the coast of Maine- observations of the world came easily for Sparrow vocalist-songwriter-keyboardist Christine de Michele, as did putting them to paper (her writing and visual art have both been published). It was now time to bring creativity and experimentation into the realm of music...within six months of forming their current line up, Sparrow played shows in 4 different states, received local and international press, and Christine was scouted and signed to SESAC.
Sparrow recorded debut EP "VIEW" which has been called "a sparkling collection of songs opening with a quiet, determined song that showcases de Michele’s vocal gifts." (- Anna Maria Stjarnell -CollectedSounds.com).
Currently, Sparrow is in the midst of recording their first full length album; whose songs were debuted at a wall-to-wall packed Saturday night show at Matt Murphy's last week. "Christine and her mates throw us happily into the sultry world of Sparrow with their slinky grooves and sensual, yet eerily affecting vocals (Performer Magazine)."
Members of Sparrow have shared the stage with local, national and internationally performing acts, some of which include Lotus, Managerie, The Old Silver Band, Flutter Effect, Yellowman, de Sol, Bill Belemy and Amy Bowles (Sam Kininger Band) Marrianne Solivan, Tom Arey (Akashik Record) Jermey Kizina and Pat Ormiston (Japhy Ryder), Audrey Ryan, Jenn Taranto, Emilia Dahlin, Annie Lynch and the Bee Keepers, Alex Radus, Alec Spiegelman, My Little Radio, The Motion Sick, Alina Simone, This Car Up, Gabriel Miller-Phillips and Cat Power.
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