Lil' Beethoven

Turning its back on the mirror-ball electro-disco of yore ("Auf wiedersehen to the beat, lights out Ibiza" say the valedictory lyrics of "The Rhythm Thief"), Lil' Beethoven wraps-up Sparks' traditionally majestic hysteria in a deliciously neo-classical pomp confection of strings, tinkling harpsichords, booming timpani and Ron Mael's rolling piano lines. However, one electric guitar does manage to evade security and makes a rock & roll nuisance of itself on the comical "Ugly Guys with Beautiful Girls", a song that ought to have the B-52's saying "Hey, isn't that us?" "I Married Myself" ("we're very happy together") is the album's keenest pop moment, but an honorary mention must go to "Suburban Homeboy", a cute Ali G style satire on bourgeois hip-hoppers that sounds like the Royal Artillery concert party from BBC TV's It Ain't Half Hot Mum getting all camp in the NAAFI while playing the tune to "Back Home" by the 1970 England World Cup squad. --Kevin Maidment