It’s said that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but twelve years seems like a lifetime in the music industry. Yet fans waited with bated breath for the fire of Beachwood Sparks to be rekindled. The long wait is finally over with the release of Across the River of Stars. The pieces that made the band unique are still on display, from the Byrds-like guitar vibe to the West Coast Burritos and Gram Parsons countrified sounds; they remain relevant even as the clang of Father Time affects so many other country contemporaries

Produced by Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes), the new album finds the original members, Brent Rademaker, Chris Gunst, and Farmer Dave Scher working with Benjamin Knight (The Tyde) on guitar, Andres Renteria (John Dwyer’s Bent Arcana) on drums, Jen Cohen Gunst (Mystic Chords of Memory, The Aislers Set) on keys, and Clay Finch (Mapache) helping with background vocals

The opening track, My Love My Love, is a testament to Beachwood Sparks’ musical diversity. The track seamlessly weaves together twangy country rock vibes, piano, steel guitars, a swaying country sing-along, and an oddball psychedelic ending. This musical rollercoaster showcases the band’s ability to create a diverse and engaging musical experience, leaving the audience captivated and immersed in their musical prowess

Shifting gears, Torn In Two has elements of Zuma-period Neil Young in its veins. The band straddles textures and time periods from the past while never making anything sound dated or decrepit. They may play with the feel of days gone by, yet everything is still up to date. Ghosts of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young haunt the harmonies of Falling Forever. They sing with grace as they make clear, “It feels like I’ve been falling forever/ And the world keeps spinning ‘round/ Whatever comes my way.” Rather than sounding depressing, the song feels like a simple statement of reality that can’t be ignored

The group really digs into their strong Byrds affection, with Gentle Samurai, kicking up the marching drums and shimmering guitars in folk-rock style. One of the more interesting efforts is Gem, which is easily rolling with great piano, but shifts to a nightmarish cacophony to end, altering tone with deft expertise.  The band’s LA roots are on display throughout, with Faded Glory working as dreamy folk-pop and Dolphin Dance’s galloping country rock having splashes of Tom Petty tossed in

The eighth track on the album contains a soul-enhancing guitar throughout the entire track. The way that this song encapsulates a space while listening is something extremely special. High Noon has a production that sounds as if every instrument and vocal is flowing through the wind in a perfect wave. Last but not least, Wild Swans features a techno keyboard and mellow bassline. The last line in the album, “I see the music never ends,” after singing “You’re my friend until the music ends” earlier in the track, is their way of saying that it will not end and alludes to continuity, how their music will carry on forever

Every single song in Across The River Of Stars solidifies that Beachwood Sparks has not skipped a beat despite not having released new music in 11 years. There is not a single song not worth listening to, as the band has come back together with their same nostalgic sound, just enhanced. This album is nine songs long and will leave listeners wanting so much more -looking forward to what they’ll create in the future