SPIRES THAT IN THE SUNSET RISE

In their second album Taralie Peterson´s sister, Tracy joined in the band. She started to play mostly percussion instruments, so the other members had more possibility to play all those extraordinary instruments like Zither, Mbira, Spike Fiddle. Spires had always used also banjo, cello, autoharp & harmonium. Band also changed their record label into US Secret Eye Records, that became their record company in three albums. Secret Eye Records was run by Jeffrey Alexander, who was musician himself. It seems label hadn´t been active after 2009. Although Wikipedia says Spires toured throughout US, Canada and Europe, I haven´t found any other information about tours from internet. But they had some gigs at least in Belgium, Netherlands and Austria in 2006-2007. There exists also interesting, but bad quality live piece from Abbey Pub (Chicago?) 2007 in YouTube.

"Four Winds" is short prelude. In next "Wide Awake" music is very desperate and dark, but much softer than in their first album. There is really great drumwork by Tracy and string instruments are in the top. "Little For a Lot" is sad, but very melodic. It has really great vocals from Kathleen. Also Georgia´s Zither playing is wonderful! This became one of my favorites immediately! Georgia, Kathleen and Taralie are singing in "Sheye". It has three different parts and atmosphere varies from hysteria to sadness. "Sort Sands" is sad valse where Kahtleen sings again in a very beautiful way, also from the very high in the chorus. "Ong Song" starts with Tracy playing Mbira. Soon comes Zither and very strange sounding slide guitar. This is sad, but quite experimental piece. "This Ain´t For Mama" is the albums longest song. I think it´s "rock music" in way Spires play it! In end it changes quite pastoral.

"Shining" is one of the highlights in this album! Tracy´s Mbira playing is again great and both Kahtleen and Taralie have awesome vocals! Listen this song and if you don´t fell in love in Spires, it´s not your band. But bands magnificence continues into next "No Matter"! Tracy plays thumb piano through some effect and it has so interesting sound. Very beautiful piece again with Kathleen vocals! "Imaginary Skin" is really folky piece, goes little bit more into first albums direction. Great cello playing from Taralie! "Serum" is long but really hypnotic piece. In "the May Ham" Georgia´s lap slide has again some strange effect, that makes it sound more like saw. Taralie´s banjo sounds in some parts like Sonic Youth guitars! "Born In a Room" is a some kind of mad folky piece, but it has very beautiful middle part. "The Walker" is a short, same kind of outro as "Four Winds".

Bands music took really big step between two first albums! This album almost got the genius of the next two albums! When all four member were in this band, they recorded their greatest albums! As a three member band they made their another masterpiece "Curse the Traced Bird", but when also Vallas left, bands direction changed into more serene. That was not bad, but I love more colorful and also shocking style of the earlier albums. Anyway I really hope Kathleen and Taralie will continue this great band as duo! "Four Winds the Walker" came originally only in CD and digital format. So there is really a need of 2lp version of this excellent album!

Spires That In the Sunset Rise is very hard to put any genre. In wiki sites it has described as experimental and psychedelic folk. I think it´s more closer to neofolk than folk prog just because band got influences also from punk music. Neofolk term was started to use in the middle of eighties from bands like Death In June, Sol Invictus & Current 93. But those bands got influenced by some sixties/seventies artists like Leonard Cohen, Comus & Nico. I believe all these have influenced to Spires, but their wikisites mention too postpunk bands the Raincoats & the Ex. Anyway band members were from small town Decatur, Illinois and they knew each others from the early age. When they moved to Chicago they formed this band. At first there were three members Kathleen Baird, Georgia Vallas and Taralie Peterson.

Right away in"I Am Sewn" the album shows it´s nature. It feels as if you have become in the middle of some pagan ritual. Song ends into some really weird music box sound. Next "Birds Of Paradise" starts with bird voices, cello & harmonium. Then Kathleen starts very preaching style vocals. You have feeling to be much more in the dark forest in autumn than in paradise. In "Crooked Spine" Taralie really sounds like she has the one. "Rattlesnake" starts with a sad melody played by spike fiddle, but this also changes soon to very paganic ritual song when Georgia Vallas starts to sing in her very dramatic, Yoko Ono-style. In "Leader Of Change and Leader Of Within" both Vallas & Peterson create very bewitched feeling, when music also totally support them!

"Tampico" is little bit softer piece with melodic vocals from Kathleen, but it´s also really dark. "No Fate" brings change into album sound, there seems to be some very odd echo that makes the whole song sound quite dry. "I Follow You Follow Me" has some sick hit potential, at least it continues to play in my head all the time after this album listening. "Moonhouse" has again some melodic vocals from Kathleen. In this piece you can hear seeds of what will become in the later albums. "Bells Don´t Ting at Night" ends album in a very scary way. Taralie sounds again very witchy.

This was first album I heard from Spires. It woke my interest towards band, but it was their third album "This Is Fire" when I become their fan. I think in many bands their first album is the one, where band members let all that frustrations of childhood and youth show. This really is that kind of album, which I made a conclusion Decatur hasn ´t been very cheerful place to grown up at least in the nineties. This album has grown to me in many listens from three stars album to four. It´s the scariest and darkest album of theirs. I am glad they mature their music in their next albums. I am not recommending this to be a starter of Spires albums unless you´re a fan of hysteric and very dark music.

— First review of this album —

After few years quiet period Spires released improvisational cassette album "House Ecstatic (Cover Your Blood)". It can´t be heard fully anywhere in the net, also there is not much information about it. It´s possible it has recorded live in Cafe Oto in London, that has specialised into live improvisations. At least one piece from the album in Soundcloud is from that Cafe. In 2020 came the latest studio album from them at moment. Their record company had changed again, this time it was Oak Park, Illinois based label FBE-records.

This album continues where "Beasts In the Garden" left. On the other hand album goes into serene direction of "Ancient Patience"-albums. "Hypnagogic" starts with experimental voices from the ladies. Soon there come melodic sax loop and electro sound background. Every now and then you can hear also silent Taralie´s some kind of throat vocals. Very meditative piece! Title song begin with string loop and soon there comes human voices. In the middle there comes some other, quite silent string instrument. The first string loop also changes during this long piece. When there comes flute music changes little more restless. This quite atonal piece keeps my interest it´s whole almost 11 minutes lenght. "Nobody" has a great soundscape made by guitar, electro sounds and Kathleen´s vocals. "Geomantra" is very beautiful piece with echoes loops made by harmonium, sax & flute. Then there comes also Kathleen´s awesome vocals! "Terrestrials" starts with cello, but soon you will hear some electro sound that starts to vibrate. Again there are very experimental vocals from the both ladies. Later there comes some high sounds as if they have been made in guitar. "Sax Solfa" ends album in a sad but very beautiful way with sax & electro loops and high vocals.

It´s really great Spires have continued searching new paths in this album! In here there are experimentations of human voice in the way they haven´t earlier done. But also this is sounding just Spires album. "Psychic Oscillations" comes really close to the greatness of "Beasts In the Garden", but maybe it is again a little bit smooth to me. This album really has music that I recommend to listen with earphones and just doing nothing. Both ladies have recently been active in their solo career, but I hope there are some plans also to Spires future. In bandcamp sites band promise to keep on making music until they´re wrinkled old grannies, so I really wait their next album!

— First review of this album —

Something seemed to happen in Spires after their great "Beasts In the Garden"-album, because they went quite inactive. Their bandcamp sites says they were in many tours in US, Canada and Europe, but I found only few gigs in US in 2016 & 2017. It´s possible that situation had something to do with Taralie, because that time Kathleen seemed to start very active solo career when Taralie was quiet also in solo stuff. Anyway it was great thing Feeding Tube records released this album, that is also recorded in 2011 at the Experimental Sound Studio in Chicago. This time it seems these recordings were made in different days, not in one as in previous "Kata Physin"-album. Not sure what the album name means, but it can be "cream of the Chicago Illinois -recordings". At least it would make sense.

"Child" is the most aggressive piece from Spires, that I have heard. There are very punky vocals from Kathleen. Although very chaotic, I like the piece also because it´s not too long. In "Tagla" direction changes totally. It´s very beautiful piece with calm vocals from Kathleen and awesome Mbira playing. Title song starts with artistic, effected vocals from the ladies and bird sounding, interesting whistle blowing from Zerang. In the middle comes very chaotic part where´s also voices from the radio. "Meminisse" has quite paranoid feeling, when Taralie´s playing odd cello and singing through tremolo effect. Zerang´s Zither playing is very interesting, he´s got a lots of percussive sounds from that string instrument. Kathleen´s flute is also sounding very strange. Piece is maybe little bit too long with too little changes. "Triangulura" has very scary atmosphere reminding early Spires. There is very aggressive playing of some string instrument that is not mentioned in the album credits. Cello, flute and again effected vocals also create very horror feeling. In the end there is some flute sound sampling.

Although it´s improvisation nature, I found this album much greater as entity than previous "Kata Physin" from the same recording sessions. On the other hand this album hasn´t got any as great epic as "IV" is in that other album, but not also as bad piece as "III". If you´re a fan of interesting improvisation music, this is your album. Otherwise I recommend to listen Spires third and fourth album and also "Beasts In the Garden" to introduce their music.

— First review of this album —

In 2011 Spires That In the Sunset Rise, which has become two member band, collaborated with Chicago-born composer, improviser and percussion artist Michael Zerang. They had series of conserts and also got into artist residence program. Part of that they could make a massive amount of performings and recordings at the Experimental Sound Studio in Chicago. This album has recorded there in the 2nd of April 2011. Some reason it was not until 2016 small label No Index recordings released these as cassette. In my review of 'Ancient Patience Wills It Again Part 2' I was saying wrongly Zerang and Spires collaborated first time, but I believe that one piece in that album is also recorded year earlier in these same sessions.

The greatest music in this four piece album is at the first and last. 'I' is very calm with harmonium in the top of it, also there can be heard some spike violin, cello, odd percussion sounds & melodic vocals from Kathleen & Taralie. Next two tracks are quite chaotic. 'II' has percussions and flute on the top and also primitive vocals from the ladies. 'III' is the worst track I have heard from the Spires. Strings are on the top of it, but they just make awful noise. Only interesting part in it's over 12 minutes duration is Taralies's vocals through some tremolo effect in the beginning. But over 24 minutes lenght of 'IV' is full of greatness. First there are string instruments creating a feeling as you were alone in the desert. Then comes percussions with Kathleen's vocals and it's sounding like some primitive ritual. But in the end music changes very melodic with electric guitar, harmonium and beautiful vocals. Really a great epic!

There is some contemporary classical music that I like, but also some I don't understand. 'III' in this album is the latter one. It's very rare any artist made masterpieces making music in improvisations. Of course bands like Sonic Youth & Grateful Dead have been very good in that. But in this album Spires and Zerang didn't manage create whole album of great music. Sure 'IV' is five stars piece, but when 'III' is 1-2 stars piece, this album will be three. Really don't recommend to listen this album at first from this amazing band!

— First review of this album —

After making really experimental "Mirror Cave" Spires direction changed totally next year. On the other hand they went little bit back into their old style, but also searched new influences. Before recording this album they had spent time in free jazz community of Chigaco and it really could be heard in this album. Alto saxophone was Taralie ´s first instrument and now she played it first time in Spires album. There were also influences from Terry Riley, Jon Hassell, Albert Ayler & Florian Schneider. Their record company changed again to small UK label Alt.Vinyl. This release came out as vinyl, cassette & digital release. Two years after this release Alt.Vinyl closed it doors.

In two first pieces you can hear Riley´s influences. Both have very Terry-style echoed loop made from sax. In the title song Kathleen starts soon sing very beautifully in the front of the loop and there are also melodies made with flute and cello. Soon there comes also electro manipulated great sounding harmonium. "Schluss" is more flute dominant and has less vocals. These two pieces are the lightest pieces from Spires this far. But direction changes darker into next "Bitchin (for suma)". It has low and middle electro sounds and also some manipulated, really oriental sounding part maybe originally made by sax. Taralie´s has again awesome vocals, that also might be one reason this to be my favorite from the album. Next three tracks reminds most their earlier style. "Portabittaclog" has electro rhythm and sounds in it´s back where Kathleen sing very strongly and both improvises with sax and flute. On the other hand piece reminds much Kathleen´s solo stuff. "White On White" is most experimental piece and closest to previous "Mirror Cave"-album. There you can hear some free jazz in Taralie´s sax. "Promised Land" has again really impressive vocals from Taralie and also very oriental feeling. The last "The Sun" brings album atmosphere back to the brightness and lightness of the begin.

Before start to listen this album again I was thinking to give this only four stars. But after listening I have to admit, this is masterpiece, although still not rise to me in the same level as "This Is Fire" or "Cursed the Traced Birds". Seems this is one of those albums that grows with more listenings. Anyway my criterians to masterpiece fullfill. There is really much variety in this album, going to the new paths in bands music, but still sounding just personally Spires Of the Sunset Rise-music. Really this is recommended to starting album to the beginners! I believe the record company supported this album very little, if any when it came, because it´s so unknown. I found only one review from the internet. Well, I really hope people will find this fabulous album! All the way this is really serene, but not boring album.

— First review of this album —

After making six really interesting albums Spires decided to record a concept album. This only cassette release is based on Italo Calvino's short story 'Sword Of the Sun', but they have also added excerpts from Shinkichi Takahashi's 'After-Images: Zen Poems'. Palomar is the person in many Calvino's short stories and in this album Kathleen has taken that role. She is speaking Palomar's speeches from Calvino's text in a very impressive way. There is also one piece, where Taralie is singing. Because I am not native English speaker and I don't have this albums texts, I can't fully follow them. But what I understand and also read about Italo Calvino's writings, it's about the existence and it's illusions. Music in this album is divided into eight movements and partly movements are put into same track. Together with cassette release has come also 28-page book by Erik Ruin where is texts and drawings.

'MVMT I' starts as kind of theme of the album, that is repeated two times during the record. It has cello-tapping and two-tone flute loop. Flutes sound really loony! Soon Taralie starts to improvise with cello and Kathleen starts her 'Palomar speech'. In the end there comes sound of the ocean. 'MVMT II' has flute and vocal loops and Taralie's cello improvisation in the back of Palomar's reflections of the sun. 'MVMT III & IV' are in the same track. It's first very scary with lots of echo. But in the end it changes little bit calmer, but has still quite paranoid feeling. There is cello in both movements and in the end there comes electro & vocal sounds. 'MVMT V' is shorter reprise of 'MVMT I'. 'MVMT VI' has distorted cello and flute playing together with beautiful vocals of Taralie. Last two movements are again compound. First one is again quite scary, but in the second one they go back to the main theme. In the middle there comes again some electronic and vocal sounds. In the end Palomar can separate himself to the sword of the sun and go home from the seashore. Album ends into very low noise loop made by cello.

It's very sad and also surprising this very challenging project came only as cassette! I really hope, some record company (Drag City?) will make this vinyl release also with that booklet! Of course it's really great this is in Bandcamp as their all other albums. All the way this album differs from the previous Spires albums. It's fully contemporary classical music. I am really not an expert of that genre, so maybe I make a mistake, when giving this only four stars. But somehow this album isn't fully sound to me as masterpiece at the moment. I am wondering, was this the album Pekka Airaksinen heard when Kathleen and he started their collaboration, because this album really reminds Airaksinen's works? Anyway really interesting and great album, but to beginners I recommend to start for example 'Curse the Traced Bird'.

— First review of this album —

This is part2 of the two albums Spires released under same name in the same year. In my review of the other album I thought they might have recorded music of these albums same time and because the record label released them in different albums. But now when listening this part 2 again, I believe they have recorded this later. This album is even more meditative and serene than part 1. Also percussion artist Michael Zerang joined with Kathleen & Tara in one song, in part 1 there were no quest musicians. I think this was first time these three collaborated and it led later two improvisation albums. There are no as great songs as "Grandma" is in part 1, but on the other hand I think entity is even stronger.

"Before Dawn" starts album with very captivating atmosphere. Allthough credits are saying there are only feedback Mbira and spike fiddle, I think there is also loop made from harmonium, which really make this song hypnotic! Mbira feedbacks also really fits into this. Song really creates a feeling, when night is still very dark and everything is really quiet. In "Smoke" Kathleen´s Harmonium and Taralie´s very skillfull electric guitar picking really make interesting back into Kathleen´s beautiful vocals. Michael Zerang joins into "Ancient Drains". This piece is the most avant one in this album and reminds their later works. "Winter Song" is the most folky piece here with string instuments, where is same theme repeated, but more instruments is added slowly. Two last tracks are the most desolate Spires. "Ours Is Not the Only Society is instrumental piece, that start with manipulated old speech, but changes into very dystopic soundpath. "Revella" has again just string instruments and flute. It´s very cold but beautiful with really awesome vocals from Taralie.

I think again some fan might say this album to Spires masterpiece instead of their third and fourth album. I won´t disagree him. But to me this album just like part 1 need a certain state of mind to listen. In their third & fourth album there are kind of "hooks" and a lots of diversity that I think have to be in the masterpiece. But sure this album also is strong four stars album and really recommended to anybody, who like to meditate with music!

— First review of this album —

In 2012 Spires change their record company from small Hairy Spider Legs-label from Chicago. This time they were duo, Georgia Vallas has left the band. It seemed they filled her part in music with using more loops in the background. Today it seems to be kind of fashion use loops in music, but this band was a pioneer of using those already in 2000`s. I believe one reason to Vallas leaving was others want to go more serene direction in music. Hard to write any introduction about this album, because there is not much information about it. On reason why this band seem to be really unknown that time could be their label. This album came only in vinyl and digital form, so I believe in 2012 review makers still wanted CD-version. I don´t even quite understand what the album tittle means. But on the other hand this mystic around this band has risen my interest! Anyway there came half years later part 2 of this album. I believe they recorded all in same time, but maybe label didn´t want to release double album, so it came in a two parts.

Album starts in 2 really genius pieces: begin of the "Veiled Undertow" is really soft, harmonium, bowed psaltar & fiddle create loop that´t behind the song it´s whole lenght. Soon both Kathleen & Taralie start sing softly.Then tempo rises when comes a kind of chorus, after that song goes back to slow. "Grandma" starts with hits of Mbira, soon Taralie starts to sing in very beautiful, but mystic way. This is absolutely the best song in this album. It reminds a lot P J Harvey´s music in her "White Chalk"-album, that is favorite of mine from her. Song growns slowly from very minimalistic to rich, melodic musical path. "Child Of the Snow" is gentle, very melodic waltz, which music is totally made by cello & spike violin. Again very beautiful vocals from Taralie. "November" is the longest and very gloomy piece. There are sounds like bells, but close listening I noticed it to be piano! Although this song is really sad, it carries it´s whole almost 11 minutes lenght. "Well Tempered" ends album really great way! Harmonium reminds Nico´s work, but 2-part vocals are just some much more awesome than Nico´s! Also croaking toads played by Tarelie creates interesting background.

To "Veiled Undertow", "Grandma" and "Well Tempered" I would give 5 stars. Although rest is also really good, it doesn´t rise totally into same level. Former chaotic elements are almost gone in this album and I think it´s little bit sad. All the way this album is much more serene than their earlier ones, but also little bit flat to me. There are not as much interesting changes as in their early albums. Of course to somebody this may be their first masterpiece. I wonder quite much, why Drag City label never wanted this artist into themselves. There are lots in common with for example japanese folk group Ghost. I believe they would have got more attention to their great music making albums in that label. Anyway this album is again highly recommended to all neo-folk fans!

In this fourth album band went into more serene and meditative direction, but there were also elements of former chaos. This was their last album into small label Secret Eye Records, also last one as trio. Although bands main creative forces seemed been Kathleen Baird & Taralie Peterson, I think Georgia Vallas part had been important, because they didn´t make this kind of versatile masterpieces after this album! Have to mention at least vinyl release has really artistic cover: it´s inside of brown cardboard that has very beautiful graphics without any information, no band or album name. Vinyl & cardboard has put into plastic where is sticker of band and album name and text "limited edition ?/299.

Begin of the "Black Earth" reminds a lot the begin of Comus "the Herald". But soon cellos create loop from the high voices and then start to very melodic round from the low. Kathleen starts to sing first from the high and then low. Piece is dark but also serene. Next "Java Pop" is the best song that I have heard in long time! First start very soft electric percussions with two beat pulse and soon there come very great electric guitar chords. Taralie starts to sing in a very beautiful way in the high reminding PJ Harvey. In the middle electric beat disappears and there comes very Harry Partch reminding percussions and also low vocals from Kathleen. These two parts alternate many times. This is really genius trip from absolutely beauty to madness! But "Party Favours" is again very meditative piece. It has banjo and eastern sounding string instruments and percussions. In it´s calmness there are very great percussion beats every now & then.

B-side starts in "Equus Haar" that reminds most the earlier works of this band. It´s very haunting with Geargia Vallas trembling vocals. Last three pieces are really minimalistic. "Underscore" has banjo and electric guitar repeating slow pulse, guitar also improvising some feedback in the end. Taralie´s crying vocals sounds like she was ancient crying woman in somebody´s funeral. In the end vocals change softer. In "Red Fall" there is two different, but compatible parts. First there are banjo and cello and very melodic vocals from Kathleen. In another part string instruments scratches and Kathleen´s vocals changes slightly demanding. Last piece "Pouring Mind" is almost serene instrumental where guitar and banjo create the atmosphere and Georgia´s voice in the back sounds like she´s lost some dear one.

This and also previous album rise into same progfolk masterpiece category as Comus "First Utterance" and Pentangle "Basket Of Light"! I believe all "First Utterance" fans will love specially this album! I don´t think sad music can´t be greater than it is in this tremendous album! Just like "This Is Fire", this album can be heard in bandcamp.