Music Review | Sigue Sigue Sputnik: Ultra Real
Written by: Kage Alan

Album Rating: B+

“Everybody wants…everybody wants what Sputnik wants!”

Yes, the future of rock n’ roll is back and it’s been too long since our ears have been graced by the sound of Sigue Sigue Sputnik in North America.  Most of us will remember them for their breakout hit “Love Missile F1-11” featured in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” while the newer generation of listeners will give those of us who remember a blank stare, something they’re genuinely good at these days.  No, SSS has never done a duet with Britney or Justin.  Anyway, their sophomore effort, “Dress For Excess”, was a solid follow-up, but despite the incredible single “Success”, poor marketing stopped the album from ever getting off the ground.  Thanks to EMI, blink and you would have missed the group’s career here after that.

Where has Sigue Sigue Sputnik been since that time?  After a couple of remix/greatest hits collections, the group came back with a hard hitting and edgy techno album titled “Piratepace”.  2002 saw the release of “Blak Elvis” (which I still haven’t heard) and then the most recent outing, “Ultra Real”.  In many respects, this is the very same group that embraced “Blade Runner”, video games, sex and rock n’ roll at the beginning of their career and while they maintain their all out dance or die approach to their songwriting, they’ve matured too (a dirty word in Sputnikspeak I’m sure).

Speaking of mature, “Ultra Real” starts right off on solid footing with the classic Sputnik sounding “Mickey Mouse Is Going To Hell…” It’s kind of difficult not to like it based on the title alone, but it’s a fun little tune nonetheless.  “SSSelebration” keeps the beat moving and features a bit more guitar up front, but it’s “Everybody Wants What Sputnik Wants” that wins the award for most memorable song on the album!  Sputnik has always loved to add products and commercials into the mix, but never before have they crafted a more perfect song with themselves as the product.  It’s rock and dance together and it doesn’t get any better than this!

“Family X” is another classic Sputnik song; danceable with lyrics that’ll have you singing along.  “Violence Is FUN ky” slows things down a bit and ventures into more techno territory.  Things slow down even further with the ballad-like “Amazing Lover” before picking up again with “Suicide SSShow”.  I’m not sure why, but there is almost a 70’s feel to a few of the songs, the previous “Amazing Lover” and then again with “Fabulously Wasted”.  I’d almost have sworn it wasn’t written by Sputnik at all, but it is and just goes to show the kind of diverse tracks they’re willing to put on the album.  The upbeat punkish “Original Freekster” and mellow “Anything Goesss” finish the album off.

Martin Degville’s voice hasn’t aged badly at all since the group’s debut and it’s that consistency combined with Tony James’ and Neal X’s guitar work that make this album stand out all the more.  I do miss the effects work of Miss Yana Ya Ya and can’t help but wonder whatever happened to her, though.  Jenny Z does seem to be ably filling her shoes.  While the music of Sigue Sigue Sputnik has never found as wide an audience as it deserved to, the group has stuck through hard times and come back strong.  As usual, they’re staying two steps ahead of the music industry.

For further information, contact the Sputnik Corporation at www.SputnikWorld.com.  Special thanx go out to Tony James for reminding me of what I’ve been missing.