Kent Sparling, Under New Manna
Steve | San Francisco | 08/14/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Unlike the previous work, "Route Canal Diary", "Under New Manna" has a more upbeat and uplifting tone. Once again Kent Sparling is back, tweaking and nudging natural and electronic sounds beyond the realm of the "New Age" in a crunchy-chewy belladonic haze. To even put this ambient oratory in that catagory would be criminal, like confusing Ripple with a fine Merlot. Sparlings latest is an easier softer record than "Route" with the tones being hopeful. When you hear it and "Route Canal Diary" back to back, you'll be pleasently surprised at the flipsides of a coin this music is. The Albums go remarkably well together, as if intended by the artist to do so. If you have Route, get Under New Manna. If not get both. You'll find the experience benignly mindbending."