The title of
Spirit Fest's second album means "that person" in Japanese -- a fitting name, considering that there's an unmistakable character to their music even as it evolves. When
Tenniscoats'
Saya and
Takashi Ueno,
the Notwist's
Markus Acher and
Cico Beck, and
Jam Money's
Mat Fowler first got together as
Spirit Fest, their chemistry was so spontaneous that it felt like it could only be a one-time thing, but the release of their second album within a year proves just how strong the group's connection is. As they toured Europe in support of their self-titled debut, ideas for new songs presented themselves, and the band recorded some of them on the road and some in
Acher's home in Munich.
Anohito reflects the bandmembers' travels as well as their camaraderie in its exploratory sounds and familiar songwriting.
Saya's caressing vocals on the gently drifting title track deepens
Spirit Fest's bittersweet side, while
Acher takes the lead on "Look at the Colours," where banjo and violin add a folky warmth to the song's flow. On more abstract, improvisational pieces such as "Fête de Départ" and "Ueno the Future," the layers of piano, bubbling electronics, and percussion recall the work of
Hauschka as well as
Raymond Scott and
Dick Hyman. This time around, the band may be even more skilled at balancing whimsical moments with spine-tingling ones: the eerily gorgeous version of the traditional Japanese lullaby "Takeda No Komoriuta" immediately makes itself known as one of
Spirit Fest's best songs to date. As the scope of their music grows,
Spirit Fest still hold onto the feeling of friends making music together in a cozy space -- and that makes
Anohito another winning album.