Underworld: The band who defy ageing, according to Sparks
No band showcases how timeless their art can truly be like Sparks, who have been releasing music for over 53 years. Now, 28 albums deep, with a fanbase that hasn’t dwindled in their support, the band are still on the road, currently touring their latest studio album, MAD. So, as experts on what it means to keep up with the times, who do Sparks think is the group maintaining their edge in the modern age?
Ron and Russel Mael are not even close to hanging up their hats, instead adding even more art to their extensive careers. The brothers have pioneered pop music, laying the musical foundations that are still felt in new music today. Producer Jack Antonoff even claimed once, “all pop music is rearranged Sparks”. Who else is better to confirm this than the man responsible for some of the greatest pop singles in recent times, including Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Please Please Please’ and Lorde’s ‘Greenlight’.
Plenty of today’s pop stars are chasing that quick hit. Big chorus, glossy productions that hook you in fast then vanish just as quickly. Nothing wrong with it, but not many of them are sticking around for the long haul. Longevity has become a bit of a lost art. But Sparks reckon there’s at least one band that’s cracked it. Underworld, who’ve been knocking about since 1987, still sound as fresh as if they dropped last week. Sparks have even singled out their tune ‘Push Upstairs’ as a proper standout. It’s got that edge that keeps pulling you back in, even decades later.
“This song, ‘Push Upstairs’, is probably from 30 years ago or something like that,” Russell Mael said. “It’s old, in any case. It took seeing it in this specific context now, placed beside all of these new groups playing at Coachella. To me, it was more cutting edge, more vital and more with the spirit of what pop music can be than what a lot of other acts that are brand new are doing. I just found it to be really driving and compelling.”
Sometimes it does take seeing a band or musician live to truly understand the sheer artistry they offer. By catching them at Coachella, Sparks were able to compare in real time and notice how Underworld are an entirely different machine. It’s their ability to stay true to the music they want to make. Not giving in to industry pressures, or even to what some fans may want from them. Instead, they’re having fun experimenting. True artistry lies in providing the music scene with something new to take away, and Underworld have done this, letting us know that rhythmic house music has a place in the pop world. This fusion of genres is allowed, and it’s just a case of catching up to them.
‘Push Upstairs’ was part of Underworld’s 1998 album, Beaucoup Fish, an album that showcased electronic music in a different light. Its layered production of synths and percussive elements, coupled with member Karl Hyde’s fragmented vocals, provided a new template for pop. It was world-building and all-encompassing, something that can’t just be destroyed or forgotten about with the turning tides.
Ultimately, by not sounding like other pop music cuts, Underworld are creating something entirely different, offering a new direction in which the genre can head and continue to expand.
