34 | February 19, 2015 | cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News
the critical list: more hot tickets
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MUSIC Book club Fancy a weep? Emma Healey’s debut, Elizabeth is Missing, is v. worthy of its bestseller spot. Go faster Loving half-term? Not having to cycle round buggies to work is making us SO happy.
Thrill seek Go shriek at the chilling Dead Simple at the Arts Theatre. Don’t get any ideas though...
Twilight buzz Put away your goggles, torch and white coat, Twilight at the Museums is over. Boo.
Flip it Why celebrate the pancake only once a year? Every day is a Maple syrup day.
Switch off Is no-one else sick of Uptown Funk yet?! Just shush Bruno, and you Ronson.
Enter Shikari:
BIG TOPICS: Enter Shikari, from left: Rory Clewlow, Rou Reynolds, Chris Batten, Rob Rolfe
“We’ve tried to write a song about love that isn’t just boring and recycled and clichéd”
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NTER Shikari’s forthright, politically minded lyricist and vocalist, Roughton “Rou” Reynolds, (pronounced “row” like the argument, although, as I found out, he won’t get all up in your face if you say it incorrectly), is doing his bills. It’s a rare day off at home in London when we speak before Christmas, on the eve of the release of the progressive St Albans alt-punk outfit’s fourth album, The Mindsweep. Forming in 2003, Rou, Chris Batten (bass and percussion), Liam “Rory” Clewlow (guitar) and Rob Rolfe (drums) have become known for the thwack of powerful political ideas thumping through tracks that spit and fume with elements of metal, posthardcore and bits of trance. They are nothing if not varied. Their new offering is set to be as gripping and punchy as 2012’s high charting A Flash Flood of Colour, with NME saying they “clearly believe music can inspire change, and this country needs bands like them to shake people out of their political apathy”. You’ll be able to see them in crashing action at Cambridge Corn Exchange, where they’ll be supported by Feed The Rhino, Allusondrugs and Fatherson. So, Rou, how are preparations for the tour going so far? We’re still looking at the production and sorting out the set list but because we never really think about the songs live when we’re in the studio – that can sometimes limit the creativity – it then gives us the hard task of having to work out how the hell we’re going to translate all the songs to the live arena. But we’re almost there now. After working on The Minesweep for almost three years, how are you feeling about its imminent release, particularly when you’re renowned for flirting with so many new and different styles on every record? As is always the case with albums, we mastered it about two months ago, so you have to sit on it while you release the first few singles. With our type of music, because it’s so varied, especially this album – it’s got everything that we could chuck into it
Back with new album The Mindsweep, the hardcore four-piece are being bolder than ever with their politics and ideas. Ella Walker finds out what fires up frontman Rou Reynolds. – you can only really get a real inkling as to where we are as a band by taking in the whole album, so we’re just anxious and excited to finally get it out. Have you played it to friends and family at least? What did they think? Yeah, everyone seems to be really loving it. Our crew as well – they’re slowly starting to get their heads around it. Can you remember What what was influencing listenin are you you at the time g to of writing the momen at the There’s record? clear subject, t a a little b band I’ve bee ? We started when before n listen it, Fathe in th rs g e o to y n ’re properly writing that may not fr just see really passion om Scotland, in January 2014, have always a m rock ban s to come out te. Scotland so it’s quite a been the case. with am ds, it’s re a zi fr a om Biffy ng lly while ago. It’s There’s one Clyro to solid, melodic Fa T , therson win Atl hard to think song that’s that, bu are quite sim antic, of individual all about the ilar to t perhap s g a e n b tl it more e and eu influences – ridiculousness of ph usually it’s just the class system, beautifu oric. It’s l. an amalgamation there’s one that’s of everything you’ve our first really delving experienced or read or into the subject of love watched and the people you meet and trying to write a song about love and the places you go, so it’s hard to that isn’t just boring and recycled pinpoint. and clichéd, haha, unlike most What about particular tracks – are mainstream music songs about love there any that vividly jump out at are. There’s a song about losing one’s you, despite a year of reworking religion. and recording? You’re tackling all the big topics Each song is quite individual: it then? has its own identity, there’s a very Ha, yeah, I guess we are. Usually
we wait until the music’s written [before writing lyrics] and then some emotion or some idea will be evoked by the music. I guess the music is quite epic in a way, it always lends itself to those sorts of subjects. Where does the title come from? There isn’t really a theme that runs throughout, but it’s the closest it gets. The Mindsweep is how usually those in power disparage or ridicule or sweep away any new ideas, new ideologies, new systems – anything that threatens their power or their wealth. That comes up in quite a few of the songs: the different ideas and the different areas that happens. The album is supposed to be fighting back against that. You’ve previously said that this album contains “some of the rawest, angriest vocals we’ve ever
Cambridge News | cambridge-news.co.uk | February 19, 2015 | 35
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FESTIVAL
Cambridge
History Festival HOT WHAT’S Enter TICKETS Shikari, Cambridge Corn ON WHAT’S HOT TICKETS Exchange, ON Tuesday, February 24, at 7pm. Tickets £22WHAT’S from (01223) HOT TICKETS ON 357851 or cornex.co.uk. WHAT’S ON HOT TICKETS
“The Mindsweep is how those in power disparage or ridicule or sweep away any new ideas, new ideologies, new systems – anything that threatens their power or their wealth”
done”. Where does that anger come from? There’s certainly lots of bits on the album that have real, vehement anger. Everywhere you look you’re made to feel really small and insignificant and all these systems that we have in the world have been in place for years and years and they’re so much older and grander and bigger than you. It’s about not taking that at face value and actually just coming to your own conclusions and not being bullied by anyone who probably has vested interests in the system anyway. Are there any specific moments where this comes through really strongly? We just started playing one of them live actually, Never Let Go of the Microscope, which is as it suggests. It’s about how important science is,
not only as a way to progress as a species and for technology, and for medicine, but it also has a lot to say about morality as well, and for too long we’ve let traditions and things that have been influenced by religion, reign. That gets quite angry because it approaches subjects like female genital mutilation (FGM) which is just one of the most horrific things and to think that’s still going on in this day and age . . . Those definitely aren’t the standard lyrical topics most bands go for. We like to have real passionate moments that aren’t feigned passion, which seems to be a lot of what the alternative rock and punk scene does; nowadays it does seem to be a bit watered down. It’s all just recycled personal issues that are a bit banal.
NEXT week will see the first News-backed Cambridge History Festival take over the city – and about time, too. After all, Cambridge can claim to be where DNA was discovered, Oliver Cromwell is buried (well, his head anyway), and Syd Barrett formed Pink Floyd. That’s more than enough to be proud of, and barely scratches the historical surface. Aiming to explore 2,000 years’ worth of local history, as well as the places and people involved, a roster of talks, tours and events for all the family will be hosted by the Museum of Cambridge across the festival week. Highlights include: n Have a mulled cider at The Mitre before tramping round the city while finding out about deaths and diseases of old n Relive the 50s and 60s – on Facebook and in real life – with Cambridge History Festival, The ON HOT TICKETS WHAT’S Museum of Cambridge, Wednesday, WHAT’S HOTMarch TICKETS February 25ON – Sunday, 8. HOT WHAT’S VariousTICKETS times, venues and ticket ON prices. VisitON folkmuseum.org.uk for the WHAT’S HOT TICKETS full programme. HOT TICKETS WHAT’S ON
dressing up, a Vespa display and memories from mods n Learn all about Jim Ede, who founded the wonderful Kettle’s Yard n Take a look at the history of the News with our chief reporter, Chris Elliott n Discover the past and present of Mill Road n Embark on a family-friendly spooky tour of the Museum of Cambridge, discover how to ward off evil spirits and do some classic crafting, too. Enjoy!