More about: Bull

Do you think that modern music is sorely lacking recorders? Or that we, as a society, aren’t showing enough appreciation for Art Attack presenter Neil Buchanan? If that’s the case, let us get you acquainted with Bull and their upcoming EP Stuck between the Virtual and Physical World, arriving 1 July on EMI.

A few things before we get started: first, open up a new tab so you can look up all the weird instruments they used on the EP. Then, get ready for a challenge – the band asked us to “make up one question and answer” in the interview and challenged you the reader to try and spot the fabrication.* Ready?

When we spoke to Bull, they were overheating in the back of a mini van, a little hungover following their UK tour supporting FEET. These shows proved to be more than just a musical success for the band after they asserted their athletic dominance over the headliners in Southampton: “We played football against FEET that day,” says vocalist Tom Beer. “It was a really sunny day, and we went down to the Common which isn’t far from that venue. We beat them 5-3”. They mention that score a few more times, just to make their victory clear. Tom continues: “They look like they’d beat us. They’re so much more athletic, better looking, taller. But the fact is, we beat them, multiple times”.

Our chat also falls just a few days after they announced that they would be supporting their heroes Pavement in Leeds this October, news that they had kept under wraps for two months – sort of. “I did tell a lot of people,” Tom admits, while bassist Kai West goes a step further in asserting that “everybody in York knew about it”. You can understand that. It’s a huge moment for Bull. “When we started the band, we were pretty much trying to be Pavement. And we still are,” says Tom. “We had a song called ’12 Minute Album’ which was a straight rip off of ‘Summer Babe’ by Pavement”. Could Bull beat them in a football match? “I like our chances, that’s all I’m gonna say,” says Kai, whereas Tom is more confident about their victory: “They’d be shit, they’re American. We’d absolutely destroy them. They’d beat us at basketball”.

Stuck between the Virtual and Physical World is a four-track EP based around the feeling that you’re spending far too much time online – something everyone can relate to these past couple of years. Described as their ‘oddball’ EP, it features songs that Tom describes as “the furthest out that we’ve gone so far in the recording studio”. All of the songs are “weirdly linked”, says keyboardist Holly, by the theme of becoming too detached from the real world.

A lot has changed in the year since they released their last album, Discover Effortless Living. Drummer Tom Gabbatiss says that their sound has improved and that they’re much faster at recording, as well as the addition of keyboards. Dan adds: “Alongside the new keyboards we also have a new member”, referring to recent addition Holly, who looks a little offended that she got a mention after the keyboards.

The first thing you might notice when you take a glance at the track list is that there’s a song named after Neil Buchanan. Yes, the Art Attack presenter. It’s a pretty simple story, guitarist Dan explains: “We all really liked Art Attack and we went through a phase of naming our songs completely unrelated titles”. “You know like a child doesn’t have a reason that it’s called Tom or Joe or Jane or whatever, you just call it something,” Tom continues. “It’s kind of funny that you can do that with a song as well”. And so powerful is this homage that they almost got the man himself to appear in the music video. Almost.

“It was during Covid and he said he would like to do it when it was finished, cause he was shielding or something,” said Tom of EMI’s attempts to contact the man in question. Since then, they’ve just met the management. “He went cold, he went to Barbados or something…” Kai says wistfully. But Tom hasn’t given up: “If you’re reading this Neil, we still would love to make a video with you. We love you. I love you, Neil”.

One of the EP’s big selling points is its use of recorders. Seriously, when was the last time you listened to a record with recorders? It’s about time the noble instrument got the respect it deserves. Like most of us, the band were first introduced to the recorder in primary school. “Everyone’s got that flashback of like fifteen kids in a room all blowing a recorder as hard as they can,” Tom says. “I just remembered it and I feel sick”. Come along to one of their live shows and you might just see him play two of them at once.

They don’t stop at recorders, though. Among the instruments that appear on the album you can find an Otamatone, a jaw harp, a salsa can, a kazoo, a talk box…the list goes on. Tom explains why they experiment with all of these instruments, saying “If you can’t play an instrument very well, then you’ll probably come up with something more interesting. We like messing around, goofing off, having a good time”.

The last time Bull spoke to Gigwise in late 2020, they were the first band from York to be signed to a major label since Shed Seven in the ‘90s. They say that the scene there is criminally underrated, and give us a whole list of names to keep an eye on from the city: Perspex (“best band on planet Earth”), The Howl & The Hum, Pascallion, Fat Spatula. Make no mistake, York’s music scene deserves more attention.

Their EP might be days away from release, but they’ve got a few other things to promote. They’re getting a merch store ready so people can buy “T-shirts, sea monkeys and physical packaging for the digital EP, which contains a bogus interview with Neil Buchanan himself, which we manufactured”. Also, they want you to get in contact if you’re selling a Farfisa. “Preferably in the North of England, but we can travel”. Tom is a bit more committed: “We’ll travel anywhere.”. Finally, get in touch with Dan if you’re looking for a bike: “I’d be willing to trade for a Farfisa. Or a better bike. I can send you pictures of the bike if you like”.

Guess it’s up to us to promote the EP, then. It’s four tracks of sonically far-out, whimsical fun. Seriously, don’t miss this colourful morsel from one of indie rock’s brightest hopes.

*We’ll give you a hint: one of those instruments doesn’t appear on the EP. Or maybe it does, and they just forgot to mention it in the interview.

Stuck Between the Virtual and Psychical World arrives 1 July via EMI.

Issue Four of the Gigwise Print magazine is on pre-order now! Order here.

More about: Bull