Sparks
London Shepherd’s Bush Bush Hall
13th June, 2012

The Edwardian opulence of Bush Hall was the perfect setting for the world premiere of Sparks’ Two Hands One Mouth shows, the brothers Mael performing with just keyboards and vocals. Ron’s ornate songs were delivered with an excess of twinkle by his brother, Russell, the pair resembling a turn of the 20th century revue, performing parlour songs for the aristocracy. Shorn of their studio bombast, the numbers from their first three Island albums displayed all of their intricate, tricksy charm and bewildering conceits. Best was the Lil’ Beethoven material, and it’s ironic that the most lyrically simplistic of Ron’s work, My Baby’s Taking Me Home, with its beautiful, hypnotic repetition, had the crowd spellbound. Preaching to the converted, there was no doubting by the encores, No 1 In Heaven, Beat The Clock and I Married Myself, the brothers’ lasting, mercurial talent.