Sparrohs – “Hey Adam” | Progressive Rock Central.com

The Sparrohs have returned with an excellent new album, and maybe their best album yet. Hey Adam is the new album, and it was released on the 25th of February 2023. The band has been through some changes and their sound has changed as well. It is more powerful, and their lyrics, (always good), have been raised to a new and exciting level. The band continues as Olive Brooke, lead vocals; Brian Phillips, song writer, guitarist, and vocalist; and Sebastian Unfried, cameraman, roadie, flag-bearer, and promoter. Victoria Androuin, the band’s dancer, has left to pursue her career as a dancer, from France.

This album was made during the band’s many travels throughout Morocco, Northern Africa, and Switzerland. It was written and bears the indelible influence of these surroundings, including the profound and modern realities of these ancient worlds. Those images and influences have profoundly helped produce the power and majesty of the imagery, music, and lyrics that make up Hey Adam. It has been said, that if you immerse yourself in the world of Biblical emergence, it cannot help, but have a profound influence over you.

And so, Sparrohs presents you with, Hey Adam!

The album opens with one of the band’s strongest opening songs yet. And one of the best songs on the album. “Breaking In”, will do just that. Break into your subconscious if you let it, and it is a very spiritual and thought-provoking song.

The lyrics stunned me from the beginning. After wonderful, deep-thinking orchestration, Olive sings, “I’m breaking in. I can feel revival. Dusting the cobwebs out of my mind. I can see again, by blocking the reasons that were stopping me from living”. Then, Brian joins in on vocals, “Been around, this block before. I recognize every wall and every door. What I know is that something’s got to give. I’m in a lockdown of the mind. I’m breaking in”.

But, wait, there’s so much more! The duo continues, “I took a hammer. Start swinging at the locks inside. I went full throttle. As I busted down the pride. I shown the hallways of the mind, no more control. Over me. I’m gonna be free, free, free. I’m breakin’ in!” Then more, “I’m breaking in to the treasure buried. In my heart there is no worry. Cause the love that has been there, won’t be captive to my fear!” They keep it power-charged. “Cracking open windows of my soul. Gotta get the good breeze blowing or at least control. I was under the bridle of my sins. I’ve been in the dark. I was blind. I’m breaking in!” “Now the light is flowing through this gorgeous mind. No longer gonna be a slave of funkytown no more. I am free to be the one I was made to be. I can see. Now it’s you I’m gonna free!” “I’m breakin’ in!”

Wow! Yes, set to an awesome, great beat. “Everybody say yes to free the mind. Just say yes. Don’t be left behind. Come and yes to the new revival. Go and say yes like you were a child. Go and yes to the power strong. Come and say yes to turning it on. Just yes to living the brave. Somethings gotta give. I’m breaking in!” They made it through with me. Love this song completely. Excellent start.

How do you follow that? Well, you “Cry Freedom”. And so, they do. Great keyboards open the fabulous story of Moses, used as a beacon, to represent all slaves or people being oppressed. “So, fight for your freedom. Fight for your choice. To live life, a free man. Follow the star North, to freedom”. “I have to run. Across the river to freedom. To the river, where deliverance will come”. So many slaves fled north in the USA, during the Civil War, through the Underground Railroad. What magical music, encapsulating the historic hope that many around the world, including Latin Americans, Eastern and Southern Europeans, now believe; for freedom, that lies to the north. Two powerful songs to open this wonderful album. But there is still so much more.

“Hey Adam”, the title track, is another of the best songs on the album. Imagine going back to “The Garden”. Yes, “The”, “Garden of Eden”. What if there had been a different outcome? The Sparrohs examine this opportunity on the title track. And they do have some fun with it. Two of the best lines on all of their albums, yet. I will not spoil it. They are moments that will be memorable to all Sparrohs fans. You’ll know what I mean when you hear them. Well worth the wait.

“City of Angels”, continues the list of power tracks on this album. Olive imagines a walk down the streets of Hollywood and Los Angeles, and examines and mourns its excesses and missing hope. A powerful song, that cries for this city of potential, to awake to the promise it should provide and nourish, for all its residents. And all who wish, that their dreams can one day, be fulfilled…in this city of angels.

Olive always has one country type song on each album. (She must be a secret country music fan). For this one, its “Crazy Cowboy”. Not a country ballad at all. Just a cowboy metaphor, this time. A happy song. The tag line, she repeats is, “Hey you, what are you waiting for. Let’s grab life by the horns. And ride like a crazy cowboy!” She is having too much fun. So, don’t stop her now. Just plug this one in and dance to it.

“Love, Love, Love”, opens with a serious tone to it. Olive and Brian sing, “There’s something now that I’ve known for a very long time. And you’re about to hear what’s going on in my mine. There are two sides to every story in this life. We’ve all heard yours. Now get ready to hear mine!” “Before we get started…” You know this is gonna be good. “A breakthrough!” It is all about love. The power of love, expressed in many ways. The message, Send love to get love. Many ways to take this. I think they are reaching out to many…or us…individually.

“Sandcastle”, is another hit off this great album. I think it is all about understanding what you want out of life. Remember the Tubes’ classic, (for all of us, who grew up in the 1970s). You know, “What Do You Want from Life”. . Is it materialistic consumption, or do you want more? Olive is “not going down with the tide!”

“Pick Up the Phone”, is another great couples’ song. A woman reaching out to her love, to pick up the phone and call.

“Open Road”, is another powerful story told by this band of many adventures. A road song for a band that has spent years on the road. Olive and Brian sing, “Will somebody walk here with me? I know the heart beats one. But why do I feel two. Is it because you believe in me. Well, let me tell you, my friend. I believe in you too!” Like that famous beach photo of footsteps, with someone there following. Together they sing, “Walk with me”.

“Solitaire”, is probably my favorite song on the album. It has the unforgettable sounds of Moroccan nights and sandy walks, through mysterious and ancient lands. It is a wonderland of acoustic guitar and some of the best lyrics on this or any other Sparrohs album. Brian sings most of the opening lyrics. But Olive enters, singing, “Flaming torches light up the desert sands. The winds were swirling in the reflection of who I am. Breathing for the first time. I am looking at my world. I have dreamed of you in my solitaire. And now you’re living. You’re alive”. Yes, the desert lives within these band members, and it carries them like the mythical “pilot of the storm who leaves no trace”, from “Kashmir”, of the glorious past. Finally, someone got it. The message to create something that takes a stab at something as epic as the Led Zeppelin classic. Thank you is all that needs to be said. 4minutes and 28 seconds, that I will cherish.

“Streetlights”, is another fun adventure. This time a great night on the town! Dance this one out. They are really gonna miss Victoria on this one!

“One More”, is a powerful song of hope for no more war. How many more will perish as we continue this unfortunate manifestation of Man, currently playing out in Europe again…after so long…the peace? A sad, but hopeful song of reuniting safely, despite the horrors of the battlefield.

This album is a game changer for this band. This is the album I hope will break this band globally. They have been working hard, trying to gain the respect and recognition for the wonderful music they create. I hope more will hear their message of hope this year. The Biblical lands they have travelled have left their mark and impression on this band, and this is the album which echoes those lessons learned and wisdom obtained. Please give this album a listen and buy it. It is worth every dollar spent. Sit back and enjoy one of the best albums of 2023!