Finch
Thirty Tigers, 2019
8/10
The 6th album from Andy Baxter and Kyle Jahnke, i.e. Penny & Sparrow, has the esteemed Austin duo telling moving stories about loss and faith, among other personal topics, on a heavily soul and R&B influenced affair.
“Long Gone” starts the listen with smooth, soulful vocals in a slick setting of pop flavored R&B, and “Eloise Preamble” follows with a bare a capella delivery that flows into “Eloise”, where acoustic instruments enter the cautiousness with soaring falsettos.
Moving along, the folky “Bishop” recruits strings for a breathy and hushed album highlight, while “Recuerda” continues with a romantic spirit and gorgeous instrumentation with strategic synth.
Near the end, “Stockholm” utilizes acoustic guitars in a snappy, playful moment and “It’s Hysterical” offers a slow burning affair of sublime beauty. “Gumshoe” ends the listen soft and agile, as expressive vocals suit the articulate and emotive exit perfectly.
While their early work had the pair sitting comfortably in the indie-folk realm, Penny & Sparrow have covered much ground in their prolific career, and here 10 years of touring pour out in a contemplative listen of adept self-awareness.
Travels well with: Novo Amor- Birthplace; Tall Heights- Neptune