Mark Springer Releases A new collaborative album with Neil Tennant “Sleep Of Reason“

“Sleep of Reason” turns out to be a reflection on the chaos of modern life. This big double vinyl record puts together three musical styles that do not seem to go together: Mark Springer‘s thoughtful piano playing, Neil Tennant‘s unique singing, and the precise skill of the Sacconi String Quartet.

The three-part piece is a direct response to Goya‘s paintings from the 18th century that criticise senseless social behaviour.

The Spanish master used his “Caprichos” series to show the monsters that come from sleeping reason. Springer and Tennant create a sound version of this that speaks to the digital world of today’s ego, division, and broken discourse.

“Phantoms and Monsters,” the first song on the record, sets a moody tone that stays with the rest of the collection. The piano music by Springer shows both technical skill and emotional depth. It goes from stark simplicity to almost overwhelming complexity.

His compositions contain a rare quality – they feel simultaneously structured and spontaneous, as if the music is being created in real-time despite its obvious architectural precision.

What makes this collaboration particularly fascinating is how it brings Pet Shop Boys‘ Neil Tennant into a context far removed from his synth-pop origins.

His singing on the quintet part of the record has a weight to it that fans of the band might find surprising. Goya looked straight at the silly beliefs and superstitions of her time, and Tennant’s “sharp poetic vision” does the same thing with our modern monsters.

His singing, which is usually fairly quiet, explores new emotional ground here, especially when paired with the strings.

What makes “Sleep of Reason” so great is that it is more than just an idea; it is also a really engaging piece of music.

The music has parts that are easy to understand harmonically and parts that are hard to understand harmonically. This makes the listening experience active rather than idle.

In this trio, the Sacconi String Quartet should get the same amount of attention. Founded in 2001 by grads of the Royal College of Music, the group gives Springer’s music a classical edge without losing the raw emotional quality that the music calls for.

The interplay between strings, piano, and voice creates moments of tension and release that echo the thematic concerns of the album.

I’m struck by how “Sleep of Reason” refuses easy categorization. It exists in a liminal space between classical chamber music, art rock, and spoken word poetry.

This musical hybridity feels particularly apt for an album concerned with boundaries – between reason and imagination, order and chaos, past and present.

Both the Sub Rosa and Exit labels put out the album, which does a great job of capturing the sound of each instrument. The strings keep their natural bite, the piano sounds warm, and Tennant’s singing fit nicely in the mix, being present without being overpowering.

“Sleep of Reason” needs a different kind of attention from listeners. Its benefits are not in its melodies or hooks, but in how patiently you listen to its themes and patterns. This is music that makes you think instead of telling you what to do; it asks questions and does not give you solutions.

As our attention spans get shorter and our cultural debates become more divided, “Sleep of Reason” gives us a rare chance to think about something for a long time.

Springer, Tennant, and the Sacconi Quartet made a piece that speaks directly to our time by drawing inspiration from Goya’s warning about leaving reason behind hundreds of years ago. It is a musical reminder that when reason sleeps, monsters are born.