Athena

by Sudan Archives

Overview

Nothing about Sudan Archives and Sink, Brittney Parks' self-written and self-produced Stones Throw EPs, sounded underdeveloped or uncertain. That they were filled with tunes akin to repeated epigrams and transportive moodscapes -- instead of traditionally-structured songs -- seemed like a deliberate artistic choice, not a deficiency. It's only after being weighed against the LP follow-up Athena that they come across as unripe. The previously solitary Parks opted here to work with a crew including James R. McCall IV, Will Archer, Rodaidh McDonald, Paul White, and Catherine Parks (her sister) among the dozen or so fellow producers and songwriters. The result is her freest, richest, most accomplished work. In a way, the naked image of the artist on the cover undersells her artistry; a mike, a pen, and a pad belong beside her just as much as her raised violin. Parks' strings do slice through and spring across the rhythms, and are sometimes plucked to hypnotic effect, in each method distinguishing the album from any other recording that can be loosely classified as alternative R&B (or the artist's own tag, fiddle funk). Just as appreciable is a newfound directness to Parks' lyrics and a clear lilt to her voice, especially when it comes to "Down on Me" and "Green Eyes," a pair of torrid slow jams, and "Pelicans in the Summer," a pulsing/snaking song of deep affection. Other standouts transmit positive self-image and emotional support and fortitude on communal and one-on-one levels. All the added instrumental layering and effects -- wriggling synthesizers, buzzing basslines, ricocheting percussion, apparition-like vocal processing, and suchlike -- are nuanced, not once getting in the way of a musician who can put forth an affecting message with just her voice and violin. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	11/01/2019
Label:	Stones Throw
UPC:	0659457241216
Rank:	60374

Tracks

1. Did You Know
2. Confessions
3. Black Vivaldi Sonata
4. Down on Me
5. Ballet of the Unhatched Twins I
6. Green Eyes
7. Iceland Moss
8. Coming Up
9. House of Open Tuning II
10. Glorious
11. Stuck
12. Limitless
13. Honey
14. Pelicans in the Summer

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sudan Archives   Primary Artist,Bass,Violin,Vocals,Mandolin,Percussion,Synthesizer
Retro   Bass,Drums,Synthesizer
Brian Hargrove   Keyboards
Kenny Gilmore   Bass,Keyboards
Collin Davis   Bass,Drums,Guitar
Will Archer   Guitar,Keyboards,Synthesizer
Paul White   Bass,Drums,Synthesizer
John DeBold   Bass,Guitar,Synthesizer
Cliona Ni Choileain   Cello

Technical Credits

Dave Cooley   Mastering
Matthew McQueen   A&R,Mixing,Engineer
Retro   Engineer,Producer
Jeff Jank   Design
D8   Lyricist
Ben Dickey   Design
Washed Out   Producer
Blake Harden   Engineer
Rodaidh McDonald   Engineer,Producer
Kenny Gilmore   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Drum Programming
Collin Davis   Engineer,Producer
Jake Viator   Engineer
Will Archer   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Paul White   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Andre Elias   Engineer,Producer
John DeBold   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Drum Programming
Sudan Archives   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Drum Programming,Executive Producer,Violin Arrangement
Black Taffy   Composer,Producer
Catherine Parks   Producer
James R. McCall IV   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Alexa Carrasco   Design
Ameer Hoti   Drawing,Paintings
Jack McKain   Photography
Jordi Ng   Design