Spiria – “Where the Pink Blossoms Resonate” Review

Where to begin? This album is a fever dream of excellence I cannot describe in mere words. Between the spectacular production quality, flawless synchronicity of Johnny Manke on drums and Mikayla Manke singing and on keys, this sibling duo has created greatness! The entire album has a captivating, youthful innocence and overcast wonder to it.

The first track, The Bridge, has got to be my favorite, by far. From its dynamic vocal melodies to its awe-inspiring lyricism, coupled with Mikayla’s hopscotch along the keys and Johnny’s subtle, high hat backing, it paints a magnificent scene. As if waltzing through a shower of cherry blossoms, the track is reminiscent of Ben Folds Five, if Brick had been chipper and put in time to a foxtrot. The crescendos are perfectly placed, with nothing over or understated, The Bridge is sure to make you instantly fall in love and want to listen to the rest of the album.

Moving on to the second track, Scars, which continues along the pavement of this soundscape, skipping and jumping into the hazy twilight of adolescence. Backed by the march of the snare, the piano introduces the childlike saunter that accompanies the dancing vocals. Lyrically, it’s one of the darker songs on the album, relatable to those who may have lived in an imaginary world to escape the darker aspects of their childhood. In my opinion, it’s the perfect track to follow The Bridge, as you travel from sunshine to a cloudy sky.

Moving through to the next track, you’re met with sounds of the shore, water lapping and distant voices talking, before In the Water takes off. Much like floating along on water, adrift in a dinghy, only to be met with a storm and crashing waves. There are elements of the bridge that remind me of Pink Floyd’s Us and Them. I couldn’t help but feel it transport me back to high school.

Mikayla’s vocalization on Fish, is very reminiscent of Mazy Star, as if nearly whispered. The dinghy from In the Water has sunk, as we now scuttle through a sea of water and weeds, lost in the deep. Its magnificent lyrics and soundscape are the perfect marriage of imagery and emotion. Mikayla truly knows how to paint with her words and melodies, and Fish is the strongest evidence of this skill on the album.

Finally returned to land in Portrait Man, one can almost see horses prance past cobblestones, while caught on a breeze like a leaf. The track reminds me again of Ben Folds, not simply for the piano element, but for the dynamics of his songwriting, and how Mikayla shows similar mastery with her lyrics and playing, and Johnny with his seemingly effortless mastery of the drums, knowing precisely which elements to add to accompany his sister.

Air, playful as the others, feels like a petal caught on the breeze, held just over the water of a stream as it picks up and glides along. As soundscapes go, this is as beautiful as the others, with some wonderful lyricism. But, for me, it was not as impactful as the others that more easily stand out. Air does perfectly match the flow of the album. Not every song is a single, but every song should have its place on an album. Air makes for a wonderful transition track, like a glue that holds the others together, especially with its false ending. It’s a strong and beautiful track.

Upon first hearing Return, I had thought it was a sped-up Jeff Buckley track, reminding me of So Real. When listening to local bands, I always hope for a “Buffalo track”, one whose imagery inspires with notes that hit just so that it easily transports me back to Lexington Square on a Thursday in the 90s. Much like The Sheila Divine’s, Hum, Return is Spiria’s. Removed from the others, as Mikayla’s piano has been replaced by a guitar and bass, the change of instrumentation in no way takes from the rest of the album, but makes it a defining, transformative track. With elements again of Mazy Star, Return is brilliantly emotive, and a perfectly executed shift from their otherwise signature sound.

Finally, we have Cherry Blossoms, my second favorite song on the album. As vocally dynamic as The Bridge, with the marching snare of Scars, the intro of this track sounds inspired by Elliott Smith, though I’m aware Mikayla is not familiar with his work. We hear overlapping samples, either from previous songs, or elements that hint to the former tracks on the album, laced through more masterful crescendos. Throughout the album, Mikayla’s voice sounds similar to Regina Spector’s. On this track, one can clearly hear how eerily identical the two sound to one another. There also seem to be faded backing vocals, harmonizing angelically, reminiscent of Ben Folds Five, yet again, on their track Smoke.

If you haven’t listened to Spiria yet, I highly recommend you do, as they are found on most streaming services. But I strongly suggest you make it to any of their upcoming shows. Make sure to follow their social media, and listen to Where the Pink Blossoms Resonate, as it’s easily one of the best local albums I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to.