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Interview
by SashaS
25-9-2001
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| Mark Linkous |
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Biking in Virginian woods
Moviemakers, songwriters, and champion poets of pessimism max all the elements. in unison on their new album. Is there no end to the subdued enigma of Sparklehorse?
In an age in thrall to bastard-of-Hello mania it’s no surprise the entertainment branch of things has worked overtime this past decade to produce pop celebrities rather than artists; weaklings, a talentless bunch relying on looks, trendy clobber and even coaching to make it in the showbiz treadmill instead of stacking shelves. It seems only sports lets Olympians still rule and no rubbish (bar the aid of a little mild chemical enhancement) surface to the podium.
That's why the music of Sparklehorse is like a champion's Grand Slam: taking all the time that’s needed to prepare properly. The band's third album 'It's A Wonderful Life’ arrives three years after the previous 'Good Morning Spider' LP. Nothing in common with the quick-fit market then.
"It's like that in the States" Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous sighs. "I think it's bit better in Europe. At least you know who Grandaddy, Mercury Rev and Flaming Lips are, they don’t in the States. It's sad because the only pop music I ever listened to is Grandaddy, I think Jason (Lytle) is a genius."
Lost in nature
Some music is like abstract, even surreal painting. But listen to Sparklehorse in the right frame of mind and you’ll be hallucinating Rene Magritte plus ghosts. Its unearthly feel gives the songs a precious, gorgeous presence. Add to that input from Tom Waits and PJ Harvey, a couple of artists as individual as Linkous himself, and no wonder the banquet that unfolds turns out a treat.
"I heard from someone that Tom was a fan of mine," Linkous explains nonchalantly, "and that he'd lost (Sparklehorse's debut album) 'vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot' or someone stole it, his kids hidden it or whatever and I sent him anew copy with aletter. I wrote how influential he was in my development as an artist and we corresponded for a few years. He almost made it onto 'Good Morning Spider’ and then I had all the music for 'Dog Door' but couldn't come up with the words. So, I sent it to him, he wrote the lyrics and recorded the vocal."
"Polly, I've met her when we opened for her one time and immediately asked if she'd ever consider working with me... I don't know why but all these people said yes."
Living in Enon, Virginia, the band’s principal member Linkous is distanced from the cultural toxins that have overwhelmed the entertainment capitals.
"I have a big city phobia," Linkous admits, "and feel much better around dogs than millions of humans. When I was growing up I badly wanted to escape but when I lived in New York and Los Angeles I discovered that I needed lonely walks in the woods. Me, myself and my imagination. You can only enjoy LA in a seedy, Raymond Chandler-esque way."
"When I'm at home I spend most of my time working on my bikes. I've got four, three Motto Guzzis and one Triumph. I’ve never liked Harleys (Davidson) but my father had one. I think it's the same with music, it tells much about you, what kind of bike you are riding reflects your taste. BMWs give smooth, polished rides that feel like using a German sawing-machine, which is like most of popular music. Guzzis are more like robust, full of surprise and kick, like the music I like to listen to and make."
Kindred spirits
Each track on the album has had a film specially made for it -first three were screened at London's Electric Cinema on the day of the album's release. These three were 'Sea Of Teeth’, produced by Jonathan Donahue of Mercury Rev, 'More Yellow Birds' by Jason Lytle (Grandaddy) and 'Heloise Rex Remix' by the band's own Scott Minor.
The full Sparklehorse film collection - the rest directed by Tom Waits, Will Oldham, Chan Marshall of Cat Power, photographer Danny Clinch, Guy Madden and The Quay Brothers - had its official premiere at Edinburgh Film Festival in August.
Sparklehorse's music is on the melancholy side but not a simple mirror of Linkous, we hope...
"I have my bursts of optimism," Linkous attempts a smile, "but there is really not much to be optimistic about. There is no reason that Grandaddy, Mercury Rev and Sparklehorse can't be popular in America... Look at Radiohead, it's great that a band like that has had all the success with 'Kid A'. That’s not an album that you'd think so many kids would go out and buy but when they do you hope it would open their eyes to something else... But, I'm not sure it did and, hopefully, one day I'll be popular in America as I am in Europe."
It can be a wonderful life, or not - that's an informed choice.
Tour dates:
11 & 12 October – Union Chapel, London
30 October – International Arts Centre, Leicester
31 October – Cockpit, Leeds
01 November – Fleece, Bristol
SashaS
25-9-2001
'It's Wonderful Life' by Sparklehorse is released 11 June on Capitol/EMI
Guest editor: Deirdre Molloy
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