For three decades, the husband-and-wife duo known as The Handsome Family has been crafting a distinctive brand of dark and captivating Americana. Brett and Rennie Sparks consistently deliver a tightly focused and expertly executed style, often exploring unconventional themes rooted in rural landscapes, presented in a compelling and uniquely their own way. Their 11th album, Hollow, released on September 8th via Milk & Scissors Music, showcases 11 tracks that further solidify their signature sound.
This is music sculpted with a shadowy sophistication, possessing an eerie and dusky potency akin to the moments just before nightfall, imbued with a purple twilight hue. It’s instinctively atmospheric and expressive, requiring no artifice.
Originating from Chicago and now based in New Mexico, The Handsome Family’s sound subtly echoes British folk traditions. Their concise song structures share musical common ground with pioneers like Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson, and Clive Gregson, creating a sense of familiar yet distinct musical scenery.
Brett Sparks’ vocals are consistently deep and resonant, delivering narratives that echo old-world folk storytelling. The track “Joseph” exemplifies this, sounding as if it could have been unearthed from a century past. This depth evokes comparisons to Michael Gira of The Swans, whose ventures into folk-country on “Burning World” also featured a similarly profound voice. Even Brad Roberts of the Crash Test Dummies, with his distinctive baritone, has touched upon this musical territory.
However, The Handsome Family remains firmly grounded, with Brett’s baritone voice drawing out the richest qualities of traditional musical forms. “The King of Everything” stands out with an arrangement that incorporates a compelling rock beat, molded into a seamlessly executed track. Their courage in forging unconventional music within the Americana genre is truly commendable. Unlike artists who delve into outright strangeness, such as Brendan Perry and Dead Can Dance, The Handsome Family maintains a roots-based discipline, beautifully exemplified in the mandolin-driven “The Oldest Water.” Originality and creativity are undeniably at the heart of their music.
The Handsome Family performing their haunting Americana music
The Handsome Family allows their musical palette to roam freely. “Shady Lake” leans further into country influences, maintaining an authentic tone imbued with a delicate fragility. This tenderness allows the deeper vocal notes to amplify the song’s message, while the subtle falsetto and instrumental interplay add further brilliance. Their music navigates contemplative paths previously explored by artists like Amazing Blondell, the Incredible String Band, the Oyster Band, Spirit of the West, and Lindisfarne.
While each of these artists possessed their unique musical identities—spanning medieval, rock, and folk—they all cultivated a musical intrigue, a magic formula that The Handsome Family has masterfully captured. The imagery evoked by their music is vast: echoing cathedrals, ancient, unreadable gravestones in grassy cemeteries, and snow-covered gazebos. This atmosphere is intrinsic to their sound.
Key tracks on Hollow include “Joseph,” “The King of Everything,” “The Oldest Water,” “Shady Lake,” “To the Oaks,” “Strawberry Moon,” and “Good Night.”
The musicians contributing to this album are Brett Sparks (lead vocals, multi-instrumentalist, music), Rennie Sparks (banjo, vocals, lyrics), Alex McMahon (guitar), Dave “Guts” Gutierrez (mandolin), and Josh Toth (percussion).
Discover more about The Handsome Family and Hollow at their official website: https://handsomefamily.com/
