Classical-folk trio Sprig Of That releases single “This Time, Last Week” from their forthcoming Nashville-recorded album, Bloom
Catch Sprig Of That on tour this November and December.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – October 7, 2022 – In the hands of the trio Sprig of That, putting together the interlocking strands of fiddle tunes, classical composition and rigorous improvisation creates rich music that’s a mosaic of concepts. Their highly individualistic sound – they play violin, guitar and tabla – fuses melodic and rhythmic approaches that these young, creative musicians have honed over nearly five years together. You can hear the band’s layered melodies and rhythmic flow on their new single “This Time, Last Week,” available on all streaming platforms.
Listen to “This Time, Last Week”
The single – from Sprig of That’s forthcoming Nashville-recorded full-length Bloom, set for release in February 2023 – comes out of an intense time for the Minneapolis-based band. Sprig of That guitarist Ilan Blanck collaborated with the band’s violinist, Isabel Dammann, and tabla player Krissy Bergmark to create a series of compositionally thrilling, complex – and humanistic tracks that benefit from the production expertise of Wes Corbett, himself a banjo virtuoso who has toured with greats like David Grisman and Tony Trischka. Engineered by Dave Sinko, noted as a master in the presentation and recording of acoustic instruments, “This Time, Last Week” is a gorgeous combination of classical-music composition and folk.
The group’s latest music lives happily in the same town where, say, Béla Fleck, Stewart Duncan and Bill Frisell reside – Isabel Dammann’s playing draws from Celtic fiddle tunes and bluegrass, certainly, but the clean lines of “This Time, Last Week” reflect the trio’s passion for contemporary classical music. “This Time, Last Week” has the energy of improvisation, and the way each musician takes up, and restates, the tune’s melodic line is akin to the way jazz musicians work. The empathy and interplay shine through “This Time, Last Week,” as befits a band that’s been playing live and recording since 2018, when the three members first got together in Minneapolis.
Talking about how the single came into being, Ilan says: “I just fumbled into this melody and began playing it all the time, to the point that I heard my roommate whistling it once or twice. I’m often really comfortable coming up with a little idea and bringing it to rehearsals. We’d jam on it, and I’d go off and write it down, and usually come back with a pretty finished idea of what things are going to sound like.”
Guesting on “This Time, Last Week” is cellist Olivia Dierks, who becomes a fourth voice in the dialogue. “The cello added a bass element, as well as a melodic voice that eased into our existing sound really naturally,” says Isabel. The song swings, and it’s a tribute to the immense skill of all the players that this complex piece of music comes across as completely natural-sounding. Sprig of That write music that is catchy and satisfyingly melodic, and their harmonic language, which supports the melodies and creates its own tension, is very evolved. Rhythmically, they also have their own style: Krissy’s tabla creates subdivided beats that often function as another lead instrument. (The band cites Fleck’s 2009 collaboration with bassist Edgar Meyer and tabla player Zakir Hussain, The Melody of Rhythm, as a major inspiration.)
It’s a band that’s truly democratic – a gathering of equals. Isabel and Ilan met while they were each studying music at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and both musicians moved to Minneapolis after they graduated. Having learned music from a variety of angles, as future professionals do, they were conversant in pop, heavy metal, classical music and many more genres. They joined Krissy, who was playing in folk bands around Minneapolis, and started jamming and working on shared ideas in early 2018. Notably, they released a full-length of works written by Minneapolis composers, 2021’s Eight Threads. They honored the diversity of the city’s music scene, with compositions by singer-songwriters and big-band writers.
Working on their latest music with Wes Corbett and Dave Sinko at Nashville’s storied recording studio Sound Emporium, gave them the opportunity to hone, edit and refine their writing, and Bloom is their first album of original music. Wes locked into what makes them unique, while Dave’s engineering helps the music cut through any clatter that might be in the way.
While recording, Wes Corbett said something that really stuck with Ilan, Isabel and Krissy: “Sometimes, a funny thing occurs: we make an album that ends up being better than us, which in turn forces us to grow to meet it.”
Sprig Of That feels that’s exactly what happened with Bloom, and they’re excited to spend the next few years growing into it as a group.
As its title suggests, “This Time, Last Week” addresses the ambiguity that’s built into our perception of how time passes. It’s about the interplay among musicians who share a common goal, but each player stands out as an individual in this particular meeting of the minds. It’s a major addition to the canon of contemporary composition, and a signal of the growth of a great band.
As Krissy puts it: “There’s been so much development, growth and care that has come from the new music, all out of the tiny seed of a first meetup.”
November 2, 2022 – The Bur Oak with Humbird – Madison, Wisconsin
November 3, 2022 – Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. with Humbird – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
November 4, 2022 – Workshop with Fiddlers of Lawrence University – Appleton, Wisconsin
November 5, 2022 – Workshop with Fiddlers of Lawrence University – Appleton, Wisconsin
November 18, 2022 – Private House Show – Evanston, Illinois
November 19, 2022 – The Golden Dagger with Humbird – Chicago, Illinois
November 20, 2022 – Bishop Hill Creative Commons with Humbird – Bishop Hill, Illinois
December 17, 2022 – House Concert: Abbie Weisenbloom Presents – Portland, Oregon
December 19, 2022 – Tractor Tavern with Pine Hearts – Seattle, Washington
December 21, 2022 –Winter Solstice House Concert with Livestream – Friday Harbor, Washington
*With more dates to be announced.
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