Spark & Echo's inheritance got four great reviews this week and we just posted them here and at
www.SparkandEchoBand.com/reviews. Lots of very kind words, but I think my favorite is from Wildy's World who, while describing our album's successes and imperfections both, managed to paint a rather sweet picture of our marriage. Read on...
GOOD VIBES MUSIC REVIEWS
Alec Cunningham
April 03, 2013
When you think of great female-male music duos, you automatically think of groups such as Sonny and Cher, The Civil Wars, Ike and Tina, or The White Stripes. The list goes on and on. Spark & Echo, a budding talent from New York, is another to add to the list. And not only do they serve as a great team, but they are also an authentic husband and wife duo. The familiarity and understanding between Jonathon Roberts and Emily Clare Zempel is so strong that the sentiments are reflected into their newest album Inheritance. This intimacy can be seen especially well in “Buy Me A Hat,” which offers a playful banter between the vocals of the couple. Their vocal responsibilities switch back and forth line after line, almost as if they are holding a conversation between themselves.
Stories of the Bible are referenced time after time, but the songs also hold strong on their own without taking their religious aspect into account. “What A Day,” for instance, is said to be based off of Psalms 31, which describes the qualities of a virtuous woman and how her husband should praise her. It is sung predominately from the perspective of Roberts who praises the day Zempel was created and the love he has found with her. Not only do they cover religious themes, but they tackle them on a more personal level, lending greater intimacy to their work. “Lifeblood,” the final track, guarantees that you will walk away from this album wanting to give it a second listen. With words and lines like “covenant,” “waters destroy,” and “image of God,” you understand that they have taken references from the Bible; however, the suggestions are not overdone. It is clear that they have shaped their song around Noah’s Ark, The Ten Commandments, and the idea that all living things are equal, but they have done so in a way that makes the balance between religious themes and pure musical talent obvious as well.
The love between this couple and the love they share for the Lord is evident. But Inheritance cannot be distinctly described as a love album between these two, while describing it as an exclusively religious album is incorrect as well. Rather, the tracks these two have created can best be described as songs of joy. Inheritance is flooded with cheery melodies that are sure to lift your spirits. The piano works as the crux of their sound, and instruments such as accordions and bassoons fill in the gaps. There are tracks that are so catchy and memorable that their lines and melodies will stick with you after the very first listen.
Rating: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
INDIE WORLD MUSIC
Matthew Forss
March 29, 2013
Husband-wife duo, Jonathon Roberts and Emily Clare Zempel, are based in New York's South Bronx. The acoustic folk, Christian, and contemporary singers/songwriters produce an uplifting release of eleven songs inspired by Biblical events, themes, and messages with memorable vocals and captivating instrumentation. In fact, the bassoon, ukulele, accordion, and piano are the instruments of choice. The gospel according to Spark & Echo is filled with theatrical piano-tinged tunes with assorted instruments and vocal medleys that are rich with pop-focused qualities. The alternative tunes are quirky, witty, instructional, and intelligent throughout. "Buy Me A Hat" is a funky, heady tune with classy vocals and theatrical musical elements that are swishy, punchy, and carefree. "Inheritance" continues in the funky vein with Ben Folds-esque vocals and vocal deliveries with poetic lyrics and jazzy, classical, and experimental foundations. "How To Be Free" opens with an angelic vocal medley accompanied by accordion, bell-tones, and light percussion. The entire song represents a little down-tempo with some big kirtan-like arrangements that reflect a Christian presence, rather than seeking spiritual guidance from Hindu sources. Overall, the music resembles a mishmash of Squonk Opera, Ben Folds, and Zero 7. This is a solid release of tunes that are applicable for all of the world's inhabitants. Each song is a spiritual release whether you believe it or not.
5 Stars (out of 5)
WILDY'S WORLD
Wildy Haskell
April 04, 2013
Spark & Echo – Inheritance
2012, Spark & Echo
Spark & Echo is perhaps one of the most perfectly named acts I’ve ever come across. The duo comprised of husband and wife team Jonathon Roberts and Emily Clare Zempel has a back story that’s as interesting as their music. Born in Middle America, each began their love of music at an early age. The two met at an audition for jazz choir in college and eventually began to date. Graduate school came for Emily, while Jonathon headed out for the road. The inevitable breakup came; but years later they were reunited in New York City through church. The echoes of the past wore at them, but it took time. They eventually reconvened their relationship, and combined musical direction, as Spark & Echo. The duo has a passion for telling some of the more bombastic stories from the Bible in song, and this passion is unmistakable on the duo’s sophomore album, Inheritance.
Spark & Echo’s unique musical perspective is very evident throughout Inheritance. Most intriguing are the album’s imperfections. Roberts’ voice is pleasant to listen to, and he shows off a rather impressive falsetto range at times during the album, but his pitch and tone can suffer at inopportune times. Zempel’s voice is similarly untrained, although there is an edge to her sound that is appealing. The compositions are generally well crafted, but the marriage of music to lyric is sometimes forced. In spite of this, Inheritance works on several levels.
To begin with, for whatever weaknesses you might perceive in Roberts and Zempel, the blend of their voices is perfect. Their two voices sound like they were made to fit together. The energy on the album is unflagging, even on the slower songs. Spark & Echo creates out of a love for making great music, and also for their subject matter. This goes a long way. Finally, there is a musical wanderlust that wends its way through Inheritance, with Spark & Echo willing to follow wherever the song leads. Whether its They Might Be Giants influenced alt-pop (“Buy Me A Hat”, “What A Day”); jazz/soul (“Inheritance”); Latin Pop (“Yo Sé”); or even French Chanson (“Battles”); Spark & Echo finds a way to entertain and inform.
Rating: 3 stars (Out of 5)
MIDDLE TENNESSEE MUSIC BLOG
Bret Campbell
April 02, 2013
On a Mission: Illuminating Spark & Echo’s “Inheritance”
All it takes is a spark, and sometimes they make a big echo. Born of a spark of inspiration that spans from childhood, through adversity and into a beautiful marriage, Spark & Echo’s Inheritance (Spark and Echo Arts) is one of those that leaves a beautiful echoing sound inside you!
Beautifully recorded sounds of instruments from around the world and crossing over a few styles, the music that makes a bed for husband and wife duo Jonathon Roberts and Emily Clare Zempel’s vocals could stand on it’s own. When you add in the fun and drama that the couple’s harmony brings in, you have an exciting theatrical mix of songwriting that is pretty much unparalleled.
Guitars and cool percussion, brass and strings, flutes and accordions, simple sounds and gorgeous vocals, that’s enough of a challenge with these eclectic songs. Now, add in the subject matter and let it blow your mind.
You see, Inheritance is not just a record but part of a bigger mission to expose and tell the stories of the “Holy Bible” as they have never been examined before. As a youngster, Jonathon wrote a musical based upon the Book of Ruth. It got him in a bit of hot water with a few folks, but his spark to illuminate the books he loved never dimmed.
Having known each other since childhood, going separate ways, being in and out of love, Jonathan and Emily realized their love for each other and this project in an unexpected way. I’ve got to say the fruits of it hit my desk unexpectedly, too and at a perfect time!
The songs here tell stories based around passages of the Bible and some are direct translations of “Psalms,” “Galatians,” “Proverbs,” and other beloved passages. Fitting the prose of the the tome that spans over five thousand years to music has got to be a daunting task, but the skill with which Spark and Echo do it makes me think they were born to.
The songs are fun and quirky, melodic and haunting, and wonderfully lilting all at the right times. They definitely belie the theatrical background of the writers, but are magically listenable even for a die-hard 4/4 rock fan. Influences like Ben Folds and Paul Simon can be heard, but it doesn’t stop there.
When you find yourself needing something completely different and up-lifting, give Inheritance a spin. I’ll be listening to it often!
