Sparks

by Imogen Heap

Overview

Nearly three years in the making, Sparks is an ambitious concept album from Imogen Heap. Almost all of the 14 songs find their origin in short, brief aural snippets of found sounds, audio that is almost buried in the finished form on Sparks but nevertheless gives the album a skittish, otherworldly feeling. Often, the record dances on the far side of elliptical: not only are the rhythms simultaneously skeletal and elastic -- sometimes they barely seem to be there -- but the melodies aren't direct, so it takes a while for this album to sink in. Sometimes, it seems like a spacier, chillier counterpart to tUnE-yArDs; it's not as dense in its arrangements or allusions but it is cerebral and worldly, refusing to take a direct route when a detour will do. As such, it sometimes walks the line between close listening and a wash of sound, but it's intriguing from whatever angle it is approached. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	08/19/2014
Label:	Rca
UPC:	0888430373921
Rank:	105124

Tracks

1. You Know Where to Find Me
2. Entanglement
3. The Listening Chair
4. Cycle Song
5. Telemiscommunications
6. Lifeline
7. Neglected Space
8. Minds Without Fear
9. Me the Machine
10. Run Time
11. Climb to Sakteng
12. The Beast
13. Xizi She Knows
14. Propeller Seeds

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Imogen Heap   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background),Vocals
Deadmau5   Primary Artist
Li Benxian   Bass
Li Gongyi   Drums
Lois Amos   Shouts
Marion Blair   Shouts
Naomi Kachiwagi   Shouts
Nigel Oxley   Shouts
Nuns at Penjor Choling Nunnery   Chant
Penelope Waters   Shouts
Phil Singleton   Shouts
Rachel Blackford   Balloon,Crowd Noise
Richard Dann   Shouts
Roger Barker   Shouts
Rory Karsten Stampa   Shouts
Sydea   Shouts
The Papuler Band   Vocals (Background)
Thomas Ermacora   Shouts,Vocals
Flea   Shouts
George Brooks   Shouts
B.o.B   Vocals
Ian Burdge   Cello
Zhao Yiwei   Pipa
Zhu Chunhang   Guitar (Electric)
Andrea Lizakova   Shouts
Angela Koch   Shouts
Bill Amos   Shouts
Breanne Smith   Shouts
Carol Thorne   Shouts
Catherine Elizabeth Bertrand   Shouts
Charlie Moritz   Shouts
Chromer Smith   Shouts
Colin Gordon   Shouts
Colin Jupp   Shouts
Dalibor Tomko   Shouts
Edmun Coleville Tihomir   Shouts
Euan Mills   Shouts
Evie Hilyer-Ziegler   Violin
Mark Taylor   Balloon,Crowd Noise
Banwari Lal Ji   String Instrument
Emma Smith   Viola,Violin
Kheng Sonam Dorji   Vocals
Vishal & Shekhar   Vocals
Vincent Sipprell   Viola,Violin
Simon Parkinson   Shouts
Paul Young   Shouts
Lindsey Nelson   Shouts
Alan Reitsch   Shouts
Felix Thorn   Machines
Frank Van Hasselt   Shouts
Gareth James Rose   Shouts
Hannah Brock   Guzheng
Heather Sherry   Shouts
Ian Guyver   Shouts
Imogen Ridge   Harp
Ingrid Williams   Shouts
John Millar   Shouts
Jonathan Angwin   Balloon,Crowd Noise
Juliet Heap   Shouts

Technical Credits

Kelly Snook   Technical Manager,Field Recording,Design,Mixing,Engineer,Pro-Tools,Technician,Studio Manager
Lois Amos   Screams
Marion Blair   Screams
Michael Lebor   Engineer
Naomi Kachiwagi   Screams
Nigel Oxley   Screams
Penelope Waters   Screams
Peter Stoddard   Engineer
Phil Singleton   Screams
Richard Dann   Screams
Roger Barker   Screams
Roman L   Photography
Rory Karsten Stampa   Screams
Sydea   Screams
Thomas Ermacora   Screams
Imogen Heap   Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Photography,Programming,Sound Design,Orchestration,Instrumentation,Mixing,Concept
Flea   Screams
Nick Ryan   Concept,Engineer,Sound Design,Additional Production
George Brooks   Screams
B.o.B   Composer
Deadmau5   Composer
Thomas Erroson   Photography
Alan Reitsch   Screams
Alexander Goodman   Engineer,Photography
Andrea Lizakova   Screams
Angela Koch   Screams
Ben Henretig   Engineer,Field Recording
Bill Amos   Screams
Breanne Smith   Screams
Carol Thorne   Screams
Catherine Elizabeth Bertrand   Screams
Cecilie Kamp   Illustrations
Charlie Moritz   Screams
Chromer Smith   Screams
Colin Gordon   Screams
Colin Jupp   Screams
Dalibor Tomko   Screams
Edmun Coleville Tihomir   Screams
Ene Fune   Photography
Euan Mills   Screams
Andy Miles   Assistant
Andy Carne   Concept,Cover Photo,Photography,Art Direction,Photo Manipulation
Emma Smith   Engineer
Vishal & Shekhar   Composer,Additional Production
Rob Thomas   Sound Design
Vincent Sipprell   Engineer
Aurora Crowley   Photography
Simon Parkinson   Screams
Paul Young   Screams
Warren Mendonsa   Engineer
Lindsey Nelson   Screams
Abujit Nalani   Engineer
Frank Van Hasselt   Screams
Gareth James Rose   Screams
Gesha Zhu   Engineer,Photography
Heather Sherry   Screams
Hedley Dindoyal   Engineer
Ian Guyver   Screams
Ingrid Williams   Screams
Jennifer Winter Torres   Photography
John Millar   Screams
Joup Van Der Velde   Photography
Juliet Heap   Screams
Simon Heyworth   Mastering