There is something slightly lo-fi about North Adams based House Sparrow‘s album “Eat Honey, Taste Mud”. The acoustic guitar sounding almost like it was recorded through a harmonica mic. Tin can-ish and metallic in its texture. The band allowing creaks of the floor and between take banter to seep into their songs. Its honest.

“Tie A Rope” was a track that struck me the most in listening to our album of the week pretty much all week long. Singer Francesca Olsen’s voice is reminiscent of one of our favorite Boston bred bands, Honeysuckle’s Holly McGarry. Jazzy in nature, but dovetailing beautifully with the self described “freak folk” that the band identifies as. The track grows and grows from that initial bedroom demo feel and adds layers and layers that blend wonderfully beneath Olsen’s vocal palette. Long held keys, drums and a simple bass line. Only adding to the song, never detracting. Almost entering into this slow dance type feel. A blending of genres, folk meets electronic dance music…which in my head would never work, but here with House Sparrow it is an exultant celebration of sound.

Oh, how my wrists are cracking and strained. 
I’ll hold this hard in my heart to go back to someday.