Bird Machine is a never-before-heard album by the late Mark Linkous of lo-fi standouts, Sparklehorse. Recorded shortly before his death in 2010, the album is finally being gifted to us after its recent discovery.
In a heartfelt tribute to the late Mark Linkous, the visionary artist behind Sparklehorse, his brother and custodian of his musical legacy, Matt Linkous, has unveiled Bird Machine. This poignant discovery stands as a testament to the meticulous archival efforts undertaken by Matt Linkous to honor his brother's extraordinary musical contributions.
"Great care has been taken to archive and preserve Mark's music," Linkous affirmed. "We are profoundly grateful for Mark and the profound beauty he bestowed upon this world."
Mark Linkous, an artist renowned for compelling listeners to embrace the allure of darkness, is fondly remembered for his genre-defying musical ingenuity. From his early days with Dancing Hoods, through Sparklehorse, he gifted the world with a series of influential albums that left an indelible mark on the music landscape. Among these masterpieces are the iconic records Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot and Good Morning Spider from the '90s, followed by the evocative It's A Wonderful Life and Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain in the early 2000s. His final collaborative opus, Dark Night of the Soul, a joint effort with luminary talents, was released in 2010.
A hallmark of Mark's career was his penchant for artistic partnerships, as he collaborated with a roster of acclaimed luminaries. From the likes of Radiohead, PJ Harvey, and Tom Waits to the visionary minds of Danger Mouse and David Lynch, Mark's creative exchanges were marked by innovation and transcendence.
NPR Fresh Air's Ken Tucker aptly summarized Mark's essence, stating, "He embodied the spirit of a working-class visionary, his poetic sensibility drawing him to fellow isolated artists." Tom Waits echoed this sentiment during the release of Good Morning Spider, describing Mark's songs as akin to "opening your eyes underwater at the bottom of a stream." Waits continued, "You go, 'Jesus, look what's down here.' I feel like I'm [hearing what is] between radio stations with him. And we seem to share a love of pawnshop hi-fi."
Mark Linkous' musical legacy continues to captivate and inspire, reminding us of the profound beauty that emerges from the union of artistic introspection and unbounded imagination.