All You Ever Think About Is Sparks
Music:Music Commentary
I wasn't sure if I was ever going to really delve into this one, but here you go! This will be another two-parter. Telex was a Belgian technopop group active from 1978 to 1988. They made the acquaintance of Ron and Russell Mael in 1979, through a mutual collaborator, the 18-year-old French pop singer Lio. Ron and Marc Moulin, in particular, struck up a lifelong friendship. But where the 1981 album Sex (hilariously neutered with the title Birds and Bees in the UK one year later) enters the Sparks canon is in that album's lyrics. Telex wanted to crack the Anglophone market with their third album, and enlisted Ron Mael to write the words. Songs like "Brainwashed," "Drama Drama," and "Haven't We Met Somewhere Before," sparkle with crystalline synth lines and disco grooves. And they really could pass for Sparks songs of the era.
I'm joined by John Ashdown, zooming in from London, on this one, and I can't thank him enough for his time and for sharing his insights. John himself produces electronic dance music under the name Christ on a Bike, and I strongly encourage you to check it out here: christonabike.net
You can always drop me a line at: podcastsparks@gmail.com
Episode 43: Record Store Day 2024
Episode 42: Telex - Sex (1981-1982) part two
Episode 40: Interview with Thom Chiki
Episode 39: Interview With Timothy Hall
Episode 38: Angst In My Pants part four (1982)
Episode 37: Angst In My Pants part three (1982)
Episode 36: Angst In My Pants part two (1982)
Episode 35: Angst in my Pants part one (1982)
Episode 34: ’Latte’ Listening Party part two
Episode 33: ’Latte’ Listening Party part one
Episode 32: The Paul Barrett Interview
Episode 31: Whomp That Sucker part two (1981)
Episode 30: Interview with Jim Goodwin
Episode 29: Whomp That Sucker part one (1980-1981)
Episode 28: Terminal Jive (1979-1980)
Episode 27: Noel: Is There More to Life Than Dancing? (1979)
Episode 26: Number One in Heaven part 2 (1979)
Episode 25: Number One in Heaven part one (1978-1979)
Episode 24: Interview with David Kendrick
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