Sparks Continue Their Iconic Legacy with New Release ‘MAD!’ (Review)

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The iconic art-pop duo Sparks has delivered another intriguing record with ‘MAD!‘, released under Transgressive Records. Brothers Ron and Russell Mael have made a name for themselves through their performative imagery and progressive sound. Since the band’s conception in the 60s, they have pushed the boundaries of art pop and synth. This self-produced latest release is full of their whimsical ideas and cleverly crafted writing abilities.

‘JanSport Backpack‘

The second track on the album, and second single release, ‘JanSport Backpack,’ is quintessential Sparks. Russell’s vocals are a focal point of many Sparks tracks, they’re distinctive and varied in style between each song. In parts of this single, he reaches the impressive high notes that feature on the group’s most well-known songs, such as 1974’s ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us‘. Ron’s keyboard melody is simple, closing the song effortlessly with a classic piano sound rather than something further afield. It is a subtle and soft ending to a song filled with experimental tones and synthesizers.

The culture-bound reference so cleverly weaved into the narrative of the song is a perfect example of the postmodern style of performance that the duo has mastered. Their tracks and writing style are unpredictable yet always distinctly clever. The final single release of the album, ‘A Little Bit Of Light Banter‘, is another example of a masterclass of clever and somewhat humorous writing from the pair.

‘Hit Me, Baby’

Sparks are undoubtedly experts at their craft. Even on my initial listen, I found so much to dissect and become intrigued by. ‘Hit Me, Baby‘ has one of my favourite bridges that I’ve heard in a while. It builds up through a raw guitar riff that parallels the electronic elements in the rest of the track. Their new wave and synth influences have been present for the majority of their career. It’s something that they’ve further managed to dissect and construct in their own unique way. I really enjoy it when a song can be catchy and still not feel irritating or overplayed. This track is able to do this to me.

Something that this track, and the album as a whole, manages to achieve is retaining sounds that the band is synonymous with whilst still feeling fresh and progressive in their musical choices. I took note of this through the way traditional instruments are blended into the mix. Often, the songs include a powerful guitar riff or a consistently solid bassline. These choices help keep the overarching sound of the record timeless.

Continuing Their Legacy

The band has impressively continued its legacy in recent years. They remain at the forefront of their fans’ minds and hearts. In 2015, their collaboration with indie-rockers Franz Ferdinand for the record ‘FFS‘ helped them reach a younger audience of music lovers. More recently, master director Edgar Wright made a documentary about the duo titled ‘The Sparks Brothers‘. It received an excellent critical reception, as well as being loved by fans of both the director and the musicians.

I still find myself impressed by the duo’s new releases. This feels insanely impressive considering Sparks have been releasing music for over fifty years. 28 albums into their career, and yet the pair are still able to find inventive new ways to imagine their soundscape. Let’s hope there’s plenty more to see from them in the future.

Rating: 8/10

Sparks are on Instagram, X, Threads, and TikTok. You can stream their latest album ‘MAD!‘ below and read more album reviews here. The album is also available to buy.

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