Kindred Spearmint

Description

Kindred Spearmint is the sole album by the American alternative rock band Sappo, released on Organic Records in 1997, a Pamplin Music label, manufactured and distributed in the US by Pamplin Music Corp. The album was engineered by Dean “Big Speaks” Baskerville with Mikee Bridges and Todd Randall producing.

Sappo features Todd Fadel on guitar and vocals, Jason Scandlyn on lead guitar, Tim Fadel on bass, and Ben Sims on drums. As well featuring guest musicians Mikee Bridges (guitar on track 6) and Todd Randal (percussion on the worship tunes; tracks 13-16).

Best described as “quirky”, this Portland four-piece comprise Todd and Tim Fadel on vocals and bass; Jason Scandlyn on lead guitar and drummer Ben Sims. Together they lay down a breezy, free-flowing, modern rock sound over which Todd’s banshee vocals let loose with wonderful abandon! This wonderfully titled album has a mixture of acoustic and rock styles with lyrics which encapsulate a certain reality when it comes to issues of faith, combined with a splash of humour. Musically loose, occasionally chaotic, lyrically diverse – combining metaphor and straight down the line statements of faith, some of this is straight in your face. «Next New Fix» has Todd wailing as the voice of Christ – “I’ve already/ I’ve already risen from the dead” is a weird moment which just about works. The final segment of the album is acoustic flavoured with Todd engaging in some very passionate singing which verges on being a spontaneous worship experience and sometimes goes over the edge into an ‘unlistenable’ wail! Make a joyful noise indeed! A curious mix and a curious debut from a curious band. Doesn’t always hit the target and after half a dozen listens it still leaves me musically and spiritually untouched. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, December 1997]

CD tracklist:

01. Taxidermy
02. Open Space
03. Gone For Good
04. Next New Fix
05. Come And Knock
06. Name Above Every Name
07. untitled
08. Aladdin
09. Siren
10. Imagination
11. untitled
12. Take It In Stride
13. I See You Now
14. Everything
15. New Creature
16.1. Take The Calm
16.2. (silence)
16.3. untitled
16.4. (silence)
16.5. untitled

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Organic Records. Remastered album available at Bandcamp: https://erinbrockwaycollins.bandcamp.com/album/kindred-spearmint