Sparks: scoring new Leos Carax film Annette, plus new album Hippopotamus (9/17)*

New movie soundtrack info:
Amazon will distribute Leos Carax’s bizarre Sparks musical

Rehearsals including a mostly new band that has Steve Nistor on drums and QOTSA's Mikey Shoes on guitar:

 

Can't wait for the new album and tour. Really liked the FFS two years ago as well. Surprised to see an almost entirely new band, I was kinda expecting the 2008/2009 band to return.

 

New album out September 8th



Tracklist:
1. Probably Nothing
2. Missionary Position
3. Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)
4. Scandinavian Design
5. Giddy Giddy
6. What The Hell Is It This Time?
7. Unaware
8. Hippopotamus
9. Bummer
10. I Wish You Were Fun
11. So Tell Me Mrs. Lincoln Aside From That How Was The Play?
12. When You're A French Director
13. The Amazing Mr. Repeat
14. A Little Bit Like Fun
15. Life With The Macbeths

Tour dates coming on Monday, the title track will be released as a single tonight!

 

Great cover! Kinda reminiscent of their 70's classics.

 

Quite excited. Bummed that there isn't a CD+lyric sheet option among the 20+ combo options on their tmstores page but oh well. I'll probably jump on the 2LP+lyric sheet if I like the CD.

Track 11 is looking to be classic Sparks. That's all I needed to be sold on this one. Great cover too.

 

Very exciting, and somewhat annoying that it has a SIX MONTH lead time on it !!

 

The Waterboys announced a double album with a September release date back in January (maybe early February)... the wait is still killing me!!!

 

They're playing the album live for the first time right now, which is conflicting as Gorillas are doing exactly the same thing.

 

The new single is.....wonderful!!!

 

LOVE IT! No brainer of a pre-order for September. Only heard the single twice and I'm already entranced. Sounds every bit as good as Exotic Creatures and FFS. "So Tell Me Mrs. Lincoln Aside From That How Was The Play?" This world would be a much, much duller place without the Maels in it.

 

If you have access to BBC iPlayer, there're live versions of the title track, The Missionary Position, What The Hell Is It This Time?, and Edith Piaf from their recent 6Music gig in Glasgow.

 

This. So much this.

What, exactly, is the reason not to issue it now? Do they really think it will sell more copies if it sits on the shelf for half a year?!? Their fans aren't getting any younger, you know.

 

News here regarding album no.23.
Sparks / Hippopotamus
How exciting!

 

Very, unfortunately it's still a few months away.

 

Great cover. Great song titles. Has to be a winner.

 

It is odd, and wouldn't it be prone to leaks online between now and September?

 

To each his own, I guess. I think the first single is horrible.

 

I'm not sure how to feel. It's certainly no "Rhythm Thief". It seems like a really bizarre choice for a lead single, especially after the FFS collaboration. At the same time, Sparks have done much weirder (and worse) than this. This one sounds like a cross between "Suburban Homeboy" and the weird quiet bit in the middle of "Dick Around". I like this more than anything on Number 1 In Heaven, at the very least. I kept expecting it to explode like "Dick Around" (when the guitar comes in) but that didn't happen. I think we'll have to wait for more singles to come out to get a better grasp on what the album will sound like.

But this is the kind of thing Sparks thrive on: we don't know what to expect next! And in that regard, it's classic Sparks.

 

What a nice album cover!!

 

How Did It Get There?

 

Second single!

 

Is there a release date for the soundtrack?

 

Such a great song and video.
I really hope this album gets them a larger audience...

 

With the album not too far off, the promotion starts - here's an interview with the boys posted over at The Quietus.
The Quietus | Features | A Quietus Interview | Maelstrom! Sparks Interviewed

 

Very cool video: