Reviews

WE ARE JUST FLIES/CRYING IN THE SPOTLIGHT

KERRANG RADIO, DJ ALEX BAKER
“They’re like an art rock horror show – they sound amazing!
I love Dark Sparks” 

BBC RADIO SHEFFIELD, DJ IAIN HODGESON
“Immense local talent” 

24-7 MAGAZINE
“We Are Just Flies and Crying In The Spotlight are both exemplary slices of dramatic indie-rock that any of their contemporaries – The Editors, Franz Ferdinand, The Killers – would be proud to put their names to. High praise? Deservedly so.” 

SHEFFIELD MUSIC SCENE
“We Are Just Flies is an immense tune. When I first heard it I was absolutely blown away and I haven’t stopped playing it since.” 

ROCKSOUND
“Stripped down and elusive this is a stylish interpetation of 80s misery pop.” 

DESTROY BEFORE READING
“We Are Just Flies has a claustraphobic, darkly 80’s feel to it. The band have already racked up an impressive list of support slots and i hope to check them out live as soon as possible.”

ROOM THIRTEEN
“We Are Just Flies starts slowly but explodes into life after 50 seconds, with Leigh Greenwood’s vocals showing true class. While it’s likely more bands will be offering free songs to download, it is hard to imagine many being as good as this.”

THIS MUSIC WINS
“Creating music new and exciting, and very loud, Dark Sparks’ are surely a UK band with great things to come.”

LIVE PERFORMANCES

SHEFFIELD MUSIC SCENE – issue 13
O2 Academy, Sunday 15th November (BBC Raw Talent)
“…Next up Dark Sparks. Wow what a band! Fresh, driven and eager to please our tympanic membranes with mood pop not dissimilar to Editors or Echo and the Bunnymen but, dare I say… better?
Far from being new to the music scene, Leigh Adam, Steve, Simon and Tez have already had substantial airplay on Kerrang Radio and have graced the airwaves in Germany and New York!
Their set at the academy, full of dramatic, dark, flamboyant texture – like rich 90% cocoa chocolate dressed in purple velvet – grabbed your attention and kept it. If you can, check out their acoustic samples, set in what looks like someones living room at www.youtube.com/ilovedarksparks. It will have you hooked. Their current single We Are Just Flies is already out and available on itunes. Get it, get it, get it and see them at their upcoming gigs in January…..”

THIS IS LOCAL LONDON****
93 Feet East, Wednesday 11 November
“SHEFFIELD indie band Dark Sparks have a presence.
Their fresh but everso slightly moody setwas crammed full of razor sharp guitars and retro keyboards. 
Flamboyant lead singer Leigh Greenwood is reminiscent of a young Jarvis Cocker and his vocals convey all the pathos and melancholy of disaffected youth.
The band has the energy, confidence and cool charisma of a group who are destined for more than just playing gigs in half empty, dingy, dark basements, stinking of stale beer and vomit. Dark Sparks are made for better things and if it wasn’t for the poor sound system distorting the band’s wickedly electrifying sound, the gig would have been a spine tingling musical experience.”

MUSICAL EXUBERANCE
The Fly, London – Saturday 21st November (with Bang Bang Eche)
“A night of impressive drummers. Opening up was Sheffield’s Dark Sparks. I really enjoyed these guys, really tight with big drums and a great groove that sounded far less emo than expected. Fronted by the vocally strong, synth wielding Leigh Greenwood this was definitely an act to look out for again.

COUNTERFEIT MAGAZINE
O2 Academy, Sunday 15th November (BBC Raw Talent)
“Eyeing the crowd with suspicion Dark Sparks’ singer Leigh’s screeching caterwaul reaches a fevered pitch. Sounding a touch Cooper Temple Clause ‘Crying In The Spotlight’ thrashes around between the static drums, tearing at the edges. Still tinged with the usual melodrama, this is definitely a change for the better. With a new drummer and a harder edged sound they seemed poised to break through.”

OUR IRON LUNG

“Dark Sparks took to the stage in a burst of feedback and distortion. Slowly, from this mass of noise emerged the crisp sound of well crafted song after song, held together by skillful guitar work and captivating vocal lines. It felt like a special moment was dawning over the night. Suddenly people were dancing, reaching out over the monitors to the twitching singer and equally electrifying guitarist and bassist. Dancing with vigour and energy to the relentless pulse of forward thinking yet palatable music.” 
 

BLOOD PETROL FIRE/BULLET IN THE EYE

CHANNEL 4 TELETEXT – demo of the week 8/10
They’ve supported The Paddingtons and Subways and are far better than either. Leigh Greenwood has the same hard-won optimism as Tom Smith, as the band unleash propulsive classic ’80s indie fire behind him in The Bunnymen mould. 
There’s an ambition here that deserves to be matched by a slavering fanbase.”

HIGH VOLTAGE
“Jangly guitars and gloriously furious drums. By adding vocal harmonies and contagious lyrics to the mix however, ‘Blood Petrol Fire’ shows that the band could prove to be something quite special.” 4/5

THE MAG
“
The stark contrast between crashing loud sections and delicate low volume bits is excellent and the vocal follows the transitions perfectly.
It takes balls to tackle subjects like this and Dark Sparks have the sincerity to pull it off. Watch out for these indie-disco-wave pioneers!”