Alternative country psychedelic pop outfit Beachwood Sparks release their fourth album and first in twelve years this month with `Across the River Of Stars`. The three founding members Christopher Gunst (vocals / guitar), Brent Rademaker (vocals / bass) and Farmer Dave Scher (vocals / keyboards, lap steel) are joined by Benjamin Knight (The Tyde) adding guitar, Andres Renteria (John Dwyer’s Bent Arcana) on drums, Jen Cohen Gunst (Mystic Chords of Memory, The Aislers Set) on keys and guitar, and Clay Finch (Mapache) adding background vocals. Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes produced the album.
`My Love My Love` leads us in and cruises along with harmonies and as you feel it`s going to be instrumental vocals join and the number becomes a deep and reflective tender affection of love which almost has a gospel like texture about it. There`s a gentle ambience to `Torn In Two` which I have to admit brought to mind The Lemonheads `It`s A Shame About Ray` but with a more country-tinged pop feel. It closes out with an understated but enticing guitar solo.
`Falling Forever` has a rhythmic pulse at its heart but the jangly guitars shared gave it a Byrds like flavour, a song with a real confidence and positive message to extend. There`s a real West Coast vibe to `Gentle Samurai` which really draws you into its charming easy-going atmosphere.
`Gem` has tinkling piano keys and a guiding drumbeat that leads you along with its delightful harmonies which generated for me a kind of cinematic or pictorial reflection on a romantic liaison. There`s a recurring percussive beat to `Faded Glory` which has exquisite vocal harmonies that are almost hypnotic.
`Dolphin Dance` is short and sweet and had a kind of innocent charm about it with some quirky lap steel tones. A deep melancholia permeates `High Noon` a soulful number that appears to be about a relationship on the slide. A track that i`m sure The Eagles wished they`d written.
The album closes out with `Wild Swans` a buoyant, enticing, upbeat and hopeful composition to leave us with. `Across the River Of Stars` is a delightful listen packed with vocal harmonies, dreamy melodies, and some life affirming sentiment. An album that runs at less than thirty minutes and would be ideal for listening with friends around a fire in the evening sharing a beer or on the stereo driving with the windows open.
A feel-good offering that arrives just in time for Summer.
Rating 8.5/10
