Sam Sparro

The Age

Friday June 20, 2008

Craig Mathieson

Sam Sparro

Sam Sparro

(Universal) 3/5

Born in Sydney, raised in Los Angeles and now a success in London, Sam Sparro is this year's model. A protege of producer Mark Ronson, who previously chaperoned Amy Winehouse's sound, Sparro alternates between electro grooves, funk squeals and celebratory disco nostalgia. When his falsetto squeezes up against the beat on Cut Me Loose, the obvious comparison is Prince, which is less Sparro's fault than testimony to the enduring strength of Prince's body of work. But Sparro's carnality is casual and without conflict - his taking of pleasure in both life and these songs has no remorse to underpin the emotion. Still, this is an adept pop album, one that catches the tenor of the times particularly well. Sparro conjures up storming Parisian house on 21st Century Life before sinking the deep end of his vocal register into the squeaky rhythm of Waiting For Time. The temporary clincher is the single Black and Gold, a confident cyber stomper that should give him an international hit. That should be enough to survive 2008, but Sparro remains an

ill-judged ballad away from being the next Seal.

-- CRAIG MATHIESON

© 2008 The Age

Back to News Index | Back to Home