Lost Horizons - It's all about trusting yourself

The13th AÑO: 4 | NÚMERO 42

UNA R E VISTA IMA GINARIA

LOST HORIZONTS

IT'S ALL ABOUT TRUSTING YOURSELF

[ Interview with Simon Raymonde from Lost Horizons by Darío Martinez ]

IT'S ALL ABOUT TRUSTING YOURSELF

3 First I want to congratulate you both for the Beautiful album you have made and express my admiration for your previous work with Cocteau Twins and with Dif Juz. Simon has been active in the music business with Snowbird (for the album "Moon" we have interviewed you) but since the dissolution of Cocteau Twins exactly twenty years ago, you have placed yourself at the head of Bella Union, first with Robin Guthrie and then you've been in charge of everything you alone. Tell us what was it that gave you the strength to put together a band again?

When I realised that making music wasn't about stuff like "RELEASING AN ALBUM" or "BEING IN A BAND", it was just about the making of the music part, then I was able to look at the venture with a new perspective. Having been in an iconic band, doesn't automatically restrict you, though I struggled for some time to work it out, so I was able to just find a situation where I WANTED to make music, I’d find the person and the environment that fitted ME! Only took 20 years eh!?

Richie we know of your stays at Dif Juz, Butterfly Child, The Hope Blister. But what have you devoted all these years to?

Richie toured with the Jesus And Mary Chain and with Moose also and a few other cool things here and there, but like me Richie hasn't been working on music much, partly through falling out of love with the 'industry' parts and through avoiding the scenes that have been growing up around us. We both got ripped off pretty badly over the years so it DOES make you hesitate before diving deep into something new. It's a shame but it's happened to many before and will happen to many after us!

While we know that Richie has collaborated on some Cocteau Twins tracks. What motivated them to come together to make this album and go out and play it?

We had jammed together back in the 80s, I pla-

yed bass with the other guys in Dif Juz for a couple of rehearsals just for fun and we always enjoyed each other's company and I personally knew that if I was going to do a record in the future, Richie had to be the drummer, but mostly because I think he's totally original and his style is perfect for my playing. I don't think we ever really intended to go out and play live and it certainly hasn't been easy to put it together but it has been extremely rewarding since we finished our first tour last month.

How was the name of the band born?

My favourite Frank Capra film Lost Horizon.

Imagery, imagination, story.

What do you see on the horizon?

More shows, second album!

I read that the instrumental base of the album was improvised in two sessions of 4 days, then Simon transformed those improvisations into songs in his studio. This makes me think of two questions: A) - How did those sessions flow? The second session coincided with Bowie's death, and we read the story of Simon and Bowie's father. Do you want to say a few words about him and how did that day influence during the recording?

B) What instruments did you choose to make the basis of what your album was going to be?

A- The sessions were both quite surprising. The first generated 7 pieces, six of which ended up on the album, & once I had brought them home and developed them a bit, it was just a case of working out who I wanted to get to sing on them.

We improvised it all and it came very easily I am surprised to say. I wasn't expecting any of it to be as good or as exciting as it turned out. With improvisation you really never know, it can be hit and miss but to be honest, my old band Cocteau Twins wrote in the same way so this isn't new to me. It's all about trusting yourself.

The Bowie day, heartbreaking yes, but we deci-

ded to go in, and use the energy, whatever it was, good/bad, sad/proud, etc. to channel through our improvisations. I think they really did. He was a hero to both of us and I am sure he was in the room with us somehow that day.

B- Just ones I can play really! nothing fancy.

The mellotron had a big part to play in the second half of the recording and that gave the album a new chapter for sure.

As well as in This Mortal Coil and The Hope Blister, projects of which both were part, different vocalists participated as guests. With so many guests in Ojalรก. How was the process of selecting and recording the voices? Who made the lyrics?

I chose the vocalists, based on the music and who I knew would be perfect for each piece. It came mostly very easily to me, a couple harder than others but mostly within a few minutes of the track being finished instrumentally I would know who it should be. The lyrics were mostly all from the singers themselves, my part in that was merely to give them suggestions on what was going

on with me during the recording/writing and for them to either use that to help them or ignore it completely. I didn't mind. I just wanted our freedom in creating the music to be replicated by all protagonists.

How is the line-up of the band with which they are presenting the album?

7 people on stage. 3 singers and 4 of us behind.

Two singers who are on the album and one who is not. The band is perfect. I couldn't be happier with how it is going!

Are you just playing the songs of Ojalรก or adding more to the song live? Which ones add?

Just the songs of Ojala. Who knows about the future, we will see.

As we mentioned before, Bella Union turns 20. What is it like to have a stamp today? I imagine that you should really enjoy being surrounded by music, but a seal implies maintaining a structure formed by people. Is it harder to keep it now than in the eighties or is it just

different?

No it's easier to have it now, because it has been established. We have the same core people for many years, we are friends, we don't look at it too seriously or with the same criteria you would running a more corporate company. We love what we do and we try and encourage amazing relationships with our bands.

What good and bad memories have you had with Bella Union in these two decades?

Too many to mention, on both sides I would suggest. Good-the John Grant story/Father John Misty and Beach House being with us for 11 years

and growing into internationally acclaimed artists/ Fleet Foxes selling 1 million records here in Europe/Dirty Three/working with Jambinai from Korea/working with Wayne Coyne and Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, signing Spiritualized. Bad-Fleet Foxes leaving and signing for a major label.

Do you already think about a second album?

Thinking about it yes!

Thank you for granting us the possibility of interviewing them.

Thank you very much.

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