The Russian-born American musician was keyboardist/vocalist of Eleven and a contributing musician to Queens Of The Stone Age. Shneider and Johannes not only created the visceral music of Eleven – the trio was completed by Jack Irons (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam) – but were Chris Cornell’s main collaborators on his debut solo album, Euphoria Morning. Spark is a soulful, spiritual, organically pure manifestation of Johannes’ deep admiration and immeasurable respect for his partner in life and art.
The Chilean-born musician’s profuse talents as a multi-instrumentalist are astonishing: he’s written and performed for an incredible line of influential musicians and is currently a touring member of Them Crooked Vultures and Spinnerette. Armed with his signature cigar box guitar and performing all the instrumentation himself (12-string acoustic, fretless e-bow guitar, contrabass guitar, harmonium, cello and various percussive instruments), Johannes’ virtuosic skills are evident across the eight texturally-rich compositions on Spark, which are lined in Eastern, flamenco, tribal and classical influences.
That Endless Eyes was the first track written for Spark is displayed in its bleeding rawness and wrenching emotion: “Oh my heart, that you stole so long ago / Has returned to me this day, so full and empty / It’s killing me that I must go on living, just to fill this cup of promise with meaning… Each day I’m resurrected”. The rippling Eastern-influenced guitar playing and ghostly harmonies of Speechless transports the prayer-like lamentation into a divine, spiritual realm.
The unnerving poignancy of Make God Jealous is a standout with its meticulous textures and Johannes’ potent cry of “Is it hope that lays down beside me / Heaven spent its last dime to remind me / But the tears still fall under umbrellas / Tore the sky apart to make God jealous”. Return To You and Gentle Ghosts are the only lighter moments in an album defined by its chilling potency. Spark is a breathless, transporting journey – a quest in regaining one’s soul after having one’s spirit extinguished.
