Album Review: New Day New World, Spoons (Sparks Music, 2019)
This is the Spoons’ first studio release since Static in Transmission (All My People, 2011). From the opening piano intro on the title track to the broken electronic beats bookending this album in the title’s reprise, New Day New World emits a kind of magic.
The Spoons posess an alchemy that has endured through their 40 history: the interplay between Gord Deppe’s and Sandy Horne’s vocals; the edgy guitar; and most of all the synthesized soundscape born in the 80s and ably refreshed with each outing. There is also solid songwriting on this album with chart worthy pop songs, thoughtful down tempo numbers like “Life on Demand” and “Landing Lights,” and the wonderfully synth-laden “Snowglobes.”
An early fan favourite is “For the First and the Last Time.” It is a charming melody with a love song at its heart – bottled happiness. A clever variation on the same tune is “Paint by Numbers Day,” with Horne taking the lead on vocals.
I’ve been a fan of the Spoons since I heard Arias & Symphonies for the first time. I spent my adolescent years adoring the band and their sound. It is exceptionally satisfying, so many years later, to hear such an objectively good and entirely fresh album from start to finish.
I’ll be marvelling at this new magic for some time.
The Players: Gordon Deppe (guitar, vocals), Sandy Horne (bass guitar, vocals), Casey MQ (keyboards), Chris McNeill (drums)
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