ISSUE 26 13 - 26 NOVEMBER 2018
ALBUM REVIEWS From The Prodigy, Sun Kil Moon, Bill Ryder-Jones and Boygenius
COURTNEY BARNETT ON CRITICAL SUCCESS AND HER CONFIDENCE CRISIS
MUSIC NEWS From Beach Riot, Mutations Festival, Idles and more
GIG LISTINGS Our recommended listings of gigs in Brighton
LIVE REVIEWS From Superorganism, Dream Wife, Bad Sounds and more
The enchanting Kate Rusby performs traditional folk songs and emotive originals in a joyful celebration of Christmas, joined by her marvellous band and a sublime brass quintet.
brightondome.org
ISSUE 26
CONTENTS COURTNEY BARNETT The Aussie singer-songwriter talks about her struggles with confidence and her accliamed output ahead of her show at the Brighton Dome
BRINGING THE ARTISTS CLOSER TO YOU... CEO: Frank Sansom
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EDITOR: Daniel White PRODUCTION: Adam Kidd, Jonski Mason, Kyle Moon
NEWS
LISTINGS
Local venue news and more from the city’s music scene
COMMERCIAL: Lesley Lawrence COVER SHOT: Marathon Artists
Our recommended listings and previews of this week’s gigs
4 6 ALBUMS
LIVE REVIEWS
The latest album reviews from this week‘s releases
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Superorganism, Freya Ridings, Dream Wife, Sam Walker and Bad Sounds all feature in our rundown of this week’s reviews on the live circuit
CONTRIBUTORS: Jeff Hemmings Annie Roberts Rhys Baker Anna Claxton Iain Lauder Jamie MacMillan Liam McMillen Ben Walker Christian Middleton Kelly Westlake Paul Hill Chloe Hashemi Dan Whitehouse press@brightonsfinest.com advertising@brightonsfinest.com Copyright © 2018. All rights reserved.
OUT OF TOWN MOGWAI Our favourite upcoming gigs outside of Brighton
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Stuart Braithwaite chats to Brightonsfinest about their first full soundtrack, KIN
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brightonsfinestuk @brightonsfinest
NEWS BEACH RIOT ANNOUNCE EP AND SHOW AT STICKY MIKE’S
JF SEBASTIAN DROPS GLISTENING DEBUT SINGLE ‘KOMODO’ JF Sebastian, from Brighton band Underwater Boys, has dropped his debut single ‘Komodo’ and we’re big, big fans of it not only because of the Blade Runner reference. An expertly pitched piece of indie power pop, with one of the most bombastic guitar riffs in recent years, it’s a brilliant debut single. Falling somewhere between The Magic Gang’s summery goodness and Father John Misty at his happiest, we can’t wait to see what he does next.
Brighton “fuzz pop” quartet Beach Riot have impressed a lot of people around the city with their exciting live show. Now, they’ve announced their debut EP, simply entitled Beach Riot, which will be released on 7th December on Vallance Records, home to fellow Brighton noise-makers Strange Cages. The first single from the record, ‘Good to Know (That I’m Still on Your Mind)’, is available now on Spotify. Additionally, the band have announced they’ll be launching the record at the soon-tobe-closing Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar on 3rd December. Presented by Pool Valley Records, it looks set to be a night of brilliant up-and-coming Brighton talent. Along with four-piece Beach Riot, there’ll be performances from Brighton-based garage rock band Gaffa Tape Sandy as well as local bands Feral Youth and three-piece rockers Gnarlah. Tickets are £4 in advance and £6 on the door!
IDLES SET FOR BRIGHTON RETURN IN 2019 Soon after their brilliant sold out show at Concorde 2, Bristol five-piece Idles have announced a new Brighton date, as part of a global tour, this time at the Dome, on 29th March. Three times the capacity, it will no doubt sell out as well, so you’d better be quick! If you don’t know anything about Idles check out their album Joy As An Act of Resistance that came out earlier this year.
ONE INCH BADGE AND SMALL POND BRING BACK MUTATIONS
KNIGHT & NAVARRO TEAM UP TO RELEASE ‘SO LONG’
The good folks at One Inch Badge and Small Pond are joining forces to revive Mutations festival, which last took place in 2015. Scheduled for Saturday 23rd February 2019 in an undisclosed secret location, we’re hyped for its return due to the 2015 edition bringing some extremely talented artists (Jane Weaver, Blaenavon and more) to the South Coast. Ticket prices, or an on-sale date, are yet to be announced but if the line-up is as good as it has been previously, count us in.
Local Brighton artists Nelson Navarro and RIAH have teamed up to record a brand-new single, ‘So Long’, under the name Knight & Navarro. Released under Brighton label QM Records, it’s an excellent, laid-back slice of soothing soul and is a beautifully relaxing cut that leaves us salivating for more. Subsequently highlighting both of their outrageous talents, it’s a charming jazz meets soul track.
NIGHTLIFE Enei / Dubloke b2b Charris Friday 16th November Patterns 11pm – 4am
Sam Devine (Openers) Friday 16th November Hideout 11pm – 5am
Friction Friday 16th November Concorde 2 11pm – 4am
Ceephax Acid Crew Saturday 17th November Patterns 11pm – 4am
Upgrade / Twisted Individual / Agro Saturday 17th November Hideout, 11pm – 5am
Mungo’s Hi-Fi Saturday 17th November Concorde 2 11pm – 4am
My Nu Leng Wednesday 21st November Patterns 11pm – 3am
Randall / Stature Friday 23rd November Patterns 11pm – 4am
A.M.C. / Phantom Friday 23rd November Hideout 11pm – 5am
Mr Scruff Friday 23rd November Concorde 2 10pm – 3am
Lars Moston Friday 23rd November Green Door Store 11pm – 5am
Solid Blake Friday 23rd November Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar 11pm – 3.30am
Sharda / Burt Cope Saturday 24th November Hideout 11pm – 4am
Pendulum (DJ set) Saturday 24th November Concorde 2 11pm – 4am
Annix / Levela / Socument One / Critical Impact Saturday 24th November Volks, 11am – 7am
OUT OF TOWN Tom Misch 15th & 16th November O2 Academy Brixton, London (Alt-Indie) – 7pm
Gazelle Twin Friday 16th November Somerset House, London (Art Pop) – 7.30pm
The Men They Couldn’t Hang Saturday 17th November Lewes Con Club (Folk Punk) – 7:30pm
Hothouse Flowers Saturday 17th November De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill (Rock) – 7pm
Killing Joke Saturday 17th November Roundhouse, London (Rock) – 7pm
Soft Machine Sunday 18th November Lewes Con Club (Rock and Jazz) – 7:30pm
Gary Numan 18th & 19th November Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London (Singer-songwriter) – 7pm
Swimming Tapes Tuesday 20th November Moth Club, London (Alternative-indie) – 7pm
Youth Club Tuesday 20th November Boileroom, Guildford (Indie/Pop) – 7pm
Jess Glynne Tuesday 20th November The O2 Arena, London (Pop) – 7pm
Unknown Mortal Orchestra Wednesday 21st November Royal Albert Hall, London (Rock) – 7pm
Ian McNabb Thursday 22nd November Lewes Con Club (Singer-songwriter) – 7.30pm
Florence and The Machine Thursday 22nd November The O2 Arena, London (Indie-rock) – 6.30pm
Lee Scratch Perry Friday 23rd November De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill (Dub-reggae) – 7pm
Yumi and The Weather Friday 23rd November The Finsbury, London (Alternative-indie) – 7.30pm
Full event listings at Brightonsfinest.com/listings
PREVIEWS
GIG LISTINGS BRIGHTON CENTRE Jess Glynne Wednesday 21st November Tickets: £36.25 Presented by Goldenvoice UK
Seasick Steve – Brighton Dome – Tuesday 13th November 2018 Seasick Steve has achieved a great deal of success and admiration over the last decade or so, having performed with KT Tunstall and Jack White. Touring in support of his ninth studio album, Can U Cook?, there will be blues-country storytelling and there will be whiskey-swigging rock and roll. All American and no bullsh*t, this is set to be another great night in this most iconic of Brighton venues.
Easy Life – Green Door Store – Wednesday 14th November 2018 What a brilliant year it’s been for Leicestershire quintet Easy Life. With hits such as ‘Pockets’ and latest single ‘Nightmares’ under their belt, the band have garnered critical acclaim left, right and centre and have an incredibly loyal following. As a result, their Green Door Store gig has been sold out for weeks and already seems too small for them. This has all the potential to be an ‘I was there’ moment if ever there was one.
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Easy Life Wednesday 14th November Tickets: £8 Presented by Lout Promotions TVAM Thursday 15th November Tickets: £8.80 Presented by Melting Vinyl
Libby Whitehouse Tuesday 13th November Tickets: £8.95 Presented by One Inch Badge
Estrons Friday 16th November Tickets: £10 Presented by Lout Promotions
Cavetown Wednesday 14th November Tickets: £11 Presented by One Inch Badge
Happy Accidents Saturday 17th November Tickets: £8.80 Presented by TOFTC
Wand Thursday 15th November Tickets: £15 Presented by Goldenvoice UK
The Holydrug Couple Sunday 18th November Tickets: £9.35 Presented by Neat Neat Neat
And So I Watch You From Afar Friday 16th November Tickets: £18.70 Presented by Small Pond
The Yellow Bellies Monday 19th November Tickets: £4 OTD Presented by Dusty Studio Productions
Ferocious Dog Saturday 17th November Tickets: £18.15 Presented by One Inch Badge
Sheafs Wednesday 21st November Tickets: £8.05 Presented by One Inch Badge
Toska Sunday 18th November Tickets: £10 Presented by Lout Promotions Ought Tuesday 20th November Tickets: £16.88 Presented by One Inch Badge
THE ROSE HILL Jessica Moss Thursday 15th November Tickets: £11 Presented by Neat Neat Neat
Sticky Mike's Frog Bar Courtney Barnett – Brighton Dome – Friday 16th November 2018 The indie-rocker can barely put a foot wrong. With two absolutely corking albums under her belt, plus a magnificent collaboration with Kurt Vile, Barnett is the consummate singer/songwriter, creating a music powered by her dazzling, multi-layered wordplay, lethargic sing-song delivery, and excellent guitar skills. We can’t wait to see this unassuming Aussie as she decends on the Brighton Dome for a performance you won’t want to miss.
Green Door Store
Cold Years Monday 19th November Tickets: £5 OTD Presented by sugar-free
West Hill Hall Darren Hayman Saturday 17th November Tickets: £16.50 Presented by Dictionary Pudding
BRIGHTON DOME Courtney Barnett Friday 16th November Tickets: £25.25 Presented by One Inch Badge The Damned Monday 19th November Tickets: £28 Presented by AEG Afro Celt Sound System Tuesday 20th November Tickets: £27 Presented by Kilimanjaro Promotions
The old market Blancmange Thursday 15th November Tickets: £19.50 Presented by AGMP Big Country Saturday 17th November Tickets: £22.50 Presented by AGMP Sunflower Bean Wednesday 21st November Tickets: £13.50 Presented by Neat Neat Neat
GIG LISTINGS The Hope & Ruin
PREVIEWS Concorde 2
Evertim Tuesday 13th November Tickets: £8 OTD Presented by JESSFEST
Caravan Thursday 15th November Tickets: £22 Presented by One Inch Badge
Cold Years Thursday 15th November Tickets: £5 Presented by sugar-free
Black Grape Friday 16th November Tickets: £25 Presented by Family Ents
Wyldest Friday 16th November Tickets: £6 Presented by Hidden Herd
Sleeper Saturday 17th November Tickets: £20.25 Presented by One Inch Badge
The Monochrome Set Saturday 17th November Tickets: £15.40 Presented by Bizarro Promotions
Hugh Cornwell Sunday 18th November Tickets: £20 Presented by The Gig Cartel
Nervus Sunday 18th November Tickets: £11 Presented by Washed Out Festival
Therapy? Monday 19th November Tickets: £20 Presented by MJR Live
Gloria Tuesday 20th November Tickets: £5.50 Presented by Acid Box
Kurupt FM Tuesday 20th November Tickets: £20 Presented by SJM Concerts
77:78 Wednesday 21st November Tickets: £13.50 Presented by One Inch Badge
PATTERNS Just Jack Tuesday 13th November Tickets: £12 Presented by Lout Promotions Ezra Collective Wednesday 14th November Tickets: £11 Presented by Houses in Motion Yazmin Lacey Thursday 15th November Tickets: £9 Presented by BamBamBam Emancipator Ensemble Thursday 15th November Tickets: £18.15 Presented by One Inch Badge Mattiel Friday 16th November Tickets: £14.30 Presented by Goldenvoice UK
Sunflower Bean – The Old Market – Wednesday 21st November 2018 The impeccably cool American retro rockers are coming back to Brighton having proved themselves as bonna fide superstars with a stand out performance at Concorde 2 back in April of this year. This time around we should be hearing the first fruits from their new King Of Dudes EP which is set for release on the 25th January 2019. With Miya Follick, California’s rising star, in support, this has all the ingredients for a spectacular night.
The Prince Albert The Urban Voodoo Machine Friday 16th November Tickets: £15.40 Mr Ben & The Bens Monday 19th November Tickets: £6.60 Presented by Melting Vinyl Axel Flóvent Tuesday 20th November Tickets: £8 Presented by Lout Promotions
BLOXX – Komedia Studio Bar – Sunday 18th November 2018 BLOXX have more than proven themselves in the live sphere, which is why we’re massively excited that they’re returning to Brighton, following excellent shows at The Great Escape festival. Their latest single release, ‘Lay Down’, is a euphoric slice of indie-pop-rock with a killer chorus steeped in hooks. Mixing indie-pop with hints of punk, we can’t wait for BLOXX’s return to the city to play Komedia’s Studio Bar.
Pip Blom Wednesday 21st November Tickets: £8.80
KOMEDIA Musa Mboob Tuesday 13th November Tickets: £10 Gilmore & Roberts Thursday 15th November Tickets: £13.20
The Parlotones Saturday 17th November Tickets: £16.50 Presented by AGMP
Bloxx Sunday 18th November Tickets: £8.80 Presented by Neat Neat Neat
Jamie Isaac Tuesday 20th November Tickets: £8 Presented by One Inch Badge
Foxe Thursday 22nd November Tickets: £5.63 Presented by One Inch Badge
77:78 – The Hope & Ruin – Wednesday 21st November 2018 Such was the demand to see 77:78 at The Great Escape, that the queue from Horatio’s spiralled all the way back down the Brighton Pier. Thankfully, they’re coming back to play The Hope & Ruin and this time their debut album, Jellies, is out in the world. Released on Heavenly Records, it is one of the finest debut records of the year. We wouldn’t expect any less from Tim Parkin and Aaron Fletcher and we can’t wait for their return.
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COURTNEY Despite plenty of critical acclaim, Courtney Barnett continues to fight crippling self doubt and despair. After offering a glimpse into her vulnerable side on her latest album, Tell Me How You Really Feel, Jeff Hemmings chats to the singer ahead of her Brighton show about opening up, Jen Cloher and Sunday Roasts
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ack in 2013 I first came across Courtney Barnett when she packaged her two previous EPs, I’ve Got A Friend Called Emily Ferris, and How To Carve A Carrot Into A Rose, into one long player, and gave it a full UK release. The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas saw this Australian singer-songwriter start casting her spell over overseas listeners with her hazy tales of suburban banalities. In particular, the track ‘Avant Gardener’ was a powerful calling card. An intriguing song initially about the mundanity of getting up on a Monday morning before being inspired by her neighbour to do some gardening, before an unexpected and ambulance-inducing asthma attack takes over, laying waste to Barnett, all detailed in her endearingly lethargic sing-song voice. Even better, the accompanying video features her and a foursome playing tennis, wearing all whites, and playing with wooden rackets. “The paramedic thinks I’m clever ‘cause I play guitar / I think she’s clever cause she stops people dying”, she sings. “I much prefer the mundane... I’m not that good at breathing in”. Perhaps that is why she comes across as super laid-back in interview, as opposed to the live stage where an almost wild abandon takes over, as she rocks her way through her ever deepening bag of fantastic tunes. Whichever way you cut it, Barnett is a big, if somewhat reticent, new music
personality in the world of indie-rock. A person whose music tells you much about what you need to know, and yet leaves you questioning, in much the same way she constantly questions herself. It’s a music powered by her dazzling, multi-layered wordplay, and excellent guitar skills, disguising her desire to go through life making as little fuss as possible. Yet, what a fuss that has grown up around her! She’s trying to take it all in her stride though, simply enjoying the fact she can now be afforded the opportunity to make music, play in front of people full-time, and meet like minded souls. The last time she was in the country, in early June, she was playing at London’s newest inner-city festival, All Points East. “It was incredible. It was beautiful. It was huge. There were a lot of people there. I played, then Patti Smith played, and then Nick Cave played. It was quite a dreamy afternoon. They were incredible, really inspiring performances.” With a three, sometimes four-piece revolving around long time friends Dave Mudie on drums, Bones Sloane on bass, and English musician Katie Harkin on keys and guitar, Barnett has been traversing the globe these last few years. All whilst developing a fanbase, releasing a couple of cracking near-the-top-of-the-end-of-year-album lists in the form of 2015’s Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, and this year’s Tell Me How You Really Feel, both rapturously full to the brim of powerfully melodic rockers,
and that simply wondrous vocal and lyrical interplay. That first album was nominated for a Grammy and a BRIT, and won the Australian Music Prize and four Aria awards in her home country. However, despite that success, she went through some personal demons, and an apparent lack of confidence when making Tell Me How You Really Feel. The title of that album comes from her typically self-deprecating number ‘Crippling Self Doubt and a General Lack of Confidence’. “I thought it was a great line, and a good album title, because it’s so flexible. It has so many different meanings and interpretations, which mirrors a lot of the songwriting on the album. “ “Put me on a pedestal and I’ll only disappoint you,” she warned on ‘Pedestrian at Best’ from Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. Inevitably, as her star has waxed, that warning has largely fallen on deaf ears. However, Barnett was trying to help herself, it seems. Her music-making soul mate, and life partner Jen Cloher, apparently said to her that she never told her, or her close friends, how she really felt. Yet, despite her guarded nature, Barnett’s skill is in making even her most specific lyrics relatable, tapping into a generation literate in depression and anxiety, as well as an older crowd reared on the lyrical melancholy of the Pixies and Nirvana, as well as PJ Harvey and Jimi Hendrix.
Y BARNETT “
I was trying really hard to help myself get through something. I was trying to find a positive side to that despair. I kept seeing myself as being angry or sad, and wondering what the point of that was. It’s me trying to be hopeful
There’s clearly a focus on self-therapy throughout Tell Me How You Really Feel as Courtney explains, “I was really trying to use songwriting to do some work on myself. It’s definitely angry and frustrated and sad, and I was trying to actually feel those feelings, to go through them instead of pushing them away. There’s definitely more vulnerability on that one. I felt vulnerable writing it, even though I knew that, at the time, I was the only one seeing it, and I might never show it to anyone. I was trying really hard to help myself get through something. “There are two meanings to it. I was trying to find a positive side to that despair. I kept seeing myself as being angry or sad, and wondering what the point of that was. It’s me trying to be hopeful. But there’s a lot of doubling up. Like when you give friends advice and you’re like, ‘Why don’t I ever listen to my own advice’!?” There’s ‘Sunday Roast’ for instance, a song that typically marries up matter-of-factness, with deeper meaning, a ‘keep on keepin’ on’ pep talk aimed at a friend. Are Sunday roasts an Aussie fave, too? “We had a lot of them growing up, and the last couple of years me and a bunch of friends started getting together and having a nice big communal dinner. We’d swap houses and take it in turns to cook a big meal for each other, or we would bring a big plate of food. That song is about friendship and community,
coming together, sharing stories and problems. But, I’m not a very good cook.” However, she’s very good at writing, and the antiquated relic that is a typewriter helped her get her thoughts down for the album. “I got given this typewriter by an old friend, so I made a goal of writing one page a day on that to get random thoughts out. They have a sound and a rhythm that I really like.” It’s how she gets things down, rather than verbalising things that really matter. “I’ve always shied away from verbalising things, and apologising for even having an opinion. I’ve realised that’s a weird way to be.” Being in a spotlight, and with an ever increasing amount of people wanting in on the Barnett action, it’s understandable her reticence to play out in public what are essentially private matters. Having
Cloher in her life has been a huge help, it seems. Earlier this year she was in Brighton, playing guitar with Cloher, who helps her run the Milk label that Barnett initially set up to release her own material. “It was great not being centre of attention,” she says about playing with Cloher in the relatively intimate Patterns club venue on the seafront. “But I love playing any venue really. It’s an honour to be on stage, when people buy tickets to your show.” Completely living and breathing music, last year she released a well-received collaboration with Kurt Vile, Lotta Sea Lice, and following the release of Tell Me How You Really Feel she continues to drip feed new material into the world. Such as ‘Small Talk’ a live-in-the-studio track she recorded during the album sessions. “I like the live sound. Normally we track everything live, and fix things if needed after. But I really like the live sound with mistakes and all. But it just didn’t seem to fit when we were sequencing the album.” Living the dream is a cliche often used in jest. Yet, while Barnett has essentially been growing and developing in public, she is at the end of the day a super talented songwriter and lyricist who loves nothing more than making music, and getting onto a stage and performing. In that respect, and despite everything else, she is very much living the dream. To read the full interview visit Brightonsfinest.com/CourtneyBarnett
LIVE REVIEWS
Full reviews at Brightonsfinest.com/live Superorganism – Concorde 2 – Sunday 28th October
After their triumphant debut Brighton show at The Haunt back in March, and subsequently huge showcase at The Great Escape, we weren’t expecting to see the multi-national collective back in Brighton so soon. Nevertheless, their return at Concorde 2 was another joyous experience and one that further reinforces the magnificent nature of their debut record. Playing every single track from the album, this was a brilliantly bizarre showcase of the eponymous record that wonderfully closed the chapter on their outstanding first period as a band. Throughout, with a screen exhibiting surrealist images, it was much more than a musical performance, it was an experience to get lost in. This is the beauty of a Superorganism gig. Like getting lost in a beautiful bubble of indie-pop for an hour, they’re a collective that thrive and strive to craft their own world and do so incredibly well. From opening song ‘Sprorgnsm’, with its lyrics: “When I grow up, I wanna be / A superorganism, come on give it to me”, which was dutifully and harmoniously sung back to them in ecstasy, the eight-piece collective create a zeitgeist that only they, and their enthusiastic and youthful audience, belong to. As such, it means they can get away with eccentric manoeuvrers that other bands wouldn’t. A set that grew and grew until its epic finale, which saw audience members brought onto the stage and balloons thrown into the crowd, this was a party atmosphere from start to finish. This was always going to be an epic occasion but I don’t think anyone was ready for the intense carnival vibes the sensational eight-piece brought along to Concorde 2.
Sam Walker – The Brunswick – Thursday 1st November Sam is quite an amazing one man band. Starting off playing guitar and keyboards, sometimes at the same time, to great effect. The real treat of the evening came with the encore where Sam invited Shona Foster and her band onto the stage to preform a duet. They both have amazing voices with great range and dynamics and it all shone through with this wonderful closing song. I could not have asked for anything more.
Bad Sounds – The Haunt – Saturday 3rd November Most bands leave all the madness for the end of a show. Not Bad Sounds. A couple of minutes in and the confetti guns are already firing. There’s also Spice Girls covers, guitarists clambering up the (in)famous Haunt column, singers piggy-backing keyboardists mid-solo, balloons, band members in the crowd, the entire crowd on the stage, you name it. It redefines bedlam and it redefines the live show experience.
Dream Wife – Concorde 2 – Tuesday 30th October Playing their first Brighton headline set since the release of their terrific debut album, it’s difficult to describe Dream Wife as anything other than vital, fierce and political luminaries. Most impressive is lead singer Rakel Mjöll’s intense, hyperactive on-stage antics. While vocally, too, she was incredible. Spiky, ferocious, and cutting, she holds the group together and gives them that extra savagery in the band’s performance.
Freya Ridings – The Haunt – Wednesday 31st October Spending the majority of her time in front of her piano, what is refreshing is the lack of gimmick to show off Freya Ridings’ talent, a sweet and wholesome girl-next-door air to her understated yet commanding presence. Completing a perfectly groomed yet heartfelt performance, people hug each other, the bassist plays the cello as tears are wiped away. For just one hour this evening, she is ours. Heavenly.
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MOGWAI Active since the 90s, Mogwai have previously scored documentaries (Zidane, Atomic, Before the Flood), but KIN is their first full film soundtrack. With a short UK tour coming up, including a sold out date at the Brighton Dome, founder and guitarist Stuart Braithwaite talks to Jeff Hemmings about the film, ‘Donuts’, and their penchant for loud music.
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I do remember (the old Concorde)! That was absolutely brilliant. We like it to be loud. In the early days when we had some real equipment restrictions we would try and make it as loud as we could. Mogwai KIN Out: 31st August 2018
Last year you released your highest chart placing album Every Country’s Sun, and this year you’ve made your first narrative film soundtrack, KIN. It was amazing to do a project that was so different to anything we’ve done before and see how our music fits in a totally different environment to how it’s been used before. How did you get involved with KIN? The directors were fans of our music, and asked us to do it. We were involved from quite an early stage, before they started filming. It’s been a good process. They are good guys. How do you go about making music for a film like this? We were working on it before the film was finished. A lot of it was references. We had a huge music playlist. They had a really specific idea of what they did and didn’t want. We went from there, and started sending them pieces of music, and they let us know what they liked, and what didn’t work so much. It was really just a process of trial and elimination until we all got something out of it we were happy with. There was a lot of work involved. It was the first film for the guys, and they were under a bit of pressure from the movie business people. As most of your original music is instrumental, how did you decide what titles to give each track this time? The track titles were based on the film itself. The directors were involved in the song titles themselves. That’s why we don’t have our usually ludicrous titles! They were really keen to be involved with everything which, to be honest, sounds like it could be annoying. But it was cool
that they cared. They are really proud of the album as well as the film. Tell me about the song ‘Donuts’ That’s a scene in the film where the two brothers, the two stars of the film, are bonding by doing donuts (where cars drive a continuous tight circle using their handbrakes). I’ve done a lot of interviews, and depending on the gender of the journalist, I think only boys are stupid enough to find that an amusing thing to do! And what about the track ‘Funeral Pyre’? One of the brothers gets killed, and there’s this big emotional speech next to the fire where he’s being burnt. The titles of the tracks are pretty much a spoiler for the entire film. The only song with vocals is the final track, ‘We’re Not Done (End Title)’. Who sings that? That’s me. To be honest there’s some vocals on most of the records, but it’s never been the main part of our records. I find it quite hard to write lyrics but here I was just thinking out loud what was happening in the movie. The film is about to be released here in the UK. Is it a good film? It’s a good movie. It’s a homage to films that we grew up watching, like Terminator and ET. It’s a fun film. I don’t think it’s super highbrow, but I’m really glad to have been part of it. Do you think it’s mainly aimed at the American market? I would think so. How does Mogwai do in America?
We do okay. It’s our biggest place to play, we definitely have people there who like our music. So, what can we expect when you tour the UK? We’ll only do a handful of tracks from the soundtrack, and we’ll do songs from all the records we’ve made over the years. We did a couple of shows which focussed purely on the films we’ve made music for. We did a few for the Zidane documentary, and did a whole tour for the Atomic soundtrack, the Mark Cousins film. But, it wouldn’t work so well with this film, because there’s so much dialogue. It would get in the way of the music, or the music would get in the way of the dialogue, more to the point. How does a Mogwai song come about? Just writing music. With a guitar, or piano, or synthesiser, and just try and play until something stands out, whether it’s a melody or a chord sequence, sometimes a rhythm. We just play until it’s presentable to the world. I saw you for the first time in the late 90s at the old Concorde. It was loud! Do you remember that place? I do remember that place! That was absolutely brilliant. We like it to be loud, but we don’t push it as far as we can. I’ve seen some gigs where it’s so loud that you can’t watch what’s being played. In the early days when we had some real equipment restrictions we would try and make it as loud as we could. Where it becomes a competition, all people get is a sore head, and you can’t hear what people are playing. Are there more sound restrictions these days? Yeah, in some countries, like Italy and Switzerland, they’re pretty bad for it. And some places in France. I think it’s cultural snobbery, even a really loud gig is nowhere near as loud as a brass section, but I’m sure they turn a blind eye to that. The name Mogwai means ‘evil spirit’ in Cantonese. Was that the intention behind the name? It was actually the little monster from the film Gremlins. We weren’t being too theoretical. But we did know it meant ‘evil spirit’, because Martin, our drummer, was working in a Chinese restaurant. That was always something cool that we knew. What are your plans going into 2019? We’ve got vague plans to make an album, and we’re working on another TV soundtrack at the moment. To read the full Q&A with Stuart visit Brightonsfinest.com/Mogwai
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ALBUM REVIEWS
Full reviews at Brightonsfinest.com/albums
The Prodigy No Tourists Out: 2nd November 2018 Despite the waning in popularity of big beat in the mainstream, the Essex trio have stuck to their guns on their studio output. Their latest, No Tourists, their first album since 2015’s The Day is My Enemy, continues that brave loyalty to the rave scene and, no doubt, provides a few new dynamic numbers that will slot into their live shows with ease. With singles ‘Need Some1’ and ‘Light Up the Sky’ they’ve recaptured that intense, yet extremely listenable sound, that has seen the band adored worldwide. Elsewhere, however, it does start to become a bit stale and is clearly an album of two halves. Opening with a vibrant, and slightly refreshed Prodigy sound, it slowly falls into the same pitfalls that much of the trio’s 2000s work has done: derivative, downward spiralling and slightly dull. It’s in no way a bad album, and die-hard fans of the band will love this return, but it’s unequivocally devoid of ideas from the halfway mark.
Bill Ryder-Jones Yawn Out: 2nd November 2018 Eschewing the alt-folk sound of his previous two albums, Ryder-Jones comes armed with big electric guitars and an expansive sound palette for Yawn, his fourth solo album outside The Coral. It’s a dangerous thing calling your album Yawn, and there’s no doubt that Ryder-Jones has the veritable slacker vibes down to a T. Most songs here clock in at over five minutes, allowing plenty of time to revel in the intricate tapestry of guitars, splashes of occasional organ and cello, and an unfussy backbone of bass and drums. For the most part, there is a push and pull throughout Yawn, the songs unfolding into some kind of expansiveness before re-coiling back into their womb. Restrain and release, a bit like a yawn in scientific terms, and epitomised by the grandly epic track ’No One’s Trying To Kill You’. Ryder-Jones continuing his battle with himself, whilst wryly singing: “There’s a fortune to be had, from telling people you’re sad”.
Sun Kil Moon This Is My Dinner Out: 1st November 2018 With roughly 17 LPs already under his belt, Mark Kozelek has been involved with a multitude of different styles. However, the one constant throughout his career has been his ability to capture his personal outlook on life at that time, through his lyricis about the world. This Is My Dinner continues on this path as the Ohio native writes what is a love letter to Scandinavia at times, sprinkled in with a few covers, which are said to demonstrate childhood highpoints that inspired future happenings. Although it drags on in some parts throughout its one and a half hours, it manages to keep to an enduring and cinematic pace on the whole. Though it can get lacklustre on the first listen, Kozelek has never been one for instantaneous compositions. Instead, his fans are required to listen to the record a number of times before they’re accustomed to his riotous, romantic, murky, yet thoughtful world, which can sound brilliant.
Boygenius Boygenius Out: 26th October 2018 Six songs and 20 minutes is not even close to enough for one of this year’s finest releases. Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus’ self-titled EP brings together all of their positive facets and turns it into something brilliant. The poetic folk of Bridgers, Dacus’ dry witted indie-rock and the dramatic emotion of Baker is exhibited across the six compositions to create an EP that is all together seamless, coherent and still independent from their solo content. Bridgers’ ‘Me & My Dog’ is the finest track of the bunch, as she ponders the frustration of an ex-lover and craving escapism. This feels like a wholesome, genuine collaboration built on shared interests, tight friendships and a shared vision which blends all of their individual panaches into a remarkable piece of art. After a short tour there is no indication that they may ever record together again, making this record even more important and to be cherished.
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THE BREATH
Full interview at Brightonsfinest.com/TheBreath Ríoghnach Connolly and Stuart McCallum, aka The Breath, have just released a new album, Let the Cards Fall, following up their 2016 breakthrough, Carry Your Kin. Ahead of some select UK live dates, Anna Claxton caught up with founding member, Ríoghnach... Tell us about your new album. What inspired it? Rolling the dice, letting go of something and not knowing how or where it’s going to land. It’s called Let The Cards Fall and it’s alright, I think! Have you played in Brighton before and how does it compare? Yes, with a band called HoneyFeet and more recently with Afro Celt Sound System. I also played as a guest with art folk band, Moulettes, years ago. Brighton has a great vibe; there’s salt in the air - the sea makes a change to the general atmosphere of a place and its community. So, why you are called The Breath then? Actually, it came about after laying down the first tracks for our first
album, Carry Your Kin. On one track, we did approximately 70 vocal takes, all layered up to the heavens. All you could hear were the big breaths taken between the phrases... and it sounded hilarious. All we could think of is that it was going to be a nightmare to edit out all the breaths. It stuck. Finally, if you found out you were going to take your last breath, what would be the last thing you would do? I wouldn’t want to be in a hospital but around a fire. I’d get all my Connolly and McNulty families around me for a music session and go out in style, playing music and singing songs together. To read the full Q&A visit Brightonsfinest.com/TheBreath
Vinyl & Digital
Brightonsfinest Vol 1
COMING SOON
Brightonsfinest Vol 3 - Feb
Brightonsfinest Vol 2
12 Stone Toddler. Does It
The Fiction Aisle. Heart Map
Rubric
ng
12 Stone Toddler. Schemi
Scare You?
Fragile Creatures. And other wild things
Los Albertos. Live
Also available on CD
Los Albertos. Dish it up
Zaun. A is for OX
The Mojo Fins. CRCA
Photo credit: Jonksi Mason
12 Stone Toddler. EP
2019