Eventide By Rick Sparks

 

Eventide

By

Rick Sparks

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The music of Rick Sparks has been a source of constant relaxation and great beauty over the years I have been musically invested into it, it started way back in 2014 and an album called Endless, and since that time the artist has penned some utterly transcendent releases, here today some 12 years on from that release, we dive in deep with his latest album called simply Eventide.

There is literally nothing to dislike about the instrumental music of Rick Sparks, the artist at least gives us solid 5 to even six minute compositions to fall in love with, which thankfully bucks the trend of the 90 second creation nonsense. The title track Eventide for example would be one of my personal favourites from the album, some superb keyboard and synth pad work bringing us the listener something so redolent of the subject matter.

Then there is such beauty to be found on the pristine arrangement called The Presence of Love, this in parts reminded me of a combination of David Sun and Mike Rowland from back in the day, whilst his last single Mykonos still resonates deep with in my heart, its soothing narrative is a relaxing moment of great colour, whilst compositions like Sea Wind still haunt my mind in the best possible way with its very gentle onward progression.

Eventide by Rick Sparks is a 10 track album packed with textures and tapestries of tender tones and vibrant colours. We indeed find another lush offering at the half way juncture with the creation A Time to Heal, this piece has such a delicate and tender touch to its manifestation, one could not help but be enchanted by the string section and the slowness of progression here.

I have yet to go to Spain, but it is on my radar, until then I choose to travel vicariously with Rick as he performs the piece Barcelona Nights, a piece that builds slowly, but from a place of wonderment and depth of timbre, one of the finest compositions from the album for its creative interplay between and the keyboard notes and synths.

Dream Rain holds the listeners attention and manifests a sense of anticipation and expectation, this is a clever explorative composition that seems to hover around us, whilst the piece Every Hope happens to contain the title of the longest track off the album at over 6 and a half minutes long, a slow tempo and a careful movement highlighted by some very pleasurable vocalisations and synth work.

The album is a master work of texture and consistency, and is a fine example of musical uniformity, pieces like Give to the Winds Your Fears is a beautiful paradigm of such a soothing chronicle of tonal delights in its pristine and almost lullaby nature. Whilst the concluding tale to be told is entitled A Quiet Heart, here Sparks is the is the invigilator, as he brings together a multiplicity of sounds, pads and keyboard structures, to gift us one of the most prolific pieces from the album to end with.

Eventide by Rick Sparks in my view is probably one of the best albums the artist has released thus far, many who really know me, know I never say those words as a throw away. The tempo and heartfelt intent with this release is so plain to see and feel, it is a collection of 10 pieces that are designed to leave the listener utterly in a state of bliss and peace at its conclusion, which is why this album is going to be a huge chart hit, and is certainly award worthy for Eventide by Rick Sparks.