free #2
Issue II [take me for free]
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COVER BY ALICIA PERRY
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Kaylea (Editor) x
Lots of love,
Oh and a big thanks to Dörte , Chrissy and Steve who donated some cash to us as well. It is appreciated so much. A big fat congratulations to Joe Schiavon and Katy Sumner, who will be getting married this Summer.
So, THANK YOU SO MUCH Myles. If you’re feeling particularly flush, and would like to donate a small (or large) amount to our cause, then you can go onto the website and donate that way (riskandconsequence.co.uk).
Did you know that this issue only JUST made it, with great thanks to MYLES PALMER? Myles Palmer is a great guy. He quite often pokes me in the right direction when it comes to R&C-related decisions, but this time, he gave us a bit of cash, which was completely unexpected and 100% appreciated. I hope you appreciate his donation too, because otherwise, this copy of R&C would not be in your hands.
Thanks for picking up this copy of Risk & Consequence. What are you doing right now? Have you just bought a record? Are you having a coffee with your mum? Let us know @riskconsequence.
Nice to see you, again.
Issue II / it’s free
w: riskandconsequence.co.uk e: riskandconsequence@gmail.com t: @riskconsequence
p.s.
I’m graduating in July, if any of you wish to employ me; I’m great with people and I make a mean cup of tea. Not to guilt-trip you into anything, but I have Arnold to feed (see page 31 for the kind of shit I have to deal with) and if you don’t give me a job, he’ll go hungry. You wouldn’t want to be responsible for a hungry Arnold now, would you?
SINGAPORE P. 32 CHRISTINE CANT
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MSN INTERVIEW P. 27 GUNNING FOR TAMAR
On Reading A Novel In 8 Hours P. 22 Aaron Gow
ARNOLD P. 31 ILLUSTRATION
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE P. 12 OWEN KIMM
DIY GUIDE TO PROMOTION P. 14 BEN ADSETT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BRISTOL P. 24 TIFFANY DANIELS
WINTER VILLAINS P. 10 EMMA DUDLEY NUT ROAST RECIPE P. 21 LAURAS DAD
~
NICHOLAS STEVENSON
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MURAKAMI P. 04 MATT FERNELL JOHNNY FOREIGNER P. 18 NED POWLEY
The Night Of The Living Thread
P. 30 Berlin P. 06 DÖrte Heilewelt
Niall Cunningham
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Tom Eperjesi
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DIARY ENTRY P. 16 OWAIN PACIUSZKO
DIARY ENTRY P. 34 STEVE HORRY
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FEATURE
Murakami The Rise Of Words by Matt Fernell
&
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Novelists are a strange and enigmatic breed. Mysterious and aloof, many often gain their fame slowly and quietly, acquiring fans and attention as they write. Some never enjoy the fruits of their success, as it rarely comes before death, yet some are thrust into the limelight after writing one novel. Becoming a famous novelist is no easy task, especially in a field where success does not always equal fame. How many of the British public could name the last five Booker Prize winners? I’d wager not many. So how is it that Haruki Murakami, he who writes weird post-modern existential novels about talking cats, is fast becoming one of the most famous writers of a generation? Murakami has been in the game for some time now. His first ‘proper’ novel, ‘A Wild Sheep Chase’ was published in Japan way back in 1982. This was, in fact, also my first exposure to his work; it seemed like the logical place to start. To be honest, at first I struggled to see what the fuss was about. ‘You’ve
got to read Murakami’, they had all screamed, ‘He’ll change your life’, they chimed; here I was reading and expecting a revelation and getting...well not a lot. What struck me first was how disconnected and dead-pan the style was. The protagonist is a late 20s/early 30s Japanese male (almost always the case in any Murakami novel), recently single and seemingly coasting through life. He is then thrust into a series of Kafkaesque situations outside of his control, the result of which finds our hero in a race against time to save his own life. All the while he seems to just go with the flow, apathetic to the situation he finds himself in.
and the strangest characters and scenarios are described as the most mundane daily occurrences. Some of my favourite passages from any of his novels are those where the main character is simply describing himself preparing food. It’s done with such poise that I just ache to go into the kitchen and boil some pasta. Then throw it in the bin because I hate pasta. There is a passage in ‘Norwegian Wood’, where the central character, Toru Watanabe, shares cucumber and soy sauce with the dying father of his friend. I was so convinced by the prose of the deliciousness of this snack that I almost immediately tried it. It wasn’t that great, a bit wet and salty…
It wasn’t until I’d distanced myself from the novel for a while, that I began to understand just how much of an effect this book was having. I found myself strangely and inexplicably drawn in, longing to go back and submerge myself once again in Murakami’s surreal and mysterious world. It is a world where the preparation of food is shear poetry,
It would be a stretch to describe any of Murakami’s novels as real page turners, but they suck you in with their strangeness. It’s a strangeness that is grounded in normality, and it is quite often the juxtaposition of this normal life against the backdrop of bizarre happenings that make his novels so appealing. There are many other recurring themes
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in his novels; cats, music (jazz, classical and Western pop music of the 60s are clear favourites), food, loneliness and suicide to name but a few. The suicide rate in the world of Murakami would give Lithuania a run for its money. Love plays its part; the female characters and love interests always seem to be the most strange and cryptic characters of all.
heyoscarwilde.com
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It is almost impossible, however, to put one’s finger on exactly what it is about Murakami’s writing that makes it so special. I have not met anybody who has read one of his novels and not been drawn in. There is no ‘meh’ reaction to Murakami, you either become a disciple like the rest of us, or… Well I’m not sure there is another reaction. I have personally given up attempting to understand some of his work, (‘Kafka on the Shore’ in particular had me scratching my head), and instead allow myself to be led through this strange postmodern world, where reality is never as it seems and time and space are interchangeable.
He is sometimes baffling and infuriating; his short stories in particular often end abruptly without any explanation. Murakami himself doesn’t offer many clues to the meaning of his surreal stories, and denies that there are any great messages or philosophical statements to be found in his work. He states that they should be taken at face value; “If I choose to write about sheep, it’s just because I happened to write about sheep. There is no deep significance”. The scale of the success that Murakami has seen over the decade or so has been staggering, especially given that he is a Japanese author whose works are all translations (Murakami himself translates Western literature into Japanese). It is no mean feat to have established such a huge following in the West; it has even been suggested by fellow author and huge Murakami fan David Mitchell that he is probably one of the three or four most famous Japanese people in the world. His latest novel, 1Q84, released in the UK in Octo-
ber 2011 sold a staggering 1 million copies within a month of its release in Japan. There is no doubt that his stock is rising, reflected in his being amongst the favourites for the 2011 Nobel Prize for literature. Not only that, but his breakthrough novel in Japan, ‘Norwegian Wood’, was recently adapted into a major movie (the score for which was composed by Radiohead’s Johnny Greenwood). My advice to those unfamiliar with his work would be to give it a go – chances are you’ll have most of his back catalogue within a year. You’ll never look at a cat or the cooking of spaghetti in the same way again.
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Where to start with describing the music scene in Berlin? It exists somehow, it’s international, it’s diverse and at the same time it’s the smallest village you can think of. Actually it is an accumulation of a lot of small villages connected but not merged into one huge town. I fear one of the most world-wide known bands from Berlin is Rammstein and there is a big Techno/ House scene of which I am not a part of at all. What I like are all these ‘out-of-the-ordinary’ bands and artists Berlin has to offer.
Photography by Tom Eperjesi
Berlin |
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|
Some of them moved here, others are homegrown, like 17 Hippies and BudZillus. In the latter case they make music that can be described as ‘Gypsy Punk’ played on self-built or self-modified instruments. 17 Hippies tour the world with their music; a liaison of various Folk styles. One of my personal favourite artists from Berlin and certainly someone you should catch live in Berlin is Elyas Khan (Nervous Cabaret, Gentlemen & Assassins) with roots in New York’s and London’s Punk scene and India – all this can be heard in his music. He will melt your brain and heart with his voice.
Words by DÖrte Heilewelt 16/05/2012 02:07
For something more into the direction of German singing combined with “indie” Rock, we have Mega! Mega! who are currently making their way and indie is a valid word in their case as they are working mostly independent like most bands I mention. If your music is more the Northern Soul/ Motown you might dig The Floorettes. As an example of how small the music scene in Berlin can be I have a little story: once I saw wonderful singer-songwriter Miss Kenichi (subtle, thoughtful music) in the living room of Erik Penny with Earl Harvin (drummer, percussionist and multi-instrumentalist). A couple of months later I saw Admiral Black (rock) as a support of California boy Boots Electric, I liked them and bought a CD.
City Slang: http://www.cityslang.com Morr Music: http://www.morrmusic.com Motor Music: http://www.motormusic.de
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Ostgut: http://ostgut.de Sinnbus: http://www.sinnbus.de Staatsakt: http://www.staatsakt.de
To my surprise I found out Earl Harvin worked on that CD as well. Then, just a few days ago, I saw that Harvin is helping on the new Efterklang album, as their drummer Thomas Husmer left the band. All of them are residents in Berlin and it kind of shows how it goes here.
Recently the club culture in Berlin has experienced some problems – the problems of a city that became too popular; there are too many moving and investing into this city who are not that keen on having a club in their neighbourhood. So, quite a few clubs I went to on a regular basis had to shut down in the last couple of month and years and some are currently facing closure. Still, there are a lot of clubs left. I often find myself in the Magnet Club (Comet Club) and the Lido to watch some live music. Despite it being a magnet for tourists, I like the White Trash Fast Food. The sound might not always be the best, especially in the restaurant, but they have most often some interesting bands playing there. Smaller clubs I can recommend for live music/dancing are Schokoladen, Kaffee Burger, Ritter Butzke, ://about blank, Trickstar, Rosi’s, Bassy Cowboy Club, Wild At Heart, West Germany, Kugelbahn (Wedding), and that is just the beginning of a never-ending and always-changing list. >
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Of course the world’s best club is in Berlin, too. Well, at least that’s how the rumour goes – I am not so sure about it. It’s the Berghain, but honestly I have been there just once to see Iron & Wine – not quite of the music you’ll find there usually. Usually you would find Techno. And they also have a label called Ostgut – mainly Techno releases. When I started to look for record labels in Berlin, the first things I realised were
that a lot of the artists I like have their own label or the label is based in Hamburg or elsewhere. I have heard a rumour that goes like this: If you want to make it as a (new, German) band, don’t come to Berlin. However, there are a few good labels who bring us international artists who already have a good reputation to Berlin like City Slang or Morr Music. Other labels would be Staatsakt for German music and Motor Music if you leave out the big ones like Universal & co.
My personal favourite label is Sinnbus. They are the home of foreign bands like Mimas, Einar Stray and Ter Haar. They are home of one of my favourite Berlin bands: electro tinkerers Bodi Bill. And there are more electro tinkerers in Berlin like the Japanese-German Band Pitchtuner and German Nachlader. The EnglishGerman trio I Heart Sharks have found their place in the playful electronic pop music. An absolute different kind of electro is Rummelsnuff – more muscles than
17 Hippies: http://17hippies.de Bodi Bill: http://www.bodibill.de BudZillus: http://www.budzillus.de Earl Harvin: http://www.myspace.com/earlharvin
Elyas Khan: www.elyaskhan.com Erik Penny: http://erikpenny.tumblr.com/ The Floorettes: http://www.floorettes.com/
I Heart Sharks: http://www.iheartsharks.net/ Mega! Mega!: http://mega-mega.de/ Miss Kenichi:https://www.facebook.com/pages/MissKenichi/90355534002?sk=info
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Hulk, bouncer at the Berghain and producing a modern kind of shanties in German. And don’t get distracted by his look or how raw he sings. It’s all good. This article is just a little insight into what the Berlin music scene has to offer. I found it quite difficult to reconcile all this in just a few words. It’s too eclectic and widespread – that is the best thing of all. Every musician and music lover can find his or her niche here.
Nachlader:https://www.facebook.com/pages/ NACHLADER/38664413823?sk=info Pitchtuner: http://www.pitchtuner.net/ Rummelsnuff: http://rummelsnuff.de/
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Winter Villains are such a uniquely large band, how did you all come together?
INTERVIEW
WINTER VILLAINS
Josef: We all know each other from being involved in music in the city of Cardiff in recent years. We came together on the back of some initial songs I had written. Faye and I began to gradually demo them about 18 months ago, and we felt that they needed rich vocals to compliment the more atmospheric arrangements. Faye: We asked some of our favourite singers, who we also knew were good musicians, if they’d like to be in the band. When we had the core members in place we asked some friends who are string players if they’d like to record with us and also play at our live shows. How do you go about writing songs and practising?
Words by Emma Dudley
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Faye: We currently have a fairly large set of songs, which started to emerge during the Winter of 2009, and have continued to play ever since. We’ve been working
through that set of songs so far. Josef tends to have the initial ideas, and works on the lyrics and structure of the songs based on the key musical arrangements, and vocal melodies.
music. It really gives the songs their own identity and brings the ideas to life.
Josef: Faye often comes up with lyrics, melodies and keyboard parts too. From there it’s open to everyone to interpret different sections of songs; some sections are left very open to give space for us to improvise, whereas others are already more structured and need less arranging.
Josef: I don’t really know where we fit. For me, the beauty of music in Cardiff is the variety and diversity. Creatively, for people who make music, and also for music fans, I think that it is a very healthy environment to be part of. I’ve always thought of the notion of a music ‘scene’ as being based on a musical style rather than a geographical location. So in that sense, it could be argued that there are a few different music ‘scenes’ in Cardiff. Saying that, people involved in music here are usually friends with each other and very supportive, so in that sense there’s a great community feel to music in the city, which crosses the musical genres that people play within their individual bands. We have lots of friends who play in different types of bands, run labels and club nights in the city; it’s a thriving place to be based.
Faye: Vocally we tend to have ‘choir’ practices, where we sit around with just a piano / guitar and work out our harmonies together. That part is really satisfying, and the harmonies seem to come very naturally. There are five very different voices in the band, so it’s important that we make the most of all of them, while still sounding cohesive. Josef: Yeah, I always find the song development pretty exciting, just to hear everyone bringing their own personality to the
How do you think Winter Villains fit into the Cardiff music scene?
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Faye: It is. We are fans of lots of bands and different types of music in Cardiff. I think Cardiff is a really exciting place to be for music. What inspires the lyrics and songs you play?
imagery and feel of the music quite well. Also there is no one else with the name, which is a bonus! Do any of you have any other music projects/sidelines?
and core instruments of piano, guitar, bass, drums / percussion. Some of us play a few different instruments, so we have the option of swapping and changing, depending on what feels right for each person in each song.
Faye: A few! Callum is involved in a variety of interesting things; his main band is ‘Evening Chorus’. Ivan has his own band (which Cal plays double bass in) called ‘Ivan Moult’. Ivan also plays guitar in ‘The School’. Will plays in his own band called ‘Little Arrow’. Josef and I play in ‘Lucky Delucci’, and I’ve played with ‘Among Brothers’ in recent months. The string players who have been involved in the band are also part of lots of other interesting musical ventures.
You’ve got a stringed instrument, which is quite rare for a band, why have you added this element to your music?
Why the name Winter Villains?
How do you decide who does what in the band?
What is the band’s next step after Swn? An Ep? Or a tour?
Faye: We came up with the name, mostly by accident, while we were away in Dusseldorf. We thought that it captured the
Josef: Live, it’s all about being able to relax and feel attached to the songs. This set of songs relies quite a lot on our vocals,
Josef: We’ve just been enjoying the process of bringing the songs to life for live shows, and recording them whenever
Josef: The writing is always pretty subconscious. I think it’s important not to ever try to be like something / somebody else, but to try to let things come to you as naturally as possible. Atmosphere and imagery are essential to our music. Lyrically, the songs are inevitably about a combination of thoughts and experiences, but there does seem to be a general theme of the immensity of nature and the natural world, and man’s vulnerability to his surroundings.
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Faye: I think strings are essential for the music we play. They can be delicate and atmospheric, but also help us to build songs up in parts. We plan on playing with a few different stringed instruments in the future, and we’ve been very fortunate to have played with some amazing string players so far.
it’s financially possible. So we plan to do much of the same. We’re still a new band, having only really started out in 2011, so it’s important not to rush into anything. Faye: Saying that, we are talking to a few people about releases. We’re not sure if that will be an EP or an album, or when it will be just yet. But hopefully we’ll have something out over the next few months. Where do you see Winter Villains in a year’s time? Faye: We’ll probably still be predominantly based in Cardiff, and hopefully we’ll have had the opportunity to play some shows slightly further afield. Fingers crossed we’ll have at least one release by that point!
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Australian Music Scene Words by Owen Kimm
So if I asked you to think of an Australian musician or band your first thought would be Kylie, right? Men at Work? Maybe The Vines? Nick Cave? So there are a few, and it seems Australia has a knack for producing some pretty good music, but the next wave of talent is on the horizon. Back in November I ventured on an antipodean adventure to visit family and decided to retain some sanity by doing a bit of research. Unless you have been avoiding the music press for the last year, you will know exactly who DZ Deathrays are (see pic right). Currently signed to Big Scary Monsters and one of the stand-out acts of the NME tour last summer, DZ Deathrays’ music is like the most enjoyable punch in the face ever. Their Facebook says, “We hope to one day party with Andrew W.K.” Now, that’s a dream we can all relate to. ‘I OH YOU’ is the label they call home back in their motherland. I had a little chat with one of the label’s founders,
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Johann, and he told me a little more about the label and the scene in Australia. ‘I OH YOU’, based in Melbourne, started out as a way of paying off a gas bill by putting on parties. The parties have now become near legendary with the likes of Odd Future and Foals DJing. They then branched out into putting out records by DZ Deathrays, then Bleeding Knees Club, and a wonderful band by the equally wonderful name of Snakadaktal. In Brisbane, somewhere around 1,000 miles from ‘I OH YOU’ HQ, live a band called Dune Rats (see pic left). Dune Rats make you want to hop on the next available flight just so that you can hang out with them and go surfing or something. They do ‘slacker pop’ but so much better, they are Wavves, Girls, Best Coast and The Drums all rolled up in one. Dune Rats, as with the guys from ‘I OH YOU’, are really enthusiastic about the Australian scene. They told me that there is an “abundance
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of bands, magazines, radio stations and most importantly fans, keeping a thriving scene going”. I asked them if they had any top tips for their British cousins, and to name a few, they suggested: “Last Dinosaurs, Gung Ho, Millions, DZ Deathrays, Velociraptor, The Cairos, Bleeding Knees Club, and Hunting Grounds.” There seems to be real strength and depth amongst the Australian scene and a mutual appreciation between genres and scenes, which is really refreshing. It is not just the indie scene that is bursting with life in Australia, they have a fair amount of homegrown global artists too. Of course, in the dance arena you have probably heard of Cut Copy, Van She, The Presets, and the hardcore fans among you are probably aware of Parkway Drive too, not to mention Kylie (ha). The Cairos may just be the next band that we hear on television adverts worldwide. To us in
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Blighty, they may just be a ‘new’ band, but don’t be fooled, they’re already signed to Universal Australia. Don’t let the name fool you; they’re no wannabe indie band stuck in the Arctic Monkeys/The Kooks era of music, they have some serious riffs, and aren’t afraid to be a little more adventurous. Their latest E.P., ‘Summer Catalogue”, is packed with huge guitars, but keeps that mainstream rock feel. Imagine Minus the Bear diluted with a dash of The Temper Trap. Trust me, it’s not a bad thing. Every single person I have spoken to whilst putting this piece together has been excited and proud to be part of scene that they have helped to create. Australia is an interesting melting pot of music, with strong influences from Asia, America and the United Kingdom all thrown into the mix along with a history of producing hugely successful artists. Maybe we shouldn’t be looking across the pond at America for exciting new music, perhaps we should look across the world at Australia for our new music fix.
www.iohyou.com www.dzdeathrays.tumblr.com www.thebleedingkneesclub.bandcamp.com www.snakadaktal.bandcamp.com www.dunerats.bandcamp.com
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[1]
The biggest mistake I made in promoting was booking four shows for big money before I could guarantee an audience let alone hundreds of pounds. In brief, I lost lots of money and was rescued by a booking agent; essentially not a great start but I met some lovely people on the way. [3]
[4]
[5]
If you lose money on shows but treat your acts well they will be far more receptive to lowering fees or helping you out in the future.
[1] DO IT FOR THE LOVE [2] START SMALL [3] MAKE FRIENDS OVER MONEY [4] HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY [5] POSTERS [6] COOK [7] NEVER EMPTY THE CASH BOX [8] BUDGET [9] REMEMBER YOUR P’S & Q’S [10] REGULATE [*] CLICHE
Never be that promoter that leaves a show before the end to avoid paying the headline act. Go and honestly speak to them after the show explain what happened and work out a solution. This won’t change a guarantee but your honesty will be noted; bands do talk to each other. Don’t spend lots of money on a spectacularly designed, multi-coloured poster. It’s going to cost loads to print. I design and print all of our posters in black and white; keep them simple! They aren’t always works of art but this rough edge catches the eye and doesn’t cost the earth. DIY4eva.
[6]
I always cook a meal for bands who play shows for me. This is cheaper than paying a cash rider and home cooked food is always well received. Not only does it show effort on your part, but it also saves the acts having to forage for food in a strange town/city. It also gives an hour between sound check and doors where everyone sits down together for a meal and a chat. The main point to remember is to check on dietary requirements before you start cooking; the last thing you want to do is to poison them. (Why don’t you cook them our vegetarian-friendly nutroast recipe, featured in this issue)!
[Ben Adsett (Thirsty & Miserable) talks us through his process of putting on shows…..]
[2]
Firstly forget any dreams of making big bucks, partly because you should be putting on shows for the love and partly because it takes time to capture a regular audience. If you are in it for the love of live music there is always a positive to take away from even the emptiest show.
Thirsty & Miserable started as a series of shows in 2010. They now have a fully-fledged monthly D.I.Y residency at Slak (Cheltenham), where they put on bands, put out ‘zines and give away cakes. They’ve had the honour of Boat to Row, Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun, Oxygen Thief, Gunning for Tamar, The North Ship and Men Diamler amongst many others play for them in the past.
A friend once told me that he’d overheard a conversation between two teenagers on their way to a Charlie Simpson gig, essentially detailing how easy it is to put on a show. I feel compelled to point out that these two ‘Music Fans’, are in fact, wrong. Here’s a quick guide so that, if you do feel inspired like these two teenagers, then you can make an informed decision.
FEATURE
DIY Guide To Promotion
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In the 18 months I have been putting on shows I have never completely emptied the cash box. I keep a bit back even if we make a profit just in case the next show doesn’t go as well. It also saves having to annoy venues by asking for change from the bar every time someone comes in waving a crisp twenty.
[8]
I know it sounds boring but if you are going to do this regularly you need to budget what comes in and goes out. Within a few shows, if you are using the same venue and soundman you will know how much you need to make to break even giving you an idea of the amount you can pay for future bookings.
[9]
Be a true gent/lady. Thank the soundman and the bands, tell them they did great (if they did) etc. Help pack down and load out; it still amazes me how many acts tell us how rare it is to be helped loading in and out by the promoter.
If you can find a regular slot for shows you can attract an audience who will come to shows regardless of the line up; it also makes it easier to plan ahead. A regular venue and soundman are a huge advantage. A good relationship with both takes the pressure off as you know how they work and the effort they put in will be constant.
[7]
#
[10]
[*] Have Fun
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Diary Entry #
Education, Schmeducation.
Words by Owain Paciuszko
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I missed a ‘Writing Lives’ seminar last week, but I e-mailed a friend and got the homework done. I didn’t like the sound of the task, but I ended up quite fond of the piece that I did write. I felt it was an anti-task whilst fulfilling the homework requirements. We were told ‘to write about a significant moment in your life’, one that we remember, and that has affected us somehow over time. Wordsworth, as the seminar tutor wrote on the handout, called them ‘Spots Of Time’. So I take my piece along, it is read aloud and pawed at. Kelly Grovier, our seminar tutor, is offended and shocked by it. He gives it his usual dose of sarcasm, but doubled. It seems ironic, given the sarcastic tone of my own piece, and accusing me of ignoring the task brief and failing to find a significant moment in my life, he misses the point completely. I attempted to defend my work, as did Jennie, but Mr. Grovier interrupted us with many-a-sarcastic-and-counter-creative remark; we gave up.
Here’s the offending piece of creative writing
Insignificant. Epiphanies? Perhaps, if I lie here long enough staring into space I will have an epiphany. An idea, a recollection of some long, dormant significant moment. Significant moments? I became a creative writer so I could make up significant moments, seeing as I lack any of my own. Okay, go back, way back. My birth,that was a pretty significant moment. Wait, why single that out? Surely there was a more significant moment prior to that, how about my conception? When two x 23 chromosomes did the chromosomic hoedown and forged an embryo that would later be named Owain Christopher Paciuszko. No, let’s go further back, when my parents first met. When my mother, as a school girl, would see my father, a working lad, and think something along the lines of, ‘He looks like he could father four children with me.’ Further back than that perhaps, the German’s bad aim, every bullet that missed my mother’s father and my
father’s father and kept them both alive long enough to have their own children, who would go on to give birth to me, to allow that chromosome party to take place inside the wombs birthed of wombs. Let’s go even further, watch the suns de-set and de-rise, unmake each day, unbattle each war, yet re-grow the trees torn down in the name of progress, uncobble the roads all lain and unlead them all from Rome. Now, resurrect the dinosaurs, and then de-evolve them way back down to primordial gloop, and discombobulate that until nothing exists at all, and the colliding hunks of space debris tear themselves apart from the sphere that would later be named Earth and fly back into the spiraling arcs of space, until everything is sucked up into an anti-cataclysmic vacuum that when played back-to-frontwards is called...
The Big Bang 10 or 15 billion-ish years later and Owain Christopher Paciuszko is skiving P.E. He has a note from his parents, it says ‘Please
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excuse Owain because of his medical condition’. Owain doesn’t have a medical condition, he just doesn’t like to do P.E. The note is often produced when Owain is feeling ashamed of his other excuse, namely, ‘I forgot my kit’. So, whilst all the other kids of a similar ability to Owain are off being ritualistically humiliated and beaten by the athletic ones, Owain is wandering away to play by the long-jump pit. Another kid wanders over, he too has been excused from P.E. and he talks to Owain. They talk about Chinese robot babies. Somehow, instead of inspiring the usual reaction of fear or bullying, this other kid seems to decide that this likeminded individual would make a good friend. I often wonder about how each decision is somehow moving towards events of varying degrees of importance that will have an outcome of equal importance. I missed the train, and the train crashed. I skived P.E, I made a friend. Together we wrote a novel. I got drunk, wrote an essay, was
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accused of plagiarism. Left education, got a job in fast food restaurant, then went to University. In some kind of awful, twee saccharine way every moment is significant, from that cup of coffee I had this morning, to what I wrote for today’s seminar, to what I’ll buy for dinner this evening. It all means something, and though not always immediately, it will do eventually, maybe next week, maybe in ten years or maybe 10 or 15 billion.
... So, that was that, a piece written over six years ago as part of my English Literature and Creative Writing degree at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. I eventually graduated with an Upper 2:1 and made a few reckless life and career choices following on from that, whilst we are keeping in with the side effects of significance suggested by the piece’s closing paragraph. For some, life can seem random and cruel, for others it is often referred to as fate
or destiny. Some people try to suggest that you just ‘enjoy the journey’, which makes sense in a way because you can never really be sure of the destination. This piece sums up my dissatisfaction with my degree, not least of all the attitude the members of staff had towards ‘creative’ writing, or the level of intelligent debate and feedback, it was a shame. It put me off academia for a few more years until I was accepted for a MA at the University of Sussex. There I joined an extra-curricular writing group, that, in the space of a few short weeks, was far more productive, encouraging, pro-active and worthwhile than three years of undergraduate study. However, those seemingly insignificant machinations took me from Brighton to a sofa in London, where I wound up making some new friends and starting a band, a band I dearly love, and without all of the wobbles that occurred along the way I wouldn’t have that in my life now. I already know that the future is uncertain, things will be changing in 2012, but I have
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always enjoyed the idea of a blank canvas, an uncertain future, who wants to know what will happen or what has been important? Perhaps it’s only in those final moments you can look back and think, ‘that WAS important, that was what really mattered, that’s what it was all about...’ And hopefully you’ll have recorded it somewhere, so in a few years time, you can look back and truly appreciate the magnificence of uncertainty.
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Are you proud of the final product? INTERVIEW
JOHNNY FOREIGNER Questions by Ned Powely. Answers by Alexei Berrow.
Johnny Foreigner answered a few questions for us. They were answered before the release of their latest album, ‘Johnny Foreigner vs Everything’, and that was a while ago, and we’re only quarterly, so forgive the ‘out-of-dateness’ of the questions/answers. We still think they’re interesting.
...
Have the difficulties you’ve had in making this album changed your opinions on the industry? The only difficulty we had (though a pretty massive one, I guess) was money;
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Beyond proud. There is nothing I would go back and change or tweak. It sounds exactly like we do in our heads. I can’t say that about anything else we’ve done, and if it fails then it’s proof we’re not a good enough band. If you could remove one song from your back catalogue forever what would it be?
it took us five months and it cost us less than tenth of our last album budget, and that still cleaned out Alcopop’s bank balance. That’s less to do with the industry than it is us choosing to not be a part of it. We had a pretty frustrating 2010, meeting producers and being offered studios we couldn’t afford, before we hatched a plan to use our own backyard and workin all of the advantages that entailed. So whilst our opinions on the industry are still pure Lester Bangs, having a finished record that sounds so perfect has certainly boosted our confidence in doing stuff ourselves, outside the industry.
Hennings Favourite, it doesn’t feel like us. It was outdated when we recorded it, and on the occasions where I’m persuaded to play it, it is annoying and fiddly ‘cos I have to do pedal ballet. Does the dedication you get from fans freak you out ever or do you thrive on it? It’s usually the latter; we always wanted to be the kind of band that mattered to people, and it’s more fun to involve yr audience on a deeper level than, ‘give us money and we’ll play songs at you’. There have been occasions where a snippet of conver-
sation I’ve had with someone, or a photo from Kelly’s Facebook, has appeared on Tumblr and kinda freaked us a little, but if anything it just makes us want to be better at it; to be better humans so you don’t let them down. We’re just part of a chain and couldn’t honestly say we wouldn’t do the same thing if fan interaction had been so easy when we were growing up and getting into music. I’m really proud that we’ve built this reputation of a band with a hXc fanbase, but it’s not like we’re doing anything other bands couldn’t. Do you have any idea on what you want to do next? Sorta. I’m consciously not thinking about it too much. Had a bit of a creative burnout after we finished the record, I literally didn’t pick up a guitar for a few weeks, but I was worried it’d be longer. I don’t want to say ‘cos we haven’t even discussed it as a band yet and it mightn’t come to anything, but I have plans and shapes of songs in my head, but, for sure it won’t be 17 tracks/five months long.
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Are there any other albums coming out this year that you’re excited about?
You guys have some history with Dananananaykroyd, how do you feel about them splitting up?
legacy. All bands have to reach the point where they question why they’re still doing it, and it takes more guts to call it a day than it does to plod on through diminishing returns. They’re James Dean; never got ugly, never went shit, never grew old. Their songs are going to drip through social circles and the kids who knew of them then will never have to say, ‘they were great until....’. Whilst it’s gutting that we’re never going to get to watch them again, I think that’s way more important… and, y’know, they’re kind and talented peoples; this won’t be the last you hear of them.
It’s a shame, but in a way I’m sorta glad, because they left behind such a perfect
Do you think the current trend for bands to act mysteriously and withhold
We’ve got promos of Hello Sadness (Los Campesinos!) and Romance (Tubelord) and they’re both pretty hot. The Internet Forever album is out…… and I’ve spent the week listening to the Thomas Tantrum album that came out in summer and passed me by completely, but it is way more suited to winter nights anyway.
‘we always wanted to be the kind of band that mattered to people’
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information is good or is it stopping people really attaching themselves to bands? D’you mean, like Wu Lyf and tha? I think it’s definitely a reaction against internet culture and how easy it has become to find stuff out, but that’s all. Tbh, in my experience, bands that act like that do so explicitly for the publicity they pretend to shun; they turn it into a unique selling point. Whatever; I’m not judging, it’s part of the game. I’d question why you’d want to do that though; why do you want to separate the art from the artist? It’s your right as creator to chose what gets into public domain, and our band by its nature plays on our honesty and openness. But, y’know, some bands could do with a little less of that too.
Lajoie and endless iPod playlists in vans. You’re currently drip-feeding new tracks and information about the record; was that something you always wanted to do or was it a necessity?
What were you listening to during the recording and writing of “..vs Everything”?
The plan was to start leaking stuff the moment we started…. but we got a bit scared off in case we started talking up something we weren’t going to achieve. You could be cynical and say, it’s a necessity if we want to play the game enough to raise stakes, to engineer a hype campaign to build up to release, but it’s something we’ve accepted, like studio rent or sound checks. It’s the way the world works and we’re doing it in a relatively easy and fun way; It doesn’t feel like we’re forcing ourselves down peoples throats but there’s plenty of stuff ‘Out There’ if they get excited for it.
On my own: Uffie, Blood Brothers and Latterman. We toured a lot in between, so huge amounts of Screaming Maldini, Tokyo Police Club, Ace Bushy Striptease, Jon
You dropped a fake leak of the album to send a fuck-you to people who would pirate it, did you see how people reacted to that and did their reactions surprise you?
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Totally didn’t expect it to be taken to heart as much as it was, and I’m ashamed to admit that it did surprise me. I generally have a pretty low opinion of humanity, and thought that maybe a dozen people’d re-up it and it’d buy us a few weeks. It wasn’t so much that more people got involved, as it was the way they tweaked and improved it; basically using their own knowledge and experience of downloading to make it even more effective. Most bands do some anti-leak campaigning prior to release and the message in all of them is - please, abstain. Whereas we gave people a chance to quantitatively help out; to make a difference. I’m not saying our model is transferable, but I think that’s something non-mainstream bands are going to have to do more of if they want to survive. There’s quite a lot of expectation weighing down on the album, do you think
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how people respond to it will have a major effect on your career? Very much so. We’ve thrown everything we have into doing this, and if the response is that it’s not enough, then I don’t see what else we can do beside from give up and become morally obliged to get real jobs to pay it off. When we got about three quarters of the way thru making it and could see it taking shape, the fear turned to excitement. Pulling this off is a landmark moment for us, ‘cos a band is only as good as their last release, and although we’ve talked up the punk style we conduct ourselves in, it’d be for nothing if we couldn’t produce the album to match, and I think we have. Hopefully it’ll put us in a better position when negotiating gig fees, or it’ll lead to a sync that can pay for more adventures, and keep going. It’s very much all to play for; exciting times.
mmm something smells good
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How to cook a really delicious nut roast, inspired by my housemate Laura’s Dad.
Drain the butternut squash and put into a large mixing bowl
foil. Pat the mixture down with a spoon so that is packed tight into the tray.
Ingredients: 2 large bags of cashew nuts 1 small bag of pine nuts 2 cloves of garlic 1 small bottle of red wine 1 carrot 1 medium size butternut squash salt and pepper to season
Grate the carrot into the butternut squash and mash.
You can add grated cheddar if you wish for a cheesy nut roast
Finely crush one bag of cashew nuts and put into the mixture
Bake with with foil on for 50 minutes, and then remove the foil until the nut roast begins to brown!
Peel and cut the butternut squash into small cubes
Roughly crush the second bag of cashew nuts and put into the mixture MIX.
Put into a pot of water and bring to the boil Boil until soft Preheat the oven to 180C
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Finely chop the garlic cloves and mix into the mixture with pine nuts
Best enjoyed with roast potatoes, plenty of vegetables (red cabbage in particular, yum), bread sauce, lashings of gravy with cranberry sauce, or beetroot chutney if you can find it in your supermarket.
Add glugs of red wine and stir in, make sure that the mixture doesn’t become too runny put the mixture into a baking tray lined with
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I’ve read pretty much all of Pelacanos’ work, watched the Wire and other TV programmes and films he’s been involved in and The Cut was very similar to these past works. The main character is a tough yet sensitive, handsome yet strong, smart yet silent, ex-Marine.
The particular book I read was The Cut, by George P Pelacanos. It was given to me by one of my brothers who had also given it to another brother before it reached me: seeing as it was only released in hardcover in August 2011, I’m guessing they read it pretty quickly too.
I may have already said so, but i do, really like crime fiction novels. From the throwaway pulp of the Spenser novels, to the dark and grizzly stories of James Ellroy. It doesn’t have to be American; I still read the Sherlock Holmes novels and short stories from time to time and Reginald Hill’s Daziel & Pascoe novels make good reading too. It’s also a family thing as my siblings read them also, and it’s a good chance to exchange different books and opinions on them when we see each other. These opinions rarely get past, ‘yeah, it’s not bad, not quite as good as X or Y, but worth reading’, but it’s still nice to have a shared interest with brothers and sisters, right?
On this particular day, it was the perfect storm of conditions which enabled me to read a book in a day. I was getting the train to London and back, all in one day for work, so would have the necessary six to seven hours I hadn’t set out to finish the book so quickly, but it to get through most was such a page-turner and I didn’t have to prepare of it. I had also for the meeting I was heading to, so I had no excuse just finished an- to put it down. By the time I’d finished the jourother book, so was ney and returned home, I had reached that point in a position to of no return that many readers will recognise, when start a New Day you look to see how many pages you have left and with a New Book. decide ‘balls to it, I’ll finish this sucker tonight’.
For a start, it’s rare that I have the combination of time and the desire to just start reading a book to enable seven hours-or-so of a whole day dedicated to reading. Also, it takes a certain type of book, usually from a best-selling author, who writes pageturning novels that you can quickly motor through. If you’ve done this yourself recently I guarantee that it will have been a genre fiction novel: my own weakness is for crime fiction.
The conditions have to be perfect and the situation just so, with the expanse of time stretched out in front of you. You need a seat that is not too comfy but good enough so that you can sit and read a whole book in a day. It’s a luxury I don’t get the chance to indulge in very often.
Aaron Gow on reading a novel in 8 hours
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Take note, Pelacanos.
I’ve often wondered how long it takes someone like Pelacanos to write such a book (which is 304 pages long in hardback). His name alone sells, so if he decides he can publish one or two such books a year to pay the bills and keep him and his family in pants and sweetcorn, then I suppose the rest of his time is free to pursue other endeavours.
From the first book of Pelacanos’ that I read, I was a big fan. Thinking back, this would’ve been circa 2001, and to me at the time he seemed fresh and different to what had come before in the genre. Now, I’ve read so much of his work I pretty much know what’s going to come next in the plot. This is not really a criticism as there is enjoyment to be had in reading or watching the familiar; knowing what will happen on the turn of the page. The pleasure doesn’t have to be in a massive twist or a great unveiling in the last chapter. There is enjoyment to be had from reading a well-written story that keeps you interested in each paragraph and keeps the fingers flicking through the pages.
From a Greek background, he knows right from wrong and has a strong moral compass that sometimes wavers but can always be justified by the character. As ever with Pelacanos’ work there’s lots of specific talk of music and a clear focus on food, drink and cars.
Written by Tiffany Daniels (DrunkenWerewolf ‘Zine and Blog)
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For most of my life I’ve called Bristol my home, and since my teens I’ve lived for its music scene. Local bands have come, gone and amalgamated, but unlike the various other cities I’ve encountered along the way, a resounding and unique spirit prevails in the South-West. Musicians from this area of the country are nationally underrated, living in the shadows of Bristol’s more affluent 90s movement, dubstep and/or Banksy; they deserve far, far more. If I ever win the lottery or some elderly person leaves me millions of pounds, I’ll dedicate my life to exposing it. As it is I spend every hour I have free shouting about it from rooftops, hoping someone like you will listen to me. In an admittedly rushed attempt to put this enthusiasm to words for Risk & Consequence, I interviewed a few of my favourites about Bristol and their plans for the coming year, while also exposing a wider audience to great hot chocolate, even better Sunday roasts, and where in the city of Bristol you can get buy gluten free, hand cut chips.
The Jelas
Colin Clements (lead guitar) Favourite place in Bristol to eat: When recording some demos recently we became very attached to My Burrito. I’d say that is currently our collective favourite. Personally my favourite place to eat (by a mile) is Sheesh Mahal, near the Arches on Gloucester Road. Favourite place in Bristol to drink alcohol: The Hillgrove always has a fantastic selection of ales, and it’s right by my flat. It also has a frequently brilliant and always tough quiz on most Sunday evenings. Favourite place in Bristol to drink notalcohol: The beautiful Cafe Kino, having moved into a much larger space and not being up a bit of a steep hill is more wonderful than ever. Favourite place in Bristol to buy records: Rise, on the Triangle, is on its own here. It stocks lots of local music and lets you
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put posters up, besides that they’ve started having some pretty rad in-store shows. Favourite place in Bristol to play music: We practice in a mouldy cave-type thing under the Bristol County Sports Club. I like playing there. It has authentic social club carpet. I’m a sucker for that stuff. Favourite place in Bristol to hide: People barely ever go to the Reprographics room at the School I work in. Hiding there is easy. I pretend I have laminating to do. Favourite place in Bristol to avoid people who look like extras from Skins: The football pitches on the site of the dilapidated Cadburys Factory in Keynsham. Waking up early on a Sunday morning and running around isn’t great but the scenery here is ace and the Skins peeps are probably asleep. Favourite place in Bristol to sit and think: My flat. I do most of my thinking at home so when I’m outside I have an objective. Don’t do much sitting on my own.
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Are you planning to release anything in 2012: Our album ‘The Body Parts’, on Local Kid, has been available at shows for a while but it should have a proper release this year. Maybe an EP or split will appear too.
alcohol: The little van at the bottom of Park Street which does an awesome hot chocolate and taking a walk for a coke halfway through band practice. Favourite place in Bristol to buy records: Rise on the Triangle.
Are you planning to tour anywhere in 2012: Definitely, Easter perhaps, and later in the year.
Favourite place in Bristol to play music: Walking round the city with my headphones on loud like it’s a soundtrack to a film.
New Year’s resolution(s): Get used to writing ‘2012’ earlier. I usually adapt by early Feb.
Bravo Brave Bats Favourite place in Bristol to eat: The Cowshed does the finest steaks I’ve ever tasted. My bank balance means I can only do it once a year though. Favourite place in Bristol to drink alcohol: The Hillgrove Porter Stores, or sat outside the Arnolfini in the sunshine. Favourite place in Bristol to drink not-
films. Possibly at the Cube or somewhere. Are you planning to tour anywhere in 2012: England in Feb is the plan. New Year’s resolution: Spend more time writing and less time watching TV - unless Spurs are playing a match.
Rozi Plain
(she likes Cafe Kino)
Favourite place in Bristol to hide: The Watershed Cinema.
Favourite place in Bristol to eat: Katie and Kim’s Kitchen.
Favourite place in Bristol to avoid people who look like extras from Skins: The Hillgrove Porter Stores.
Favourite place in Bristol to drink alcohol: Sitting on the wall or roof with Will Smith.
Favourite place in Bristol to sit and think: Queen’s Square in the Summer time.
Favourite place in Bristol to drink notalcohol: Cafe Kino.
Are you planning to release anything in 2012: Yes, a song with a short film inspired by every month of 2012 culminating with a live show played in front of the
Favourite place in Bristol to buy records: Idle Hands, Rise and charity shops. Favourite place in Bristol to play music: Cafe Kino!
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Favourite place in Bristol to hide: Sam’s house
proximity to work and the cat in the beer garden!
Favourite place to avoid people who look like extras from Skins: Welcome them in...
Favourite place in Bristol to drink not-alcohol: Coffee outside No 1 Harbourside.
Favourite place in Bristol to sit and think: Cafe Kino!! Are you planning to release anything in 2012: Yes, an as-of-yet unnamed album, that will be finished and released in 2012. Are you planning to tour anywhere in 2012: As much as possible. New Year’s Resolution: Nicer and better.
Favourite place in Bristol to buy records: Plastic Wax on Cheltenham Road - dangerously about two minutes from my front door... Favourite place in Bristol to play music: The Mother’s Ruin. Good for intoxicating liquors too. It’s dark, dingy, loud and cheap, which is how rock venues should be.
bour, near the handsome old sulphuric acid tanker with a cone of chips from the Buttery. Are you planning to release anything in 2012: Yes, hopefully a four track EP in the first half of the year. I have a lot of songs in waiting. Are you planning to tour anywhere in 2012: Not yet, but I’ll definitely make some time to escape Bristol...I guess London is the next step! New Year’s resolution: Predictably- to step everything up a gear, release lots of music and play lots of shows. I’d also like to learn how to play tennis properly without breaking any bones or car window.
Favourite place to drink not-alcohol: Cafe Kino. Favourite place in Bristol to buy records: Rise Records. Favourite place in Bristol to hide: My brother’s house! Favourite place to avoid people who look like extras from Skins: The Cube. Favourite place to sit and think: The Downs. Are you planning to release anything in 2012: Yes, our debut album Dead Wolf Situation is out on February 4th through Crystal Fuzz.
Jemima Surrender
Favourite place in Bristol to hide: in a corner of Bristol Central Library, optimistically piling up books I’ll never have the time to read.
Favourite place in Bristol to eat: A rare luxury unfortunately, but the roasts at the Hillgrove Porter Stores are pretty yummy. They always have a good soundtrack too.
Favourite place in Bristol to avoid people who look like extras from Skins: On The Matthew, where I can live out my Poldark fantasies!
Favourite place in Bristol to eat: Rita’s Kebab Place on Stokes Croft - hand cut chips, gluten free.
Are you planning to tour anywhere in 2012: Absolutely, the Dead Wolf Situation tour of the UK and Ireland will follow the album release. Follow our website at http://www.thehystericalinjury.co.uk for complete details when they come.
Favourite place in Bristol to drink alcohol: The Bell, simply because of its
Favourite place in Bristol to sit and think: On a bench overlooking the har-
Favourite place to drink alcohol: Boring I know, but I don’t drink!
New Year’s Resolution: Do more or less of something!
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Hysterical Injury
Annie Gardiner (vocals, bass)
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MSN INTERVIEW GUNNING FOR TAMAR Questions by Niall Answers by Joe
Joe says: MSN looks different... Niall says: It took more than a while to brush off the cobwebs. Two hours on a stone age computer to get this to load. Anyway, HI JOE FROM GUNNING FOR TAMAR. How are you? Joe says: I’m good! Slightly regretting my choice of picture... I changed it about 5 times then got bored. Still, it’s a good chick. Niall says: It looks cross-eyed. Did you make it yourself?
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Joe says: I can only dream of having such easter craftmaking talents Niall says: It’s only two months time! The MSN kids of 2012 aren’t keeping up with that kind of organisation. Joe says: I didn’t even realise kids still use MSN nowadays, it’s hard to work out whether we’re already past it in our early 20s... Still, check out my cool chick picture AND I’ve still got my smiley skills! Niall says: It’s a total nostalgia fest. I give it about ten years until Stephen Fry presents a 100 greatest
lost social networking tools. Channel 4 special. Saturday night. HEY JOE. REMEMBER THIS. You have just sent a nudge. Joe says: I think the first time someone did that to me was when I started getting migraines Do you think in countries prone to earthquakes, they took that nudge feature out? I even grabbed my chair then in fear and I know we don’t get earthquakes in Oxford Niall says: ------------------------You have just sent a gentle whispering to Joe in
San Francisco ------------------------Tamar is a girls name. Tell me about Tamar. Joe says: It is. I read it’s the 3rd most popular name for a girl in Israel So, I can tell you more about that, or some stuff about the band. You lead this dance! Niall says: According to Wikipedia, it’s now the fourth most popular name. Do you think this recent trend has a direct correlation with your rock band from Oxford?
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Joe says: It could do I guess. I’d feel awful if parents couldn’t name their children what they wanted because of us... But I’ve heard the name has risen to 17th from 144th in Finland. We’d like to take some credit for that Niall says: Good old Finland. Alcopop Records doesn’t stick to the basic format of releasing music at all, do they? I actually own a Alcopop burger at home, as well as a Johnny Foreigner frisbee (or did, my little brother took it to the park, where it promptly “disappeared”. I remembered to take the CD out before he left though) and Gunning for Tamar have a watch coming out. I know
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it’s based on the wordplay of your new EP ‘Time Trophies’, but how did you and Alcopop get round to releasing a watch? Joe says: Alcopop is amazing for allowing great release ideas to actually become reality. I mean, all the bands we line up with on the label are amazing and the fact that the releases all have something special about them, I think really gives the label a really unique identity. And in terms of our Time Trophies watch release, we spoke to Jack Pop and I think we wanted to do something different format-wise and making it watch-based was the logical outcome of that. It’s not to say that you know,
every release we do now is going to be like a watch or a download code on a unicorn or whatever but I think that like Jack, we think that the people who buy music deserve... something that actually makes them excited for it and something that gives that little bit more. (sorry, LONG answer)
Niall says: No worries! Staying on the nostalgia topic, did you ever have a Myspace?
Joe says: Yeah, I lived that dream. Hell it could still be there for all I know. A little snapshot of my youth floating around inside the internet
Niall says: Was this your own personal one, or a Gunning for Tamar one? Joe says: Ah that was my personal one. There is a GFT one too but it’s abandoned Niall says: I genuinely don’t want to look into my personal one. It’s too much to handle watching over from 2012 on -thatBut anyway, you guys were busy towards the end of last year in Germany. And you’re out with Jumping Ships pretty soon. What a strong ‘Pop couple.
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1
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Joe says: They’re the perfect wife! Such a great band, we’re really looking forward to heading out with them. Yeah end of last year was really great, to get to play in Germany was amazing. We’re heading back there again this May too. It’s great, there’s so many people willing to help you. So many people operating in a DIY way just because they love music, in the UK and abroad. I think there’s a really strong swell of genuine, honest people making exciting music at the moment. Niall says: Lastly, name us a Oxford band/artist for R&C readers to check out.
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There’s a heap to choose from... Joe says: That’s the problem..just one? Niall says: You can choose more than one! Joe says: That’s good because I was about to just say Radiohead. Well, if you haven’t heard Spring Offensive, you really should do. You’ll love them.The Old Grinding Young & a band called Deer Chicago are both doing really interesting things too. Check them all out. Niall says: I’m yet to check out The Old Grinding Young. How does the sound compare to Ute?
Joe says: Ollie’s voice is just well, ridiculously good. So that element still stands out strong. It’s got all the great parts of Ute everyone loved but with these narrative tales that just take you on this crazy adventure into the depths of his mind. Niall says: Excellent stuff. I’m going to check that out now. Thanks for your time Joe! Before you go, give us your best smiley. Joe says: there’s so many to choose from now, okay here goes because it’s valentine’s day in 45 minutes.
Niall says: Oh, you old flirt.
Joe says: You’re officially my cyber valentine. Congratulations! Niall says: <3 Joe says: Thanks. This has definitely rated in my top 5 ‘messenger’ moments.
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www.thenightofthelivingthread.com
,
rd Questions by Niall Cunningham Postcraview (Delta/Alaska) Inte Answers by Eva Spence (Rolo Tomassi)
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Adrian Dutt
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www.howlingowlrecords.tumblr.com
Adrian also works for Rise Records. We heart Rise Records. Go and buy things from them and give Adrian a little wave.
www.adriandutt.co.uk
Adrian is a Bristol-based illustrator and designer. He has done drawings for Big Scary Monsters, Idle Hands, My First Tooth, The 405, Alcopop, and many many others. Adrian also runs a record label, called Howling Owl Records.
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Singapore. Singapore is my newly acquired home, it has recently become my place of work, and now, as a result of having to work, my place of necessary play and rest, as and when work allows. So what do I, the British (and I prepare myself because I hate this term) expatriate, make of this little island/country/city/state?
Words by Christine Cant
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Well for starters I shall use my favourite entrée, the most delectable of issues that present themselves to me on the proverbial tray of day to day life: the female work dress code. This puzzles me greatly, but scarily enough gets more and more normalised each humid rainy day of my stay on this island. I watch every single day from my favoured pew in Starbucks as women of esteemed grace teeter dangerously along the variable texture of the pavements in heels that I thought only models wore on catwalks before taking a years sabbatical to reflect upon and recover from the experience. I love heels, wear them most days and refuse to go out in the evening without at least an extra two inches on my genetically given 5 foot 4 inches, but these women are donning heels that a) never seem to properly fit the individual, and b) were surely only months before, a
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museum exhibit representative of torture in the middle ages. They swing around the delicate ankles of their wearers as if at any moment they will give up and fall on their side and make walking look like an impossible circus act. Impressive as they are when their owners are standing still stroking their beautiful long lustrous hair outside a frozen yoghurt outlet, as soon as they attempt to move on with their day, they are physically told otherwise by their feet… but by choice! Bags and shoes are a status symbol in Singapore, but no more here than I guess certain fashionable circles in London, it is just so much more concentrated here. Handbags, I do like a good handbag, mostly because mine are strictly acquired for pittance from a charity shop but brand new and some Italian make with
a vintage assemblage (I’m a lucky charity shop shopper), but here, they may as well determine your rite of passage into any restaurant, club or office building. They are all clutched as if the most delicate of flowers yet carried metres away from the body as if they smell of the local Durian fruit, banned on the MRT (underground) for its offensive smell. I shall conclude and perhaps, explain. Singapore does not consist of a pleasant ratio of work spaces to play spaces, green to grey, oh no, they are all bound by one rope and squeezed, pulled and prodded into the mighty SHOPPING CENTRE and then squared. Not just one of these commercial consumer delights grace every area of the island but six or seven, nine or ten are all placed along one stretch of street. It is truly a city of shopping, of
consumerism and of height, in both architecture and female feet adornment. The most terrifying sight of all though is your own hand buying into such trends - my hand, passing my card over the counter of a rather less esteemed store than Massimo Dutti and entering my pin underneath yet another digitised chunk of my pay that month. For yet another pair of shoes, and perhaps a bag, if I’m feeling that I‘ve really earned it. Do not be fooled, with one botanical garden for peace and serenity, you’d better hope you don’t start out with an obsession with shopping, because you will end up bankrupt, or short. What is that noise? Oh. It’s the shoe cupboard giving birth to another set of twins. Shame on me.
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Diary Entry #
In May 2006, my band 586 released our debut single. A runner-up Single Of The Week in the NME, it sold out within two days. The video was played on MTV2, a live session was recorded for John Kennedy’s XFM show, and we performed all over the UK and Europe. It was EXCITING. Two further singles were released, but momentum was lost and the final single was a massive flop. We split up in February 2008, but I had kept a tour diary, logging everything… Saturday 1st April 2006 – Leeds Joseph’s Well
586 Tour - Leeds
Words by Steve Horry
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It had been an interesting day. Two bands and a kleptomaniac roadie squeezed into a luxurious splitter van headed for Leeds to play an event intended as a goodnatured day of London vs Leeds band rivalry. Whereas our companions in the band ‘Remodel’ had booked a hotel, my band had our accommodation arranged for us by the promoter. Being used to huddling in the back of a transit van we were incredibly impressed by our new mode of
travel. Or we were until, an hour from Leeds, we pulled into the hard shoulder belching smoke. Matt the driver called a recovery service. We were not allowed to wait in the van so we waited in a field beside the motorway in the rain, bored and idly throwing turnips at each other. When the recovery people turned up, we had a choice: we could either go to Leeds and worry about getting home later, or go home now. Matt knew someone who might be able to get us home, so that was settled; the show must go on.
drunkenness and the insanity of the small hours I desperately closed my eyes as tight as possible. Oh good God, this was awful. Please GOD let him not be wanking. Please please PLEASE…
The show went fine but the rest of the day was a disaster. Our place to stay had fallen through, as did the various back-up options. It soon became apparent that we would be spending the night in the van. There were too many of us for there to be any room to lie down, so we all tried to sleep sat upright, covered in coats to fight off the cold. I was by the door, so every time I dozed off I would be woken by a gust of cold air as bandmates left the van to piss in the nearby bushes. Later I was woken by Grant shaking. Fuelled by
Ah.
The following morning was freezing. We emerged into the sunlight and went off in search of a fry-up. I had to know either way: I asked Grant if he really had been…. “No I wasn’t you fucking idiot. I was shaking from the fucking cold.”
The fry-up was good, but 10 minutes after we left the cafe it was clear it had travelled through my digestive system quickly. I had to find a toilet. Now. I scarpered around Leeds town centre, trying to find a public toilet, each second edging closer and closer to disaster. I tried a Subway. They didn’t even HAVE a toilet. None of the shops were open, let alone the pubs. Then finally: McDonald’s. An open McDonald’s. I ran in without thinking and
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stormed straight into the only cubicle, thanking every God I could think of for it being empty. I’ll spare you the rest of the details, but this was a relief. I sat there, taking the time to calm myself. I reached for the dispenser to my left. There was no toilet paper. I sat there trying to find alternate options. It became apparent that I had only one choice. I exited the toilet minus my left sock. I decided to just use the one in case I needed to go again later. This was so embarrassing. The replacement driver turned up and we all got into his van to begin the journey home. His van was even better – it had a TV in the back. I put my feet up on the seat in front of me. “Steve, why are you only wearing one sock?” asked Deborah. Fuck.
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“We hope to one day party with Andrew W.K.” Now, that’s a dream we can all relate to. DZ Deathrays
Our Contributors Owen Kimm, Aaron Gow, Christine Cant, Tiffany Daniels, Matt Fernell, Laura Seaman, Laura’s Dad, Steve Horry, Ben Adsett, Ned Powley, Emma Dudley, Dörte Heilewelt, Alicia Perry, Owain Paciuszko, Niall Cunningham, Tom Eperjesi, Adrian Dutt, Nicholas Stevenson, Jeffrey Brown (www.jeffreybrowncomics.com) Antoinette Fleur (www.antoinettefleur.fr) Design Cain Gill Editor Kaylea Mitchem
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w w w. r i s k a n d c o n s e q u e n c e . c o . u k
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