Album Review: Grimes - 'Art Angels'

Words originally for Outline Magazine

Release Date: November 6th, 2015

Label: 4AD

Once in a generation comes an artist as inspired and unique as Grimes (a.k.a. Vancouver’s Claire Boucher) whose fourth studio album Art Angels sees her mix a more structured, pop sound into her already eclectic cauldron of electronic delights with fantastic results. The record opens with an ethereal mix of classical instrumentals before falling head first down a musical rabbit hole into California, one of the record (and indeed, Grimes’) most commercial sounding songs, but equally one of the most charming. Next SCREAM leapfrogs back to the bizarre, recruiting Taiwanese rapper Aristophanes for an explosive barrage of noise lasting less than three minutes. Flesh without Blood highlights Boucher’s lyrical skills as she details “your voice, it had the perfect glow/it got lost when you gave it up though”, masking depth and intricacy under a veil of catchy beats and infectious melodies. REALiTi, previously released as a demo, is the most abstract song on the record, produced like a dream with a pounding bassline holding up Boucher’s signature celestial vocals. Janelle Monáe guests on the dramatic and audacious Venus Fly before Butterfly closes a stunning album with a climax of lo-fi electro pleasure, tied together with sublime vocals and exquisite synthesizer mastery.

9/10

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Interview: The Maccabees

Words originally for Outline Magazine

L-R: Orlando Weeks, Hugo White, Felix White, Sam Doyle, Rupert Jarvis

Named after a ‘random word from the Bible’, the Maccabees are one of those indie bands that are always quietly plugging away, making music that beguiles and energises. With across-the-board positive reactions to their latest album Marks To Prove It, and a sold out gig at the LCR to look forward to, guitarist Felix is on cloud nine. The band can’t wait to get out on the road to play us some of their best tracks and I asked him about collaborating with Jamie T, choosing set lists and creative decision making within the band.

One of the last times you visited Norwich, you played the Arts Centre to celebrate its crowning as Britain’s best small venue by NME/Jack Daniels. What was that show like?

It was straight off the back of a Kasabian support tour just before we added the finishing touches to Marks to Prove It. So it was actually the first Maccabees show for a long time. There were plenty of people that couldn't get in so we’re hoping the UEA offers a bit more opportunity for everyone to come to the show!

Photo: Jordan Hughes/NME

You’ve played some of the venues on your upcoming tour before, including the UEA. Is it frustrating having to work your way back into the mainstream with each new album?

I think the key is to not feel like you are repeating yourself. If we were playing the same songs in the same venues to the same people it could start to feel like Groundhog Day pretty fast. As it goes, the new songs feel like both the best and most challenging songs to play and shed good perspective on what's gone before, so it feels like there are still things to achieve.

Why have you chosen Drenge to join you on these dates?

Because they are very good. They are some of my friends’ favourite band too so it's been a popular decision at home.

I’m a big fan of the new album and I’m very excited to hear it live. Are you excited to perform it properly?

We've been playing six tracks so far on the American tour that has preceded this. Marks to Prove It, Kamaura and Spit it Out already feel like the biggest collective moments at the shows. The next step is working out how to get some of the softer, more vulnerable moments translating live. We'd love to get album closers Pioneering Systems and Dawn Chorus into the show as that’s new ground for us.

At Glastonbury you performed Marks to Prove It with Jamie T, easily a contender for collaboration of the year. How did that come about?

We have known Jamie for a long time, since our very early days of playing gigs nearly ten years back. His music means a lot to us, it was just something we had talked about for a while that we could finally put together.

Now on your fourth album, do you find it difficult to generate new ideas and not get stuck doing the same thing again and again?

Sometimes you have to think a bit in order to stop noticing your own 'tricks' and make music that is new to you. But I think we have more ideas now than we ever have to be honest, it's just finding a place and having the discipline to put them somewhere concise which is harder.

With four records to choose from, is it difficult putting together set lists?

The best thing about Marks to Prove It live is that somehow the songs shed positive light and perspective on everything that's gone before, which we had found hard touring Given To The Wild. It makes the balance much easier actually and has given new life to very old songs like Precious Time. 

As a five-piece, is it difficult to all be happy when creative decisions have to be made?

It is usually the hardest part and a constantly evolving thing. Over time we've learnt that having a band that has shared ownership doesn't always mean sharing every decision, especially creatively, as you go backwards or nowhere often. So the last few years have been an exercise in allowing each other the space to see ideas through as much as possible. It doesn't always work, but when it does it’s magic.

The recording of the new album was described as ‘tricky’ and ‘traumatic’, have there ever been any times you’ve been close to packing it all in?

There were moments during the record that felt like we just weren't going to get out of it with anything. But I guess sometimes you need to go there to really re-assess and work out what you are trying to achieve. I think it all was very worthwhile now, because we've made an album that I think will last. There were moments during it when I'm not sure any of us were sure we were going to get there! 

You’ve spoken a lot about your residency around London’s Elephant & Castle, and put out a documentary film recently about life there. The film focuses less on the band and more on other people in that community. Why did you choose to do that?

That was the main thing about commissioning a film that excited us. It became a subtle document of lots of different types of people trying to achieve something for themselves in the same area, at the same time but in their own way. It's healthy perspective and in turn, a celebration of the diversity within the area.

A lot of your music is huge and atmospheric but a lot is also delicate and downbeat. How much consideration do you put into the tone of a record when you’re making it?

The detail is what often takes the longest time. This time the hardest thing to pull off was allowing the music to be exposed and honest and vulnerable where it needed to be. Our knee jerk on Given To The Wild was to make soundscapes that could mask things. So we were trying to keep some of those atmospheres but put them across in more detailed and focused ways. That can be a tricky thing to pull off. But as a result, the songs really translate in their intended form from record to stage and that was an early goal.

Something Like Happiness is a one of my favourite songs from the new record. What’s the story behind it?

It was one of the first songs for the record, which came about through the usual collision of different things we had over time. The film actually documents some of the writing of it. Lyrically it concerns being happy for someone when they've found something good.

Currently you have three nights lined up at Brixton’s O2 Academy. Do you still get nervous despite how long you’ve been playing big shows?

It quite often depends on the moment. Sometimes you are just nervous and you are not sure why. Or you can he playing a huge show and just not feel it at all. Brixton is of huge significance to us so I'm sure it will feel special.

We’re very much looking forward to your show at Norwich UEA; what can you tell us about the show you’ll be performing?

It's going to be music from across all four records. We are touring with Rebekah Raa who is playing piano and singing and Memby Jago who is an extremely talented percussionist and brass. You are always a bit in the lap of the gods buts it's our best set of songs and best we've ever been so I hope it'll be a really memorable thing.

The Maccabees play the UEA LCR on November 20th.
Their new record Marks to Prove It is out now.

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Interview: Kagoule

Words originally for Outline Magazine

L-R: Cai Burns, Lucy Hatter, Lawrence English

Now a cagoule is a kind of an anorak. What does that conjure up in your mind, musically? Limp folk? Some sort of twee indie? Well, you surely have it wrong with this band, who spell their name with a kickin’ K. Kagoule make intriguing rock with twinges of Jane’s Addiction thrown in with some sweet ass feedback and scratchy guitars. They play Norwich Arts Centre this month, so I chatted with guitarist Cai Burns about supporting Johnny Marr and the Nottingham music scene.

How come you’re called Kagoule?

Your guess is as good as mine. Sometimes I ask myself that same question.

You’re quite a new band in the grand scheme of things.  How did Kagoule begin?

Kagoule is the first band any of us have been in. We met in school at 14. I'd hit broken instruments with Lawrence until it sounded kinda like music. Soon we needed a bassist to do a school show. I asked Lucy; she had cool hair and shoes.

What’s the music scene like in Nottingham where you hail from?

Either there is no scene or the scene is so big that everyone in Nottingham is somehow involved in it. I can't tell. It's a big family where everybody knows and helps each other out. There isn't this sense of competition like you can get in other cities. Because of that it’s a good place to grow as a band but also can trap you in a bubble, kind of like a zoo for music.

Where do you get the best reception to your music? Is there anywhere you consistently have great shows?

People move the most in Nottingham and Edinburgh. We just did our first European tour and Prague was loads of fun. Belgium too. Argh, there're too many!

Your debut album Urth came out in August. What were the main influences for it?

That album was written over quite a long period of time. It started when we were about 15 and we recorded at 19. Each song was never intended to be on an album or even be recorded. The latest single Made Of Concrete was the second song we wrote as a band, whereas Mike was pretty much written in the studio. Each track has its own time in our teenage lives and its own influences. Urth is more of a compilation of all the stages Kagoule has been through since its beginning. Fugazi forever though, right?

You worked with Arctic Monkeys & MIA producer Ross Orton on the record. What was it like to collaborate with such a big name?

Ross is an absolute dude. He’s so easy to work with. He broke the ice by zipping us around Sheffield in his new car. It definitely warmed up our blood. He knows what he's doing and knows it's good so you can just leave him to it while you drink loads of coffee and make GoPro videos. 

You’ve toured with Johnny Marr; what was it like playing with such a legendary a musician?

It was such an honour! You soon realise your idols are just people and they are all loads smaller in real life then they are made out to be. There was a moment when talking to Johnny where I started going on about computer voices that talk in the melody of the funeral song, and had a panic because he was clearly just smiling and nodding at me. I exited swiftly and no harm was done. By the end of the few shows we could've chatted for days. “Back in my day when I was in The Smiths....”. Also when someone that has seen so many bands in their life tells you what songs of yours they like the most, it feels quite special.

If you could support anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?

C’mon now. Nirvana of course!

You’ve had trouble doing what you do, e.g. your van breaking down on tour. Is it difficult being in a band at such a young age and dealing with these issues?

Yes, we are so nervous and young and have no skills and we die very easily. Ha! Nah it’s alright really. People are more willing to help out the young'uns and we can look after ourselves just fine. Also we’ve never made a single penny from this thing, and after a while it can really get to you. But we've stuck with it so far and plan to do it for much longer.

When you’re touring a lot is there ever friction between the three of you?

Put three people in a van for three weeks and of course there is going to be friction. Friction is okay as long as you all know when to stop; just take a breather from each other one morning and then get back to it. There's no time to be arguing.

Do you write songs together or do you have different responsibilities when coming up with material?

I write the songs at home at 3am with an acoustic guitar. I’ll make a demo and bring it to practise. We have a bash at it for a while and you can tell pretty quickly if it's a goer or not; the best ones happen the fastest. Lawrence writes all the drums and we'll all try and work out an arrangement, possibly the hardest part, together.

Glue is one of my favourite songs from the record. What’s the story behind it?

Glue was written on New Year’s Eve 2014 and I have very little memory of writing it. When I picture it I see a blonde man with long, dangling lips holding a frog. The song is about anxiety and what not to do when you feel that way. Which at the time is exactly what I was doing.

As a band you have a very signature look in terms of style. Do you think image is an important part of being a band?

It just happened accidentally. We needed art, and Lawrence could draw so we made the most of it. It grew alongside the music and has evolved together. I think image is very important, yes, but too many bands try to do it with what hair they have or clothes they wear. Base yourself on image before there were photos.

Are you looking forward to your show at Norwich Arts Centre?

Hell yes. Last time we played Norwich we ended up heading over there to watch The Wytches. Inside, we wished we were playing this venue, and now we are!

Are you working on any new material?

All the time. We've got loads of new songs that we can't wait to record and we’re working on the second album now. I’m very excited for it all. I can hear it in my head and boy does it sound good.

Kagoule play Norwich Arts Centre on 24^th November. Their debut album Urth is out now.

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