Steeple Two

Vinyl LP pressing. Lightly swirling wah. Is-it-wrong-or-is-it-right leads. Intermittent odd percussion flourishes. Songs about shrimp rolls to go. Loosey-goosey warbling atmosphere turned to 10: this is the world of Sparrow Steeple and their album Steeple Two. Comprised of almost all of Philly's legendary Strapping Fieldhands, and fronted by noted visual artist Barry Goldberg, the band originated secretly in the last decade, with the Fieldhands' main man Bob Malloy and drummer Jeff Werner recording Goldberg's inscrutable songs. Now the band has become a legit proposition, minus Malloy but with the Fieldhands' guitar and bass players Jacy Webster and Bob Dickie, keyboardist Dustin Burrows and record maniac Harmonica Dan. Just as the old proverb postulates, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and Strapping Fieldhands fans will find familiar footing here. As for strangers to this weird realm, how about a Tommy Jay more enamored with Incredible String Band than with Lou Reed? Confused? Richie Records is too.