The first track on Sparks' 19th LP, 'Lil' Beethoven' is 'The Rhythm Thief', and it sets the scene, as, apart from one track, there is conventional drumming, human or electronic across the LP. Instead the LP, released in 2002, is largely piano lead with orchestral arrangements and complex vocal arrangements all performed by Russell and collaborator Tammy Glover. He's also sampled extensively as part of the instrumentation. This obviously had precedents on 'Plagarism' but the overall concept is minimalist, based on repetitive vocal lines with string driven orchestrations. For a band who reinvent themselves regularly it's a remarkable departure, but works very well while remaining recognisably Sparks. It's the sort of record that deserves several listens. The one thematic exception is the seven minute 'Ugly Guys With Beautiful Girls', a guitar and drum lead track that looks back to their glam rock days. It was critically acclaimed but didn't chart, however, this isn't so important anymore, and to that extent it's a success for its ambition.