Spearmint is a London-based band, established in the mid-nineties fiercely independent, and do not regard themselves as Indie, in fact they don’t align with any genre or movement. Their line-up is unchanged since 1995: Shirley Lee (singing, guitar, main songwriter), James Parsons (guitar, bass), Simon Calnan (singing, keyboards) and Ronan Larvor (drums). They have a new album `This Candle Is For You` which is the follow-up 2021’s highly ‘Holland Park’.
The album opens with `Tell Me About My Sister` which begins with a fairly soulful funky instrumental vibe before the vocals join and lead us through tale of a search for a missing person, a sister you never knew possibly or maybe it`s a metaphor for something much deeper. There`s a delightful introspective dreaminess to the vocal delivery. A brief spoken word thought process is shared in the latter section before the song fades out with a kind of string arrangement. We have a kind of indie anthem with a country tinged feel with `Makes You Beautiful` which appears to relate to somebody making the best of themselves despite the hand they`ve been dealt.
`Melody’s Mother’s Jam` drifts along with hand clicks and a strummed guitar and is a number about reminiscing on times that are long gone but seemed much happier. The shimmering synth keys midway add a further sense of nostalgia. It would appear that `The Most Secret Agent In The World` is a veiled hint to the actor and diplomat John Gavin (born Juan Vincent Apablasa) whowas signed for the role of James Bond in the film Diamonds Are Forever after George Lazenby left the role. His contract was honoured despite losing the role to Sean Connery. It`s has an utterly mesmerising cinematic like soundscape.
The piano led `Prince And Joni` refers to an imagined encounter between Prince with the folk legend Joni Mitchell, the line “one is flattered, one obsessed, one suspicious, one feels blessed, one thing they agree on is the next songs will be the best” is sublime as is the song itself. Although `Three More Songs On The Jukebox` is only seventy seconds long it seems as if we live the protagonists life in this brief tale of a one sided love affair.
`Never Far From Saturday Night` is a further reflection on times gone by and living for the weekend set to a delightfully easy going melodic tune. There`s an uneasiness both lyrically and musically to `Into The Darkness` when night falls and past indiscretions and follies gather to haunt the perpetrator. The rhythmic churning bass and drum along with a whispered vocal add a further menace to the number.
`How I Became The Nutter On The Bus / Older Cats Pt 1` is split into two parts with `Nutter` a reflective melancholic musing on how one has morphed into a figure of fun, similar to one whom you used to ridicule in adolescent times. Whereas `Cats 1` is a part spoken word part sung surreal observation on what could be visiting an animal rescue centre from the perspective of the rescuer and rescued?? It blends into `Older Cats Pt 2` which is more of the same but set against a racing punk tinged musical back beat.
`Flowers On The Bandstand` examines the reaction to Sarah Everard’s death and how life almost moves on after an initial outcry and outrage. The track has a folk like texture with lyrics that are fairly contemplative and emotive. The number closes out with a percussive under beat, floating flute tones, a shook tambourine, and a strummed guitar. This release concludes with `Back In The Middle` which has a sort of spiritual feel with lyrics that I have to say were beyond me.
`This Candle Is For You` is a really eclectic and fascinating listen, full of twists and turns which veers this way and that musically. At times it`s a bit funky, a bit country, a bit folky, a bit cinematic and a bit contemplative but totally absorbing with lyrics that are thought provoking and confusing. I read somewhere about it being full of vintage indie-pop sounds and thoughtful themes, which is probably a better summation than I could muster.
If you enjoy intelligent, quirky indie pop akin to bands such as The Lilac Time and Belle and Sebastian, then Spearmint are definitely for you.
Rating 9 /10
