“It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and family member, Mark Linkous, took his own life today,” reads a statement from his family. “We are thankful for his time with us and will hold him forever in our hearts. May his journey be peaceful, happy and free. There’s a heaven and there’s a star for you.”
Sparklehorse aka Mark Linkous has a special place in my heart.
I was sixteen, growing up and renewing myself through music when I heard a Sparklehorse song through the Finnish radio channel, Radio Mafia. The channel no longer exists and I still have no idea what the program was, but boy they played good music.
The song featured Nina Persson who was already a big star with Gardigans and all and I was instantly moved by it's minimalistic touch and heartbreaking mood.
I instantly bought all the records and fell in love. All those squeaky old keyboards, mellotrons and synths and Mark Linkous' voice that nearly never gets louder than just a hush. All the otherworldly, fantastic stories and images that are still among the strongest that anyone has been able to share in such simple, fragile manner.
Mark Linkous was one of the truely good guys and it's absolutely devastating that he's gone in such devastating manner. It's the first time I'm genuinely sobbing about a lost artist.
Mark Linkous, you will be missed.
Listen to the classic "It's a Wonderful Life" below. It's pretty certain he'd still want us to enjoy his life's work.
Yours sincerely,
Eino / Stereotype Helsinki