Hin und wieder gibt es sehr nette, weil unerwartete Überraschungen. Der Tankwart spendiert mal ein Bier, oder es steckt eine Tiefkühlpizza mehr in der Familienpackung. Nichts Großes. Es sind die kleinen Dinge, die einen an das Gute in der Welt glauben lassen. Und zwar dann, wenn man am wenigsten damit rechnet. So kamen Seachange mit zwei Eps ("Glitterball", News From Nowhere") und einem fulminantem Album ("Lay Of The Land") wie aus dem Nichts in meinen CD-Player und haben es sich dort seither recht gut gehen lassen. Die Nottinghamer klingen wie eine Kreuzung aus Wire und den seeligen Jesus And Mary Chain. Dabei lassen sie es sich nicht nehmen, ihre Songs mit einem klassischen Streichinstrument zu verzieren. Der elegische Grundton der Musik schlägt jedoch besonders auf dem Album immer wieder in heftige Energieausbrüche um, ohne dass der Band der Faden entgleitet. Zu guter letzt ist auch das optische Aufmachung des Ganzen sehr charmant. Das Auge hört also auch mal wieder mit...
"Lay Of The Land" sounds like a sentimental journey. Or how would you characterise
the mood of the album?
James (Bass): That's an interesting question as I think that the album does
have a psycho-geographic aspect to it. There are several references to the English
landscape in the lyrics but these run alongside an idea or theme of an emotional
or internal condition. If you look at the lyrical themes of the record certainly
departure and leaving figure quite highly and from there you could make the
step to comparing it to a journey. The tracklisting proved to be quite a challenge
to get right as there are so many different sounding songs and I think unconsciously
it came together in a narrative sort of form, but very loosely as the songs
were written over such a long period of time its impossible for the concept
to work perfectly. For me its sounds like a cold spring morning, mostly quite
wintry but with a bit of sunshine too.
Are you interested in other art-forms such as photography or film?
Adam (Gitarre): Yes. Several members of the band are rarely seen without a camera
in hand. When you are touring it's a good way of recording your weird life.
Our producer/live engineer Mark Spivey has also introduced us to the delights
of the digital camera over the past few months. Also now nearly everyone has
these mobile phones with cameras built-in. As a band we have a fairly arts-based
background. Dan studied art history at university, Jo has done an arts foundation
course and several of us studied English and film courses at university and
so we all share an interest in most other art forms, its just that at the moment
it feels like there is only time for music. Having said that Dave also paints
a lot in his free time.
"Glitterball" was one of the most interesting EP-releases this year. Are
there more EP-singles to be expected?
A: There's a single out now called News From Nowhere, and it features two unreleased
tracks as B-sides 'The Beach' and Flycatcher'. Personally I really like the
idea of releasing singles and EP's that are not on albums but this type of release
is fast becoming phased out, certainly by larger record companies, as singles
increasingly become purely tools by which to sell an album. Sorry if that sounds
cynical. So I guess the answer is yes if we can. I like EP's because in some
ways you can experiment more on an EP than on an album or traditional single.
Isn't it hard to perform on stage with a 'classical instrument'?
J: Personally I think its hardest for the person standing next to Jo (the violinist
- that's the classical instrument I assume you mean) as they tend to run the
risk of getting their eye poked out by her flying bow.
Do you remember the first time you were rehearsing together? What was it
like?
A: A mess, but a good mess. I remember Simon telling me that he thought it sounded
like Sonora Pine (lo-fi guitars'n'strings combo on Quarterstick in the nineties)
after our first rehearsal. I think it probably sounded like a lot of ideas happening
at the same time. Fun though.
What about the Nottingham-music-scene? Any other bands our readers should
definitely listen to?
J: The Nottingham music scene is pretty healthy. Since we set up our studio,
First Love, many local bands have been there to record with James at the helm.
Here are some of our favourite bands from Nottingham; many of them are linked
from our website, so people can check out MP3s: The Escapologists, Burning Man,
Punish The Atom - their mini-album 'Lets Do The Don't Care' is available on
Gentle Electric. Wolves! (Of Greece) - they have an eponymous 10" available
now on Gringo Records, Designer Babies - will soon have a 7" available on Gringo
Records, Saint Joan - an album recorded in First Love is due for release shortly.
Name three essential albums of your record collection.
A: REM "Murmur"; My Bloody Valentine "Loveless"; Gene Clark "No Other"
J: Low "Secret Name"; Spiritualized "Ladies and Gentlemen"
Favourite B-side?
A: Afghan Whigs "Mr Superlove" (B-side to "Gentlemen" 7")
J: REM "Country Feedback" (live) (B-side to "At My Most Beautiful")
Aktuelles Album: "Lay of The Land" (Matador/Beggarsgroup)
Internet: www.seachangemusic.co.uk
Lars Schneider