Sparks in 1974 and 2007
What band was an early favorite of both Björk and Morrissey, has released twenty-two studio albums, and celebrates their fortieth anniversary this year? If you already know the band, I’m sure you could guess from those last two facts alone that it’s Sparks, the manic, ever-creative ever-adapting duo comprised of the Mael brothers, Ron and Russell. I could probably write an entire blog about them, with such an insane output and wide-ranging devotees, but that would be exhausting. Instead, here are a couple of songs that I love.
First, a track from their third album, Kimono My House, released in 1974. This is the album that inspired Morrissey to write a letter on 14 June of that year to NME:
Today I bought the album of the year. I feel I can say this without expecting several letters saying I’m talking rubbish. The album is Kimono My House by Sparks. I bought it on the strength of the single. Every track is brilliant, although I must name ‘Equator’, ‘Complaints’, ‘Amateur Hour’ and ‘Here In Heaven’ as the best tracks and in that order. Steven Morrissey, 384 Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester.
Of the four tracks Mozzer mentions, my favorite has always been “Amateur Hour:”
The combination of frenetic rock guitar and pounding, high-speed percussion is one that I always find hard to resist (see: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robot, pt 2), and I love how on this track they elevate the glam rock falsetto vocals that dominate the album to a realm that’s nearly pure camp.
The second song, and the first I ever heard by them, is “The Rhythm Thief” from their 2002 “opus” Lil’ Beethoven. It was here that they broke away from the synthpop vein that had defined the 80s and 90s for them, and instead layered sweeping classical arrangements with minimalist lyrics. The opening track, which until yesterday I hadn’t known had a video, is “The Rhythm Thief:”
I’ve always interpreted this song to be an erstwhile dance track from which the “groove” has been stolen by the titular Rhythm Thief. The beauty of the dense, repetitive lyrics featured on this album is that they all take on an epic quality. You can utter just a phrase from this song to someone else who knows it, and within moments, you’ll both be chanting it in its entirety, unable to stop (just ask my friend Hilly). Lights out, Tabitha Ibiza.
Tags: sparks
