Little Sparrow
Album: Little Sparrow
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 4
Website: http://www.littlesparrow.org

Once in a while you find a new artist who really impresses. Little Sparrow [aka Katie Ware] is just such an artist. I was given a copy of her debut EP at a recent gig by a gentlemen who I had not met before but who told me "You must hear this, it's really great". Convinced by his enthusiasm, I duly took the EP home and played it. By heavens, he was right! It is really good.

On carrying out some research, I discovered that Little Sparrow/Katie has an interesting musical background. Her father, Mick Ware, was lead guitarist with 1960's pop-psych band Tuesday's Children, who, at the turn of that decade transmogrified into Hammond-organ-heavy prog band Czar [whose only album is much sought-after and really rather good ]. Katie herself left her home in Cambridgeshire and went to Manchester to seek her fortune in the music business. She joined famed Macclesfield Britpop band Marion following the departure of their original lead singer, after which the band became known as "Headway".

In 2010, Katie spread her wings and emerged fully-fledged as Little Sparrow. On the strength of this EP she is an artist of rare talent. Indeed, none other than Simon Raymonde of the Cocteau Twins has been quoted as describing her voice as "pure and lovely" and that she "possesses a natural talent as a writer and singer" and who am I to disagree with him?

On listening to Little Sparrow's EP, words like "ethereal" and "heavenly" spring to mind. Not only does she have a glorious voice but the accompanying music suits her vocals perfectly. Her backing band consists of cello [Sarah Dale], violin [Graham Clark],guitar [Johnny Lexus] and percussion [Mitch Oldham].

The opening song on this 4-track, 17 minute EP, is "Sending The Message" and it showcases Little Sparrow's gorgeous voice which soars over the quasi-classical arrangement of cello, violin, piano and bolero-rhythm percussion. A lovely start to the EP. The loveliness continues with "Polly", which features sprightly violin, rhythmic handclaps and a catchy chorus.

"By My Side" sits in slightly more conventional singer-songwriter territory but is none-the -worse for that. Apart from the glorious vocals, the song also features some excellent violin.

The fourth and final track is "The Swallow Flies", which starts quietly and gradually builds to a full band arrangement which has a middle-eastern feel to it.

This EP is a real gem and Little Sparrow is clearly a name to watch [you can indeed watch her @ www.littlesparrow.org].

Peter Cowley