Elbow - Oxford, UK, Spring 2001
By: Toby L
Much has been written regarding Elbow and their past. Yes, it hasn't been a walk in the park. Yes, there wasn't the support they needed to succeed in the early years. But, yes, it's resulted in what will be known as one of the first classic albums of the twenty-first century, 'Asleep In The Back'.
It's often seen that experience is the sole basis upon which to form opinions and judgements on life. However, at least in Elbow's case, surely experience is that which has inspired them to form the most beguiling and genuinely original sound to grace ears since... since comparisons were viewed as a justifiable way to describe genius. Singer-songwriter Guy Garvey weaves together tales of the most relevant and humane detail you'll ever hear, before letting his husky, high voice preach it to us in a way as to defy all ill-founded logic that men don't bleed too. In fact, the only place where their current album is a disappointment is in the fact that it doesn't last forever.
However, much of Elbow's music has been mis-represented by the media: it's not depressing, nor are the band miserable people. Quite the reverse in both instances, actually; 'Asleep In The Back' could be the most optimistic and hopeful album you could hear all year. This said from listening to the most extravagant musical furore ever created in 'Newborn', described on its original release by Garvey as 'an epic declaration of love and the realities of growing old with someone' and the soothing harmonies which elevate you to heaven itself during 'Presuming Ed (Rest Easy)'. The thing that makes these songs so special, though, is because they often have you think that you've never heard anything like them before - and there's a reason for that: it's because you never have.
Today's setting is an outdoor, wooden table. Half full pints of lager and clogged up ashtrays are located on its surface and on one side, sat next to each other, are bassist of the band, Pete Turner and the aforementioned main-man, Guy. They are in a jovial spirit, laughing and joking with themselves before the interview commences, through which they see as a chance to continue the fun and hi-jinks. In this, we were aiming to achieve a hard-hitting, and possibly moving article. However, rockfeedback was only too happy for it to transcend into a banter about barmy photo-shoots in swimming-pools (Pete: 'It was pissing it down with rain - in Texas, on the coldest day we were there,' and Guy: 'The photographer was saying, 'Pretend it's not raining,' and we were just sitting there going, 'But it is f**king raining!') and unrepeatable comments on the 'Southern Belles' in the States. And George Michael gets a fair mention as well.
But, before discussing the social and musical significance of the former Wham! frontman, when so many people build you up to be one of the next mega-bands to take over the world, surely the pressure is soaring to dangerous levels. How does this northern lot feel about it?
Guy pauses and delivers his response in a manner that makes you think his contribution to the conversation will be serious. 'I think, in a way... More people are interested in Starsailor, really! It luckily takes the heat of us!'
Pete adds, 'They supported us, didn't they,' looks to bandmate for an agreement, with Guy delivering an 'Mmm,' as to indicate a 'Yes, indeed they did, once upon a time,' type of answer.
The bassist proceeds, 'It was them, us and then the Doves on a bill once.'
'Things have certainly changed now,' laughs the sleepy-eyed frontman, acknowledging Starsailor's recent surge in popularity. 'They're going into the studio with Steve Osborne to do the album and we've worked with him - he's a great bloke to work with - and they'll have a lovely, old time with him. Hopefully, he'll shelter them from the outside pressures to come out with the best album that's ever been written.'
From this, conversation moves on to the recording of their debut LP.
'We did pretty much all that album in Bath, the Real World Studios, as it's close to where Steve (Osborne) lives, which was cool,' recalls Pete. 'But, it was really long (as in journey time from where they live). The good thing about recording 'Asleep in the Back' was that it was recorded in Parr Street, Liverpool, which is round the corner from Manchester; it was residential as well so we stayed there. On the weekends, it was just half an hour and you were home! It was a lot more relaxed that period (in comparison to the earlier recording sessions for their first record)... We didn't have the pressure of a label that was about to drop us either, which was great!'
'It was a better record second time round, anyway...,' reckons Guy.
If you're unaware of Elbow's history, you'll be forgiven for not knowing what they're hinting at, in terms of troubles they experienced in the earlier days of their career. To put it briefly, promises were made ('As were lies,' Guy fills in), label-deals were made to be something of a carrot on the end of a string where they fell through before anything happened and hopes were crushed. Luckily, with the release - finally - of their first record after years of abandoned attempts, it seems as if this band are going to have it all made up for them. However, what kept them going for ten years whilst all this happened?
'Well, Pete needed a new kidney, didn't you,' Garvey remarks, looking across to his bandmate in a false earnestness, 'So we just worked towards money for that (smiles and laughs)!'
'Yeah, I've got a pig's kidney for the meantime,' Pete contributes, keeping a straight face.
Bearing in mind the record gathered baggage before it finally got released, would you prefer that listeners knew about the hassles you experienced in order to make the album, or is it better that everyone listens without prejudice?
Guy thinks on it and says, 'I would prefer if people did listen without prejudice... But, I would rather that everyone listens to 'Listening Without Prejudice' by George Michael (laughs all round); it's just a better record!'
On asking Guy what his favourite track from 'Listening Without Prejudice' is, he grants a smile and bellows, 'Oh, he's got me,' indicating that rockfeedback had caught him out on his fake admiration for Mr. Michael - and, for that, he should be truly ashamed of himself.
Garvey continues, though, 'Nah, I seriously think you've gotta have 'Faith'...' He looks around to see if we were going to acknowledge this awful joke, once again using Georgey-Porgey as the butt of it. Instead of guffawing, we take turns, rockfeedback following with, 'But, yes, it's important to have 'Freedom', isn't it?' Pete looks scared for a few moments as he frantically searches his mind for a title which lays claim to being a part of the George Michael repertoire. However, peering at rockfeedback seated on the opposite side of the table, he suddenly blurts out, 'But, always remember that 'I'm Your Man'!' Further laughs ensue, Guy questioning, 'Are you going to mention that Pete was coming on to you during the interview?' Well, I just did. Sorry, Pete.
'You know, well, it hasn't been the easiest ten years for us, in all fairness,' reasons Guy, who becomes temporarily serious. 'I think there's as much light as there is shade in our music, though; I find our stuff quite uplifting. Different people just get different things out of it. There's a bit of a groove sneaking back in with us, because we were, at one time, a f**king stoner-funk band! We'd just smoke loads of weed and then jam... We'll probably get back into doing all that!'
Feelings on the band being constantly likened to Radiohead are brought up (post the 'stoner-funk' phase, of course). Such a comparison made by numerous writers, in itself, is no way near a bad thing, merely complimenting this Bury five-piece, who also deliver tunes on a highly intricate and challenging level.
'We don't mind it, really; they're a great band to be compared to,' returns Guy on the subject.
In an ideal world, who would you most like to be compared to, we ask next, instantly foreseeing the response and deeply regretting we had uttered the question...
Guy grins and responds, 'George Michael, probably!'
'Actually, it's Andrew Ridgeley for me - I think he was just sheer talent,' Pete reckons.
'Nah, Radiohead are a great band to compared to,' mentions Guy, who manages to journey back to where we were initially with this topic. 'I'd like to think that we're similar bands in the way that we both have an open mind towards arrangement, instrumentation and production... And an honesty in what we do. Those are probably the most important factors in what has kept us together for ten years... They've got a very similar background too: they were together at school and they're people that have developed alongside each other, like we have...'
Pete lowers the tone slightly. 'We've physically developed alongside each other, haven't we? When I first met you, I never had any hair whatsoever, did I?'
Guy replies, 'No, you didn't... Well, not on your face anyway! Nah, it's true - we have literally grown up physically together. Your voice broke in my company, didn't it?'
Pete nods, adding, 'I had sex while you were there too!'
Guy remembers, 'Yes, you lost your virginity with me in the room... With me!'
Pete comments further, 'Nah, I can't really say I lost my virginity with you, Guy... You stole it!'
They're like a comedy double-act, knowing just when to deliver the punchline to each other's jokes. They fail to live up to that moody preconception some may hold against them.
A recent performance in Austin, USA certainly didn't do Elbow any harm, with critics singing their praises and a real media buzz being generated amongst top publications. Is breaking the American market an appeal for them at this stage of their career?
'At the moment, the album's just come out, that's been the thing and we'll see how it does,' answers Turner, who has been described by many as the one with 'funky hair'. 'It's very hard for me to see beyond the end of this tour! We're going to be doing bits of promotion, festivals and stuff next. At about the start of September, we're going to be doing a bit of bigger tour, then we're going back to Europe... And that takes us into Christmas...' Pete looks at Guy and utters, 'It's f**king long, isn't it?!'
His fellow music-maker goes on, 'Yeah, we can't wait to get back into the studio, but the gigs have been f**king great so far and people have been such a wicked laugh...
'At the moment, we have a very big visuals rig (for the stage-show) coming out with us - it's run by only two men - but it changes every night; tonight, for example, there's a camera on my mic stand that I can point at the audience. This means that the crowd can see themselves on the screen, mixed up with visuals that maybe the lads recorded today. Because they change it every day, it keeps things current... Keeps things interesting. If we were just banging out the same tunes with the same visuals all the time, it would be as boring as f**k!'
Pete muses on the tour, 'Yeah, we've got about five or six shows left...'
'It's seven. Seven,' responds Guy, with such rigidity in his voice that it almost seemed as if he was contemplating quitting this music-business-lark.
Pete comes back, 'Oh God,' clearly not satisfied with his upcoming and busy fate. And people wonder why I wanted to become a writer instead of a rock star...
Starsailor have already cropped up in this conversation, their appeal obviously displaying that slower UK guitar bands are coming to prominence - how do Elbow feel being a part of this new influx of strong, original songwriters?
'Well, we've been doing the same kind of music for about six or seven years; it's changed somewhat, but the ethics are still the same, the people are still the same and we're still chasing the same thing,' the lead singer says before rubbing his chin. 'I just think our window has come up now, in terms of marketing: all of a sudden, the music industry's opening its minds to this kind of music, which is great... I don't know how long we'll be a part of this scene: might be a year, might be ten years, it might not be either. We're just happy doing what we're doing.'
Despite such a decent message being laid out, Guy then spoils the moment perfectly, in pursuit of a cheap joke. 'The fact that people have been picking up on what we've been doing is good: it means we don't have to try anything else out for a while!
'Nah, in terms of a second record, we're very much looking forward to doing it. We all want to do something different. We're all writing as it stands, but it's all very much a growth process: all of us write the stuff, all of us edit the stuff, all of us record and produce the stuff... I've been the only lyricist to this point, but that will probably change... We're just going to see where it goes...'
Seeing where it goes from here is something that we'll be wanting to do too, listening intently to all that's delivered our way from the epic group. With such an accomplishment as 'Asleep in the Back' already in the can, there's no doubt that Elbow can only progress on to bigger and better things - keep your ears open for their upcoming releases, it's much more exciting that way. Or they'll get George Michael on your case.
Artists in this article: Elbow