Roomful of Sparrows

November 9, 2009

Ola Podrida’s self-titled album was one of my favorite debuts of ‘07 and had one of my favorite tracks of that year, the breathtaking “Cindy” (MP3). The band is releasing the follow-up Belly of the Lion this week and after a few listens over the weekend, I’m really quite taken by it. David Wingo is a meticulous song craftsman and his work is filled with gorgeous, full textures and consuming emotions. The music never strays too far away from it’s folk roots, but stripped-down this is not. There are layers of noise that permeate throughout the sound, and the tracks will often build to intense, powerful climaxes.

One such track that has quickly become a favorite for me is “Roomful of Sparrows”. It’s a magnificent and full absorbing song. The lyrical imagery that David Wingo employs is incredibly vivid, exploring themes of desperation and loneliness while it the music is both pretty and slightly unsettling. The final bars equal the ending of “Cindy” in pure catharsis and outpouring of emotion. Wingo shows a true gift for this type of charged storytelling. First single, “Your Father’s Basement” is further proof of this talented artist’s ability to evoke a mood, this time of teenage nostalgia, by detailing few key moments and weaving together the exquisite music with his own piercing vocals.

MP3 Roomful of Sparrows
MP3 Your Father’s Basement

Posted by Taylor in Artist Spotlight