Music > Album Reviews

Sparks - A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip

25/03/20

Oh my goodness me. The Mael brothers Ron (75) and Russell (72) just keep on going don’t they, just like a couple of super charged Duracell batteries. Rather unbelievably this is their twenty fourth album since they first released their debut album ‘Sparks’, (originally titled Halfnelson, which was also their original band name pre Sparks) back in 1971 after forming back in 1967.

Like many of my generation I first became hooked and extremely curious for more when I saw them make their debut on Top Of The Pops performing, This Town Aint Big Enough For Both Of Us back in 1974. With the mysteriously amusing Ron at the keyboard with his Charlie Chaplin moustache and tank top and the very handsome Russell on vocals strutting about and flouting his stuff with his long curly hair, cat suit and chiffon scarf. It really was quite a spectacle.

At the age of fourteen I bought the single and the album Kimono My House and then saved my pocket money hard enough to then go back to Wilsons record shop at the top of the steps on White Lion Street, Norwich to order on US import the previous two albums, the excellent Sparks and A Woofer In Tweeters Clothing. I still love those three albums today, they still resonate with me and shine extremely bright and rather proudly with much affection in my record collection (check them out some time).

Since the early eighties I have flitted in and out of their many albums and have managed to see them live a few times now. The release of A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip is a very welcome return and follow up to 2015’s excellent, Hippopotamus.

The opener All That is classic Mael brothers and would fit in with any of their most finest of works, it’s an absolute joy to behold. Wow! What an opening track to start an album with.

I’m Toast keeps the theme going, it’s pacey and quite brilliant. I am already drooling at what the rest of the album is going to bring to my eager ears. 

Lawnmower, is a welcome to the crazy world of the Mael’s rolled into, three minutes and thirty nine seconds, I mean who else would or could write a song about a lawnmower?  “My girlfriend is from Andover, she puts up with my lawnmower! Your lawn will be a showstopper, jaw dropper”, proclaims Russell. It’s crackers, but hey it’s Sparks.

On top of that weve got songs about toast and iPhone’s too!

Sainthood Is Not In Your Future, One For The Agesand Pacific Standard Time are three other absolute belters, while Stravinsky’s Only Hit is also crazy, its absolutely barking mad and packed full of regular Sparks eccentricity.

In the current climate, you could do a lot worse than give this a listen too. It’s got all the regular razzmatazz of many a fine Sparks album, it’s quite brilliant and I am just loving it. 

 
They are still great fun, humorous, creative, terribly wacky, full of character and very much out there and certainly above all things 100% authentic and unique.

Back in 1974 on that Thursday evening sat in front of the television with my family, they made me smile and they still do and that’s some fine accomplishment in my book after all those years in the music business.

You’ve got to love a bit of Sparks, haven’t you? This really is quite a brilliant piece of work. They are as barmy as ever and I will forever love them for it.

The last track is entitled, Pease Don’t Fuck Up My World! Well unfortunately it appears that even the Mael Brothers couldn’t stop that from happening, looking at the current global situation right now! It’s already happened! But at least A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip,will provide us with some solace, comfort and cheer over the coming months.

How on earth they are still doing it to this extremely high standard I just don’t know, but long may it continue.

So is the Town still big enough for Sparks? Damn right it is. Enjoy it’s brilliance.

A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip is released on the 15th of May 2020.

Steve Plunkett 9/10