* AUTUMN MUSIC‘éiiEI/ifilg WHY THE LONG FAC .
Under the name Sparklehorse, Mark Linkous has made some truly beguiling music. Why then, asks Doug Johnstone, does he struggle with his place in the world?
t's been live years since alt.country troubadour
Sparklehorse last released a record. the
atmospheric genius of It's a Wonderful Life. Instead of bearing a grudge for the delay. we should be grateful Mark Linkous (for Sparklehorse is he) ever got round to releasing anything again. because the man was in such a state of disenchantment with the world.
‘I fell into a really bad depression and became a really serious recluse for at least three years.’ admits Linkous frankly. ‘I liked coming up with songs and playing them. but I totally lost interested in recording. I was just in a fucking vortex. unable to do anything.’
And the trigger that helped Linkous start digging his way out ol’ this hole? The rather unlikely ligure of 1)] Danger Mouse. the man responsible for the infamous Grey Album and the world-dominating pop
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22 THE LIST 21 880—5 Oct 2006
of Gnarls Barkley.
‘People around me were trying to get me out of this hole I was in.‘ says Linkous. ‘So they‘d send me records that they thought I would lind intriguing. and I really loved that (irev Album. I thought it was just fucking wicked.‘
Linkous' management put the two together. and it transpired that Danger Mouse was a long-time Sparklehorse fan. The pair started collaborating in Linkous’ extremely remote North (‘arolina studio. and the end result was the amazing new album. Dreumtjor l.igli! Yours in the Belly ufu Mountain.
‘I would play him tracks. and he'd grab a guitar track from the verse ol’ one song. put it into his
computer and luck with it. then put it in the cliortis (it
another song and it sounded really great.‘ Linkous says. adding with a chuckle: ‘He's the Jimi Hendrix ol~ the laptop.‘
The resultant record mixes the weird. crackly. downhome atmosphere of Sparklehorse‘s last two
records with a new electronica edge reminiscent of
Radiohead's more experimental leanings. while also somehow returning to the skewed pop aesthetic of his astonishing debut. l‘)‘)5‘s Vii'(ulixicsulmmrint'mmmiissimiplul.
‘lt's definitely more diverse than records I've done bel'ore.~ says Linkous. ‘lt's ended up more pop than I expected. which is weird. because normally it‘s hard for me to do pop songs. I always imagine being embarrassed by them in live years‘ time.‘
Linkous has plans for more collaborations (including another Danger Mouse one. this time under the Dangerhorse moniker) and a covers record. so it seems he's got the recording bug again.
‘Yeah. I hope so.' he says ruel'ully. 'I just need to stay busy and not get in that fucking hole again.‘
King Tut’s, Glasgow, Wed 4 Oct; Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Thu 19 Oct.
I Camera Obscura One of Scotland's indie-pop, Lloyd Cole- approved finest. Cabaret Voltaire. Edinburgh, 16 Oct.
I lntsdels Wall of Sound‘s token indie-rock crowd. ABC. Glasgow, 16 Oct.
I Kenny Rogers How can you resist a night with The Gambler? Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, 16 & 17 Oct.
I Lemonheads The janglesome Evan Dando returns to his lemony roots. ABC. Glasgow, 17 Oct.
I AFI Californian hardcore punk quartet, back to appease their acolytes. Barrowland. Glasgow, 18 Oct.
I Big Big World A varied and innovatively programmed line-up of sounds from the four corners of the globe with Buena Vista Social Club, Mali's Toumani Biabate, reggae legends the Twinkle Brothers and Iran's Payvar Enesmble among the guests. Various venues, Glasgow, 21-28 Oct.
I Lily Allen The ska-pop sound of the summer . . . in October! ABC. Glasgow, 23 Oct; Corn Exchange. Edinburgh, 25 Oct.
I Guillemots Buoyant, Mercury-nominated quirk-pop from the wilds of London. ABC, Glasgow, 24 Oct.
I Phoenix Polished French guitar outfits don’t come any better. Arches, Glasgow, 24 Oct.
I James Brown Get up, he feels like a hip replacement. Or he should. Carling Academy, Glasgow, 25 Oct.
I New York Dolls Exciting reunion from NYC’s original punk rockers. ABC. Glasgow, 26 Oct.
I The Klllers The only winners to come out of Vegas make strident return with their anthemic Duran/U2 pop. Carling Academy, Glasgow, 22 Nov.
I Lambchop Ever dependable alt.country melodies from Kurt Wagner and co. ABC, Glasgow, 28 Oct.
I The Paddlngtons They would’ve been The Libertines if they weren’t from Hull. Liquid Room, Edinburgh, 28 Oct.