2023-05-30 13:51:20
Sparks are a musical phenomenon. For around 50 years, the brothers Russell and Ron Mael have stood for unconventional, timeless music with brilliant lyrics and no genre boundaries.
In their 70s, Russell and Ron Mael have achieved what could almost be called a breakthrough. The idiosyncratic brothers, better known as Sparks, have released visionary pop classics like “Kimono My House” or “No. 1 in Heaven” and are among the most influential artists in music history. But it’s only recently that the Los Angeles duo are finally getting the widespread recognition they deserve. On their 25th studio album “The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte” Sparks once again prove their genius.
Many musicians who have been in business for so long rest on old hits or try to recreate their sound from before. Sparks deliberately do the opposite. “We always want to do something that challenges people,” says Ron Mael (77) in an interview with the German Press Agency in London. “What’s really surprising is that we still come up with surprising things. And I think what separates us from some other bands that have as many albums as we have is that we’re motivated.”
The girl is crying in the coffee shop
The title track introduces the new album with a hard, industrial sounding electro sound. “Is it due to the rain, or is she in some pain,” sings Russell Mael (74), before a dull beat begins. In typical Sparks fashion, “The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte” tells of an everyday micro-moment. “The girl is crying in the coffee shop, but you don’t know exactly why,” says Russell. “We don’t really give an answer, but we like this situation. It maybe also shows the loneliness and isolation that people experience.”
The content of the song and the album cover are reminiscent of the painting “Automat” by Edward Hopper, on which a woman drinks her coffee alone. Even the coffee cups are the same blue color. “A coincidence,” Ron clarifies. “The picture captures the content of the song perfectly. I’d like to say that’s why we recorded it, but it was just luck.” Two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett dances in the quirky music video.
“Veronica Lake” revolves around the 1940s Hollywood actress of the same name. Their famous, style-defining “peek-a-boo” hairstyle was considered a risk during the Second World War. Again and again women are said to have injured themselves because their hair got tangled in machines. What other band besides Sparks would turn this into a pop song? “It sounds kind of silly,” says Ron, “but Veronica had such an impact on American women that they copied her hairstyle. And that often had very tragic results.”
Minimalist electro sound
Whether rock, pop, disco or new wave – Sparks have done almost everything musically. On “The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte” the duo from Los Angeles once again succeed in creating a fascinating, eclectic mix of music that is timeless. Minimalist electro sound (“You Were Meant For Me”) alternates with moody rock (“Nothing Is As Good As It Seems”) and theatrical songs in a musical style (“It’s Sunny Today”). “Take Me For A Ride” is pure cinema for the ears.
The poetry is sometimes poetic, sometimes sarcastic, mostly profound and often funny. In “We Go Dancing” Russell sings about the huge military parades and the “greatest DJ in the world”: Kim Jong-Un from a North Korean perspective. What if the Mona Lisa in the Louvre in Paris was tired? Sparks provide the answer with “The Mona Lisa’s Packing, Leaving Late Tonight”. And with “Gee, That Was Fun” the brothers deliver a breakup song that is as funny as it is poignant. There is no failure among the 14 tracks on this brilliant album.
Sparks is a musical phenomenon, a pop anomaly that doesn’t follow any rules. During their long career, the brothers have hardly allowed themselves to be talked into and have accepted many a career low. “It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way” sounds like a dig at former companions who wanted to get involved. “You can interpret it that way,” says Russell, who primarily wants to motivate other artists with the song: “Stay true to your own vision and don’t let any outside forces dictate what you should do.”
After 50 years: Lots of young fans too
Despite commercial setbacks, that persistence has paid off for Sparks. After around 50 years, the band is still gaining fans, which is also thanks to the entertaining documentary “The Sparks Brothers” by director and Sparks fan Edgar Wright. “That helped us a lot,” says Russell Mael. “More and more people, including younger people, are coming to Sparks concerts. A lot of people say they hadn’t heard of the Sparks band before.”
Upcoming career highlights for Russell and Ron Mael, who lived in London in the 1970s, are two concerts in May at London’s long-sold-sold Royal Albert Hall and an appearance at the famous Hollywood Bowl in their hometown of Los Angeles in July. “This is really something special,” says younger Mael brother Russell. “It is really incredible.” In between, Sparks give a single concert in Germany. On June 18th they will perform in the Tempodrom. (dpa)
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