Bronze Rat are chuffed to bits to unveil what is quite possibly the first collaboration of its kind, and what could only be described as Sparks covering Gemma Ray covering Sparks!
This week, The Quietus give the tracks an exclusive airing HERE, and NME are giving you first look at the video HERE!
Pre-Order the limited 7″ HERE!
So what’s it all about?
Maverick UK songstress Gemma Ray has interpreted 2 songs by the legendary Sparks, but in true Mael style the LA duo have in turn re-interpreted her interpretation and turned it back in on itself. “What?!” we hear you gasp! – Let’s back up…
Gemma Ray, who once fainted at one of Sparks’ London shows (“it was intense”), was contemplating injecting elements of her next album with some Sparks-esque pomp and grandiosity. Rather than imitate, she approached the masters themselves. Circumstances conspired against it however. Sparks were immersed in taking their incredible musical The Seduction Of Ingmar Bergmann to the stage, but an affinity was established and the three stayed in touch.
What eventually transpired was unplanned, and as unlikely as it is unprecedented. The Maels dared Gemma to attempt one of their songs – and they all eventually ended up choosing a curious two. “How Do I Get To Carnegie Hall” (from their album Lil’ Beethoven) and the innuendo-filled “Eaten By The Monster Of Love” (from Angst In My Pants). Gemma approached them side-on with her torch-singing noir style . Ron & Russell then took these new Ray-styled numbers, and re-built them Sparks-style!
In the words of Gemma Ray: “I have long been a huge admirer of Sparks’ non-conformity which allows them to take their uncompromising creativity to wherever it wants to go. But I really could not imagine what my thing combined with their thing would sound like, and that was a big part of the attraction. ”
And in the words of Sparks: “It takes a certain type of bravery to attack our songs. Gemma has both bravery and immense talent. We are moved by the results.”
The two songs will be released as a limited edition collectors 7” and download, with artwork by Rick Froberg (Obits/Hot Snakes), and will feature as bonus tracks on her forthcoming new album Island Fire, released on April 16th.
In the coming months Gemma plays HMV Next Big Thing, SXSW, as well as European dates with Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and CW Stoneking.
For more information visit http://www.gemmaray.tv/, or contact: info@bronzerat.com