Label: Samsara Records
Back in 2019 in Finland, guitarist Sami Sarhamaa and his colleague, Olli Huhtanen, a sound engineer, made the move from talking about music to actually making the music. Surprisingly quickly they had 5 tracks completed and a mini album, The Deep End was released.In effect, Olli produces the basics of the track and Sami adds things to his liking and they decided that rather than aim to produce prog rock, art rock or whatever, they would simply “go with the flow” of what they produced.
The
onset of Covid – 19 lockdowns meant that time to finalize these 5
tracks became available. Via the internet, the two friends, working in
their own studios, collaborated with other musicians, namely Miri
Miettinen (drums) and Trio Tingo (backing vocals). This ultimately
resulted in The Deep End being released at the beginning of August.
The Deep End
is a 5 track mini album with a total running time of just over 30
minutes (30:11) with track 3, “Shallow End” being the shortest at 4:45
minutes and the final track, “Gravity” the longest with a playing time
in excess of 7:00 minutes (7:11).
The opening track “Gravest
Danger” (6:17) starts with a great guitar riff which falls away to a
gentler scenario before the crystal-clear vocals enter. The track slowly
builds in intensity and the gentle guitar passages are sublime. Around
the halfway point the track has an excellent synth theme before the
guitar sets down another excellent passage and ushers in the vocals
again. Another excellent passage builds with the musicians showing their
skills before the sound drops away to end with a solo piano motif. This
track has certainly been successful in getting the listeners interest
and for relative newcomers, this has been an excellent taster for the 4
tracks still to come.
Track 2, “Scales” (7:00) carries on from
the opening track with more excellent vocals and superb guitar riffs.
After 4 minutes, the track takes a different direction with some
exquisite piano and synth passages, prior to the vocals appearing. Only 2
tracks in and this release is looking like a stunning debut for
Lighthouse Sparrows.
The third track, “Shallow End” (4:46)
continues the good work with a much more laidback feel, which highlights
another facet of the band. The vocals sound very relaxed but can
“roughen up” when required. Synth passages carry the track on with
sudden seamless changes in tempo and a guitar passage with a little more
“punch” takes the track to its finale.
The last 2 tracks, “Deep
End” and “Gravity,” (4:57 and 7:11 respectively), continue to impress to
the listener, bearing in mind that this release is a debut mini album.
Synths, great drum and bass from the engine room, excellent vocals and
stunning guitar passages. The range of the band over the 5 tracks on
offer is exceptional.
The Deep End is
an amazing debut and gives the listener the perception of a band that
has been playing and recording for a long time as the band just exudes
confidence in what they do. I have no hesitation in suggesting that this
mini album would be money well spent and I look forward, in
anticipation, to where Lighthouse Sparrows go from this point.
Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson – Prog Rock Music Talk Staff.
October 10, 2020
Tracks:
1. Gravest Danger (6:17)
2. Scales (7:00)
3. Shallow End (4:46)
4. Deep End (4.57)
5. Gravity (7:11)
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