Sparks (Beach House song)

"Sparks"
White text showing "Beach House" and "Sparks", all in lowercase, in front of a cherry red background.
Single by Beach House
from the album Depression Cherry
ReleasedJuly 1, 2015
RecordedNovember 2014 – January 2015
StudioStudio in the Country
(Bogalusa, Louisiana)
Genre
Length5:21
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Beach House singles chronology
"Other People"
(2012) 		"Sparks"
(2015) 		"PPP"
(2015)
Visualizer
"Sparks" on YouTube

"Sparks" is a song by American dream pop band Beach House. It was released on July 1, 2015, through Sub Pop, as the lead single from their fifth studio album Depression Cherry (2015). A visualizer for the song was uploaded on the band's YouTube channel on the same day.

Background

In May 2015, Beach House announced their fifth studio album Depression Cherry (2015), along with its accompanying tour dates; "Sparks" appeared as the second track.[1][2] On June 26, 2015, Beach House announced on Twitter that they would play "Sparks" on SiriusXMU on July 1, adding that it would be the lead single from the album.[3] It was chosen as a single by the duo not because they thought that it would be a hit, but because of "the ability for the song to connect between their previous songs and Depression Cherry."[4]

Recording and composition

"Sparks" was recorded at Studio in the Country in Bogalusa, Louisiana, along with the rest of Depression Cherry.[5] Lead vocalist Victoria Legrand, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, said that the song "happened" because of a "wild" sound from a keyboard the duo bought in Texas in between recording sessions of their fourth studio album Bloom (2012). She also stated that the song is a "nice beginning of another place that still has some of the past in it."[4]

The song begins with a vocal loop of Legrand's voice that was "accidentally" captured at the duo's soundcheck in Bristol, England, in which her and guitarist Alex Scally were fascinated by the sound of it, holding up their phones and recording the loop.[6][7] It has also been described as a shoegaze track, featuring a distorted guitar which interrupts the vocal loop.[8][9][10] Throughout the entire song, an organ and precussion are also used.[11][12]

Release and reception

"Sparks" was released on July 1, 2015.[13] On August 10, 2015, the song would also be released on the band's website, along with two other songs from the album, "PPP" and "Beyond Love".[14] Either one of the songs could be accessed by using the temporary "Single Finder" feature on the band's website.[15]

Chosen as "Best New Track", Eric Torres of Pitchfork described the song as "a distilled version of the devotionals with which Beach House first found their footing, pulling from the past while looking resolutely into the future."[8] Additionally, it appeared on the website's list of the best songs of 2015, placed at number 49.[16]

Track listing

  • US CD single[5]
  1. "Sparks" (radio edit) – 4:10
  2. "Sparks" (album version) – 5:21

Personnel

Beach House

Additional

  • Chris Coady – production
  • Chris Bear – drums
  • Jay Wesley – assistant engineering
  • Morgan Stratton – assistant engineering

References

  1. ^ "Beach House announce Depression Cherry LP, world tour". Fact. May 26, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  2. ^ B. Olinger, Sandra (May 26, 2015). "Beach House announce new album Depression Cherry with two LA shows at Fonda Theatre". Grimy Goods. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  3. ^ Rettig, James (June 26, 2015). "New Beach House Single "Sparks" Out Next Week". Stereogum. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Vain, Madison (July 2, 2015). "Beach House new single 'Sparks'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Beach House (2015). Sparks (CD liner notes). Sub Pop. PROCD231.
  6. ^ Boilen, Bob (July 1, 2015). "Hear 'Sparks,' A New Song By Beach House : All Songs Considered". NPR. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  7. ^ McKenna, Brittney (July 2, 2015). "Beach House Shares New Song 'Sparks'". American Songwriter. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Torres, Eric (July 2, 2015). "Beach House: "Sparks" Track Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  9. ^ Ravens, Chal (July 16, 2015). "Tracks: Beach House, Crystal Castles & More". Fact. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  10. ^ B. Olinger, Sandra (July 2, 2015). "New Music: Stream Beach House's new single 'Sparks'". Grimy Goods. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  11. ^ Payne, Chris (July 2, 2015). "Beach House Shares 'Sparks', First Single From 'Depression Cherry' Album". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  12. ^ Hunt, El (July 3, 2015). "In Bloom: Beach House on familiarity, fate and Depression Cherry". DIY. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  13. ^ "Beach House release new single 'Sparks'". Fact. July 1, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  14. ^ Brown, Harley (August 10, 2015). "Beach House Share 'Beyond Love,' 'PPP' via Website Questionnaire". Spin. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  15. ^ Vain, Madison (August 10, 2015). "Beach House share new songs off 'Depression Cherry' -- if you'll play a game with them". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  16. ^ "The 100 Best Songs of 2015". Pitchfork. December 13, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2024.