Tara MacLean- Sparrow
Tara Maclean released her latest album Sparrow and it is a testament to the healing power of music. Her Memoir “Song of the Sparrow” sheds light on her personal struggles that inspired the album. Her storytelling through words and music is deeply interlinked with each other at its very core. Every song on this album is proof of her excellent craft. Her childhood was filled with hunger, uncertainty and danger. Despite that, her solace was in music and writing, it gave her the strength to create a future for herself. That's Me- Sparrow Version Her single Sparrow is where it all starts. Largely, her first half is soft and mellow, leaning more towards R&B. It starts with abandonment. Sparrow speaks of being left when you need someone the most. While all this is true, she also speaks of themes of resistance in this one. Sparrow could also be termed as a restart rather than a start and boy is it strong and empowering! As the album progresses, it moves towards jazz and blues, having a fuller and sharper soundscape. But before we get to That’s Me- Sparrow Version is where it stops. And we hear the songs transition into different genres slowly. She puts a stop to her soft rounded-off notes and makes space for the Jazz. Divided- Sparrow Version She introduces a different texture of sounds in Divided- Sparrow version. We suddenly hear the percussion creating a baseline for the song to bounce off of and we’re here for it. The change in texture adds so much value to the storytelling with regard to the mood she has created. The character arch from this section is tremendous to the album. She somehow still maintains her heartfelt R&B soul through this section. A special mention to the orchestra in the last three tracks. It adds such an atmosphere of euphoria to the album. The production by Daniel Ledwell is outstanding, bringing together a phenomenal set of sounds and polishing it to perfection. The album evokes such moving images of resistance and overcoming hurdles and hardship. A film that showcases this and adds a little bit of spice to its story with the theme of revenge is Colombiana. The film is an action-packed powerhouse, Tara’s Sparrow would work wonderfully in any part, specifically the end. Where we could use Divided in the last fight scene which by the way did Sansa’s revenge with Ramsey Bolton way before her. Overall, "Sparrow" and "Song of the Sparrow" are both extraordinary works. It showcases incredible talent and strength by Tara MacLean. Her music and writing have touched the hearts of readers and listeners around the world. Her story is an inspiration to anyone who has faced adversity in their life. We can only hope that she continues to create and share her gifts with the world for years to come. You can find the links to socials underneath and don’t forget to give her powerful memoir a read.
Not Rated Yet