UNTOLD

AVAILABLE ON BANDCAMP

Untold is the latest EP from the genre-bending tabla, violin, and guitar trio Sprig of That. Recorded in the summer of 2019 at Virtue and Vice studios in Brooklyn, NY, with jack-of-all-trades violinist Ben Russell (Arcade Fire, ACME, Founders) in the producer’s chair, the pair of introspective compositions are a soothing but fitting escape from anxious and unprecedented times. Evocative yet mysterious, Untold provides a color palette and a brush and invites listeners to paint their own picture. 

“Step, Skip, Leap,” by tabla player Krissy Bergmark, is a rhythmic tour-de-force, with a memorable melody, deep grooves, and a kaleidoscopic breakdown. Heavy with influence from Bergmark’s years playing and leading percussion ensembles, Sprig pulls off the composition’s odd time signatures and syncopated hits gracefully. Guitarist Ilan Blanck’s “A Million Tiny Pieces” is the darker of the two, unfolding slowly and moodily. The hypnotic composition, with its unresolved melodies and cyclical progressions, illustrates the beautiful variety of sounds this unique combination of instruments can produce in the hands of such skilled players. Extended violin solos on both cuts are a highlight of the release, showcasing violinist Isabel Dammann’s at times whispering, at times soaring, but always clear and singing sound. 

Untold, meditative and slow to unfurl, is a small but effective antidote for too much time spent scrolling through the news. With an album of commissioned pieces due in early 2021 and a full album of originals already in the works, Sprig of That is just getting started.

“There is nothing forced here - just the natural outcome of friends enjoying finding new sounds together.” - Grammy-awarding winning cellist Mike Block (Silk Road Ensemble)

“Drawing inspiration from their offbeat instrumentation, they've invented a novel musical landscape that tickles the listener's imagination with new sights and sounds." - violinist Ben Russell (Founders, Acme, Arcade Fire)

Recorded at Virtue & Vice Studios, Brooklyn, NY, August 2019
Produced by Ben Russell
Mixed by Andres Crovetti
Mastered by Rob Schlette at Anthem Mastering
Album art by Nick Nootenboom

"Step, Skip, Leap" written by Krissy Bergmark
"A Million Tiny Pieces" written by Ilan Blanck