Imogen Heap – Sparks (ALBUM REVIEW)

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For many of us, Imogen Heap came into our lives a decade ago like a force when we heard Frou Frou’s “Let Go” at the end of Garden State. But now, after three solo albums, Heap returns with her fourth, Sparks. In a special deluxe release that includes both instrumental versions of all songs, as well as videos, Sparks has a lot to offer, particularly for devoted fans.

Lush, beautiful piano opens the record with a Deadmaus-assisted “You Know Where to Find Me”, and we hear Heap’s unique vocals, which always surprise us with what they can do. Her voice is smoky, but it also soars in an ethereal way that adds a certain gentleness to even her most dramatic songs. This is a particularly pretty song, with unexpected tinkles of piano creating a truly romantic melody that gracefully accompanies her lyrics, “be still with me.”

Heap has always had a knack for capturing the beauty and romance in banality. Her songwriting often tells stories of mundane day-to-day life, including awkward phone conversations and errands. But somehow, she makes them sound elegant and poignant. This is especially the case on “Telemiscommunications”, a deep tale of the demise of a relationship told through a basic, and not all that unusual phone conversation. It’s controlled chaos as the excuses pile up between the two lovers, and distractions win out, ultimately getting in the way.

“Me the Machine” is perhaps the most classic Heap tune on Sparks, though really, the whole record truly sounds like her. An almost robotic song that literally references electricity while reveling in its own electronic sound, “Me the Machine” sounds like manufactured magic—in a good way. The production on Heap’s records has always been heavy, but it’s so complementary to her vocals and melodies that it’s become her signature. This is a song that begs repeat listens—one of those tunes that sweeps you off your feet.

The soundscapes Heap creates on Sparks—aptly titled—are quirky and all over the place, but never messy. They are thoughtfully crafted, and each odd little “ping” or “ding” you hear is exactly where it’s supposed to be, like a science. From the super literal, dark droid-like “Neglected Space” in which she sounds like an alien dominatrix, to the dizzying enchantment of the Asian-inspired “Xizi She Knows”, no two songs—or sounds—are alike.

Imogen Heap’s music is otherworldly, like space age pop, and her ability to write catchy hooks is still more than intact after a long career thus far. Her harmonies are layered and all consuming, with countless elements working together like a well-oiled machine. And just to keep us guessing all the way through, there are one or two more earthly moments like the mostly a capella “The Listening Chair” in which Heap’s vocals do the work of a thousand instruments. Even the instrumental versions of the tracks on Sparks are exciting and electrifying, though that voice is a thing of beauty.