I See Sparks - EP (2008-09)

I'm seeing more than sparks, I see Stars!...

Something is ebbing away...yes that's it, all the shit music I've tolerated for too long. I See Sparks have awakened the dying atheist I call my musical interest. My ears are happy, I think if you looked hard enough you could see a smile, I know I did when I looked in the mirror!

I first heard of this band a few months ago in a passing conversation and on posters but today was the first time I'd heard their music and I have to say fellas, well done, I'm impressed. You have finally created something that most artists today touched on but somehow missed, the effects, the perfect intonation, the harmonies, they have all created a gorgeous piece of audio, something I like to call ear candy.

I am saddened however, I met these guys at a talk with Brian Message, I am disappointed, not in the band, no. I am disappointed in the world, who doesn't see the potential? I hear this kind of music everyday, it's called good music, successful music and my gripe is that I haven't seen these guys on TV or heard them on the radio. 21,000 hits on MySpace is not enough people!

When I placed the CD in my player, I was pleasantly welcomed with the sweet sound of harmonized guitar riffs, a very catchy bass line and jumpy drums in a track called 'The Highs The Lows'. I wanted to get up and dance it's that damn happy! It's great too, it's not too happy, it's not cheesy, that's what's so wonderful about it. The chorus is the prime example, it's as close to perfect as you can get for music of this type. The lyrics are nothing shy of beautifully brilliant, the structure of just this one song has made it a Top 5 in my charts.

The next song 'Lovers' has a typically present template of popular music, no there's nothing wrong with this song, the fact that they kept to this template is successful, that's why it's called popular music isn't it?

The track 'An Arrogance' sounds like the boisterous track, it has an attitude that screams for your attention, it is a voice that must be heard! The guitars have a stabbing effect, coupled with the bass during the bridge towards the end of the song bring a neat ending to the song, with that alternative twist.

My favourite track aside from 'The Highs The Lows' is 'Coming Around', it has that needed difference, as if this were an album it has that sound that 3 or 4 tracks in you need to hear. It is definitely the highlight.

'Unveil Your Crime', this track is also my favourite, it's good in the way that it's like one of those hidden gems in the middle of a collection of songs like an EP or an album and it takes my breath away. It's so sweetly serenity, it's so powerfully beautiful. It is so going on repeat!

Lastly the EP has one last kick before it ends and goes back to sleep, 'This Is Patience' is that final rock out before it fades into a hidden soother, whether it is meant to be part of that song or has some independence makes no difference, it's a nice little twist at the end of the EP and it makes you beg for more.

All in all I like it. In my opinion this is album material, if they keep writing like that I don't see why they shouldn't make it. They are a bit behind however, if I heard this a couple of years ago I would have given this so much more, nowadays the industry is moving very quickly but that's not saying I don't have faith. They aren't very far behind in the game and if they turn that EP into an album and start writing the next album asap, they'll be leading the industry rather than trying to keep up.

© Carl Gwynne 2009

www.myspace.com/iseesparks
Artwork Credit: Aarron Taylor
www.aarrontaylor.com