(Feral Media/MGM)

When I first chucked this on, I wasn’t sure that I was in the mood for lo-fi action. But Sparrow Hill sounded sleepy and sweet on the sleeve notes, which my mood was probably able to accommodate, being just back at work from holidays and already feeling the pinch. What better time to listen to a band that is a “study in harmony and economy, with subject matter that ranges from the heart, to the fields, to the beasts, and back again”. Er … whatever that means.

The Sparrow Hill foursome have been kicking around the Sydney local music scene since 2002, offering support to the likes of Architecture in Helsinki, Clair Birchill, New Buffalo and Holly Throsby II. They worked carefully on this release through 2004-05 and the result is spare, gentle and delicate, Sunday morning music reminiscent of the most romantic and soulful patches of The Secret Life of Us.

Frente-esque at times, lead singer Sonia Tsai’s vocals drift over restrained guitar, swishy percussion and chiming glockenspiel. She has apparently been writing since early adolescence … and some of the songs definitely carry the mournful quality of lovelorn situations and confusion. But this is mood music for a grown up generation, delivering a surprising maturity and soulfulness through spare musical arrangements.

For An Age is a soft number with pleasing harmonies, followed by the huskier In Your Stead and an instrumental track. Fall Circle is a standout track that has Tsai’s vocals drifting through an impressive range, while the sweetness of Sound Advice conjures up all the popular female vocalists of recent past against a lazy harmonica. Track ten is probably one of the best on the album, sad and noodly in places and altogether wistful.

While I think it would drive me mad to listen to the whole album through of an evening – nice talents, terrible for bringing on introspection – I found this a pleasant enough listen. For the Sunday morning comedown with newspapers, fresh juice and dappled sunlight playing on the curtains – this could do the trick.