Not to mention these two even smaller beauties before then:
All can be pre-ordered now from Fika Recording's band camp page. Start clicking here - http://shop.fikarecordings.com/album/my-ass
As the WP's continue sporadic summer touring a couple of interviews have surfaced, both of which make mentioned of a vinyl-only LP at the end of the year - the recorded around one microphone affair we'd previously heard about. Lots to look forward to!
http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/article/in-conversation-with-the-wave-pictures-143
Hailing from a tiny town near Loughborough in Leicestershire, since 1998 The Wave Pictures have been creating bright, brittle pop and woozy, warm ballads enriched by a cosy, analogue feel.After nearly a decade in obscurity, self-releasing a string of cult albums, guitarist/vocalist David Tattersall, bassist Franic Rozycki and drummer Jonny Helm relocated to London a few years ago and signed to the well-regarded British independent label Moshi Moshi.One of the most prolific, independent, and yes, awesome British indie bands, The Wave Pictures have collaborated with the likes of Daniel Johnston, Darren Hayman, Jeffrey Lewis, The Mountain Goats and more recently Billy Childish, who co-wrote and produced the band's latest effort Great Big Flamingo Burning Moon. Bursting with energy and ignited with a garage-rockspark, the album (which came out in February) rings loud and bold, showcasing Tattersall's searing guitar solos and sharp lyrical wit.I took the boys to Tufnell Park Playing Fields and we discussed their writing process, analogue vs. digital, zoos and their favourite tea.How was working with Billy Childish?Johnny: It really worked out better than we thought it would, it was just an awesome experience.How did you guys meet him?Dave: Through the BBC Radio 6 DJ Mark Riley, who knows him a little bit and knew we were big fans. I got Mark to ask Billy if he was interested in working with the band, thinking that nothing would come out of it, but he was actually excited about working on a new project. He had never heard of us before, but apparently if someone asks him he would probably want to do something with you, because he just wants to work on something all the time. We were very lucky to have him on board, and then we also got on really well making the album.Was Great Big Flamingo Burning Moon recorded live and analogue like your previous albums?Dave: Yes, we recorded everything live onto tape machines, and then there were a few overdubs, but just little pieces, like a bit of guitar or percussions, or the glockenspiel that Billy played in one of the songs because he was feeling very adventurous. But the basic things and some of the songs are just all live tapes, and Billy did a great job recording us live in his studio.Did you use any different instruments you were particularly happy with?Dave: Not really, because the main thing for me is always the guitar. As for the other stuff, you may put a little something in there to add just a little bit of colouring and flavour, but the most important thing is the guitar and to a less extent the bass, the drums and the vocals.Franic: And definitely Billy's ideas, as we wouldn't have come up with some of them on our own...Dave: I really like the glockenspiel, but it's not the most important part, as that is the instrumentation and the interaction of the three us playing live.Have you ever recorded anything digital, and if not what do you most dislike about that type of approach?Dave: Yes, we have. The whole album Beer in the Breakers was actually recorded all on a digital 8 or 16-track.I can't remember now... I don't like it as much, but you can do interesting things with digital sounds. Given the choice tough, it is always more exciting to have reels of tapes rolling around as it gives a warmer sound. If I do things with digital, I would still approach it the same way and try to get the same sound. We never build up a track at a time, it always starts with the three of us playing in a room.This is your 14th album in 17 years, so I guess we can safely say you guys are very prolific. How do you approach the writing process? Do you deliberately sit down to write music or do songs come to you in a more spontaneous way wherever you are?Dave: That is a good question... it varies from song to song. Sometimes I sit down to write a song just because I feel like it, with no ideas at all, just for fun, thinking it would be good to write some music. Other times the songs present themselves to me when I am not expecting them. It is a real mix, and I often would be writing 10 or 20 songs all at once and leave them half-finished to then build them up all together rather than write one song at a time. I like that way better because it is easier to write 10 songs and get maybe 5 good ones, than writing one at a time and have 5 good ones that way. It is usually just me writing the songs on my own, but for this record, I mainly only had to write the lyrics, take them around Billy's house and then he came up with the music on his guitar. I had no ideas of the tuning while I was writing the words, so some of them were terrible and needed lots of editing, and also, that way you can't have too many songs to start off with, which is my usual approach. This time, I just did the same thing with Billy that I do on my own, writing lots of lyrics and then turning them into songs later.So you tend to write lyrics first?Dave: Always. Occasionally though, I might come up with some music first and then add the words, but usually it is a matter of writing lots of lyrics and then sit down with the guitar trying to fit them together. I always think that if the words don't come first it's usually bad, as I don't like lyrics when they are written to fit the melodies someone has come up with.But are they lyrics with a sort of melody?Dave: No, just nonsense that doesn't even scan, which is quite important, because if you write lyrics so that they can scan and rhyme, they are going to sound more like song lyrics. So initially, my lyrics don't scan, don't rhyme, and I might make them do that later. You don't want anything to stop you from getting them all out, that is why I don't think about form when I am writing them at all and just fit them to the music afterwards. Whereas most songwriters I know would write them more as poems.You mentioned earlier that you sometimes write a bunch of songs at the same time and then only end up using some of them. Do you ever go back to old songs?Dave: Yes, all the time. Some songs don't work straightaway, so you just have to leave them for a couple of years, and then you might find them in the drawer or not, or you might half remember them, go back to them and only then they might sound like a good idea.The video for 'I Could Hear the Telephone (3 Floors above me)' shows what life on the road is like and how The Wave Pictures love a nice cup of tea before rocking out on stage... What is your favourite tea?Dave: English Breakfast tea I think.Franic: Earl Grey.Johnny: I also like normal English breakfast tea.
The new record's title was inspired by a visit to the London zoo where you, Dave, saw the moon in the still eye of a flamingo. Do you go to the zoo often, in London or elsewhere?
Dave: No, I don't, and I made that up, as when you finish an album the label asks for a track-by-track analysis, and of course you don't always have everything to say, so you make up stuff to fill out the thing. I am actually not that very keen on the whole idea of zoos, as it seems a little sad to me. But I have been to the London zoo.You have collaborated with lots of artists... is there anyone you haven't worked with yet and would love to do a collaboration with?Dave: We were actually thinking of Van Morrison as we are big fans. I don't know how it will come about, but if he wanted to go back to his roots in a rock and roll band and make a grungy sort of rock record we would be up for it! I would even pay him to do that, he wouldn't have to pay me. Apart from that, I always think it was good when we did the tour with Daniel Johnston, so more realistically it would be nice to do another tour playing as his band. Doing something with Jad Fair would also be good, and also lots of other people, but Van Morrison is probably on top of the list at the moment.Franic: Well, I could play bass in the Stones, which would be an improvement probably.Johnny: And Dylan obviously, as he needs a decent band these days and I think we could help him out.You guys are originally from Leicestershire. What do you miss the most about the place where you grew up?Dave: I don't particularly miss Leicestershire, though somehow I miss the early days of the band, as those were the most fun. We were in isolation in a country village, so it was very exciting to form a band and write songs for the first time. But I don't miss anything else about living there as nice a place as it is. London is such a great city and I am the happiest I have ever been living there.To me you are the epitome of what true English indie music is, but I am always surprised to hear you list mainly American bands among your influences. How English do you actually feel?Dave: We didn't know what being English-sounding meant, but I knew I didn't want to put on an American accent when I sang, which is going to make you sound very English to people. Also, if you sing about a place it makes more sense to be singing about a place where you have been to or lived in, that is why I sing about English places. There is actually no difference between being from Loughborough and singing about being in Loughborough, and being from Texas and singing about being in Austin, but as soon as you sing about Loughborough you are called quintessentially English. Most of the bands we like are actually American. We like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, but they sound pretty American too. It just seems that the roots of the music we like come from the blues and early American music, so yeah I could say we spend way more time listening to American music. I guess the fact that the band sounds English is completely unintentional.If you had a super power, what would you want it to be?Johnny: Flying.Franic: The same.Dave : Me too probably.What upcoming record are you most looking forward to?Dave: By someone else other than ourselves? Oh god no! We don't listen to that rubbish! But we have got another record coming out around Christmas time, a vinyl only acoustic album, recorded all with just a microphone. It is going to be very special and I am really looking forward to that coming out
http://www.indietracks.co.uk/indietracks-interview-16-the-wave-pictures/
The Wave Pictures are David Tattersall, Franic Rozycki and Jonny ”Huddersfield” Helm. The band, who are based in London, formed in 1998 and have released 14 studio albums. Their newest album, Great Big Flamingo Burning Moon, was written and recorded with seminal punk singer Billy Childish. It was released in February this year on Moshi Moshi, to widespread critical acclaim. Earlier this year they layed the BBC6 Music Festival in Manchester and also appeared on BBC6 Music DJ Marc Riley’s new “All Shook Up” music television show. The Guardian has described their work as “charming, witty songs shot through with Jonathan Richman’s gawky glee and Suede’s doomed provincial romanticism.”
Hi Dave! How excited are you and the rest of The Wave Pictures for your third visit to Indietracks?
We’re really looking forward to it! It’s such a nice festival. There’s always a very lovely atmosphere and we always seem to run into a lot of friends.
Any standout memories from your previous two?
There was one trip where I played a solo show in the church. I had flown from Spain where The Wave Pictures played a festival the night before. I got food poisoning or something. I was extremely ill on the journey. I had to make this epic journey from the south of Spain, two flights, throwing up the whole time. At one point I remember I was lying on the floor of the airport heaving into a plastic bag. I even got wheeled through security on a wheelchair. I was surprised that they let me fly, I was so sick. But I made it to the desk and explained myself to the staff and they just stuck me in a wheelchair; it was nice of them, they really took care of me actually. That was a very extreme day, though. At the end of it all I played this solo show in the church. I sort of felt alright by the point I actually went on stage. That’s not exactly a happy memory though!
A much happier memory was the last time we played. We went on before the Pastels, which I enjoyed doing very much. I used to know John who plays guitar in the Pastels, when I lived in Glasgow. It was nice to run into him again. We had a bit of a chat at some point. I really enjoyed that whole visit to Indietracks.
I remember The Pastels went on and did this long, very dark, Ennio Morricone kind of instrumental, it was very beautiful and heavy, and the clouds burst open and it was a very heavy, very wet rain storm. That was a striking thing. Stephen strumming these minor chords on his Gibson guitar and the rain.
The first time we played is a striking enough memory in itself, just how nice the atmosphere was, how uncommercial the whole festival was. I don’t usually like festivals to be honest, but this one still has that nice village fete feeling. I like it.
The Wave Pictures have been together for such a long time, how do you feel your band has changed over the last 17 years and how have you all managed to stay friends?
We’ve changed quite a lot, even the sound of my voice seems to have changed about a bit over the years. It’s all quite unconscious, but there are changes. You do just change over time, but you don’t realise it as it is happening. On the odd occasion when I hear an old recording of ours I am surprised how different we sound at different points. It’s a bit like looking through a photograph album. I find my voice a bit embarrassing on old recordings to be honest. That’s hopefully changed for the better a bit. I think we’re a bit more confident about doing what we like these days than we used to be. I’m not sure, though, to be honest I’m trying to come up with differences but we’ve probably stayed the same more than that we’ve changed! Certainly we can do very old songs in the set mixed up with the new ones, and they all seem to go together.
How have we managed to stay friends?
I don’t know. Jonny Helm is a pretty easy-going fellow, which helps. Franic and I have a long running pool and darts rivalry. We all really like playing music together, that’s probably the main thing. We still enjoy ourselves. We love music.
To be honest, it seems to me like we went from being a very new band to being thought of as old hats in nought seconds flat. The shelf life of a band isn’t supposed to be very long I suppose. But time flies when you’re having fun. It doesn’t feel like we’ve been going all that long, to me. I can’t really imagine not doing it. I don’t know what else I would do. On my birthday this year, I booked a studio and went to do some recording with Jonny and Franic. I couldn’t think of anything more fun than that! That was my birthday treat to myself, a bit of recording with the band. That’s the most fun thing in the world to do.
After 14 albums, Where do you find the inspiration to write?
The main thing is that it’s just very exciting to write a song. I write far more than that we can use. It’s a kind of madness I suppose, you just start processing the world into songs. It’s not madness really, though, it’s just a fun thing to do. Making up songs is probably the most fun part of being in a band. I always think – just do it, you can worry about if it’s any good later. Or don’t worry about it at all. Don’t let anything stop you just getting them all out of your head.
How do you decide what songs to play at gigs? And just how do you remember them all?
We can’t remember them all! Well – I can’t remember all those words. I can remember quite a large number of them, though. We decided at a certain point to not use set-lists. We just go onstage and start playing. I usually choose which ones we play. At the end of the first song, I choose what to do next, and we just go through the whole set like that. It’s not pre-determined. It’s good to be spontaneous I think, it suits us better. Sometimes I start a song and Jonny and Franic can’t remember which one it is, or Franic can’t remember what key it is in, but that doesn’t happen too often. It’s pretty funny when it does happen, though.
The Wave Pictures often get the title of the ‘one of the best live bands’, why do you think this is?
Well it’s because we are really wonderful! I’m happy if people think that. We certainly enjoy ourselves playing live.
You got to work with Billy Childish on your latest album ‘Great Big Flamingo Burning Moon’, how did that come about? What was it like with working with one of your heroes?
Marc Riley brought us together. He’s such a star, he’s done us so many good turns. He put us in touch with Billy, and Billy agreed to make a record with us.
Billy wanted to co-write the whole thing with me, he thought it would be more fun that way. I said – OK! It was a total blast. Right off the bat, we found we could write songs together very easily. It all just came together very easily and pleasantly. We got on well and we had fun. Billy and The Wave Pictures like a lot of the same things – we talked about John Lee Hooker a lot, early Rolling Stones, Link Wray, and Billie Holliday. Of course, he had never heard our music, but he liked it, he got where we were coming from straight away. It was plain sailing and I like the record we made together. Billy is a wonderful bloke – he’s a genius, and a very nice person too.
Have you heard the stuff Billy has done with The Spartan Dreggs? It seems that this particular project has gone completely under the radar. It’s so good! It’s such a shame that so few people have had a chance to hear them. The album ”Forensic RnB” is an absolute masterpiece. Everything The Spartan Dreggs have done is great! Billy plays the bass and there’s this guy Neil on lead vocals. Neil has a very strange, totally compelling voice. It’s completely sincere stuff, very real and just beautiful. It’s extremely refreshing to listen to, like a strong sea breeze! It’s the best new music I’ve heard in ages and ages from anyone. It reminds me of when I first heard The Who’s debut album – that’s how good it is, that’s how fresh and alive it sounds.
That would be my main recommendation for you, but also I want to give a shout out on behalf of my mate Sam James, the greatest songwriter in the world at the moment. He’s just completely ignored by everyone. I don’t know why. I can’t figure out how someone can be so talented and so completely ignored, but that’s how it is. Sam James is a New Yorker and he’s a school teacher who makes records in his spare time. He puts them up on line, you can find them. Listen to a song like Manuel for instance. I hope you can find it! He’s a total genius.
Is there any bands or sights in particular you are looking forward to seeing at Indietracks?
I’m looking forward to seeing my friends, there’s going to be a lot of people hanging around. And I’m looking forward to eating a hotdog in the sunshine. And Tigercats are always rocking – especially now they have Paul Rains on guitar. I always enjoy watching them. We’ve done a fair amount of gigs with them. It is always a pleasure. I love playing shows with Tigercats – they are a really great band and very nice people as well. And Paul is one of the best guitar players around.
Thank you so much Dave, cannot wait to see you and the band at the festival.
