Music Review: Sister Speak – ‘The Stand’ EP Attains The Superlative

The Stand is the title of the new EP from Sister Speak, slated to drop September 29, 2018. The first single, “The Stand,” was unleashed via a dazzling music video filmed in South America. The EP follows the band’s debut album, Rise Up for Love (2014), which received extensive airplay in Europe and North America and led to more than 500 performances in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Germany, and Costa Rica.

Sister Speak has performed at San Diego’s Belly Up and Casbah, and L.A.’s Moroccan Lounge and The Viper Room, along with opening for Air Supply, Chris Isaak, Xavier Rudd, and reggae’s Mike Love. The nucleus of Sister Speak is Sherri Anne (vocals, guitar, songwriter). Aiding and abetting her are Jacob Miranda (bass), Sarven Manguiat (lead guitar, harmonies), Kimo Shim (cajon, percussion), and Stephen Haaker (drums).  The band’s sound encompasses indie pop, rock, and blues.

The Stand contains five tracks and one bonus track. “New York Sunrise” opens with an elegant piano and Anne’s deliciously affluent voice. It’s a radiant indie pop tune where the music shimmers with layers of swelling, sonic flavors. Anne’s voice has to be heard to be believed and appreciated. It’s rich and strong, lush, opulent, and gorgeous.

“Fighter” travels on a plush carpet of sound; it is a marvelously resplendent, coruscating pop number with surfacing colors trembling with glorious energy. “Do You Believe” offers a pulsating groove, drifting washes of color, and Anne’s exquisitely scrumptious tones. The chorus thrums with nuclear élan and potent, glowing textures.

Simmering with a bluesy pop bouquet, the title track starts softly and then expands into a storm of logarithmic spirals and rising colors. Initially warm and evocative, Anne’s voice magnifies as the song proceeds, attaining gravity defying properties. “Walls” conjures of visions of Sarah McLachlan, exuding a fractal beauty refusing to dissipate.

The bonus track, “Catch Me As I Fall,” features Tolan Shaw, whose luxuriant, nasal tenor merges with Anne’s, fashioning sumptuous harmonies.

Without a doubt, The Stand surpasses superb and enters the rarified abode of the superlative, as if the Empyrean descended to earth masquerading as music. Sister Speak’s The Stand is marvelous, magnificent, and matchless.

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