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The Music have been around for quite some time now, much longer than the despicably trendy ‘new rave’ heads. Their first EP ‘You Might as Well Try to Fuck Me’ was a gem of climactic noise build-ups, tribal drumming and of course Robert Harvey’s distinct voice. The Music have now come back with their searing third album ‘Strength in Numbers’, which, if there’s any justice in the world, should establish their reign as kings of upbeat psychedelia and freakout guitars.
Gigwise caught up with drummer Phil and bassist Stuart prior to their London Astoria show and chatted loyal fans, fickle labels and if Santogold’s new album is any good!
Being asked about how the band would describe their music, they hesitantly muse that “there’s a dance element to it and a rock element to it, but it’s rather difficult to put it into a genre.” Then Stuart cheekily adds that it’s “shit-hot” though. This indefinable element give the band’s tunes a certain mysterious twist, which shows when that talk about their music. Stuart and Phil are extremely hesitant to agree to any musical category and despise pigeon-holing, which is perfectly reflected in their very varied approach to song-writing and diversely eclectic song structures.
As we dive into conversation about all the stress that came along with being teenage boys and being on tour for what seemed like an eternity, the boys become very serious at once. Stuart explains “we needed to become human again, and to rebuild our relationships. We needed a lot of time after we finished touring to get normal again” Gigwise then enquires how long it took to actually feel ready for a new album and Phil states “[we] approached it with new enthusiasm, and Adam and Robert had sat down and started writing songs. The people that we played them to were really excited about them too, that did wonders for our confidence. We were sure that what we were doing people would still be interested in.”
This new album ‘Strength In Numbers’ adequately reflects on the emotional turmoil during that time. It's very dark in places and at other times it shines so brightly and radiates such positivity that you could think two different bands were at work. Phil reckons: “We’ve been in a pretty dark place for the last couple of years. Our confidence was knocked with the second album not doing so well, and I guess that’s where the dark elements come from. But at the same time I think it’s uplifting as well.”
Moving on to the live side of things, all’s looking as bright as always for The Music. The band recently played their biggest gig in Leeds, in the city’s very own Town Hall, which was certainly a homecoming highlight for the Northern lads. They state that “everything was right about that gig. The fans were well up for it and that made the band feel tighter and better than ever before.” Stuart chips in that he reckons The Music are hitting their stride at the moment. Their confidence on stage easily reflects on their progression from teenage guitar trance band to more mature songwriters. Drummer Phil mentions that their songwriting “is much more focused these days, [we] are still jamming like in the early days, but singer Rob and guitarist Adam now take the time to sit down and formulate their ideas along with their chords”. He then summarises that “it is very helpful for Rob to have someone who sits down with him and helps him string together his thoughts.” This new-found maturity and close inter-band bond certainly reflects on the way they talk about album stand-out tracks like ‘Drugs’.
Bassist Stuart elaborates that “it’s about the hypocrisy of society towards drugs. Addiction should be treated as a disease and contemporary society brands prescription drugs as acceptable and demonises everything else, even though both forms are equally dangerous.” This in-depth reflection of society’s ills stands exemplary for The Music’s new level of songwriting, which portrays them as grown-up men rather than sloppy, baggy jeans obsessed, neo hippies. Another new song ‘No Weapon Sharper Than Will.’
It’s not all grim talk with the lads though, as we move on to chat about the label troubles they experienced in the past years. Both boys seem completely unfazed by their ill luck in terms of record companies and assure Gigwise “that they always knew they were gonna make it.”
“Becoming the biggest band in the world” is one of their dreams and with their loyal fan army all over the world, they might as well make it come true. Bassist Stuart ponders that their fans stay true to them because The Music “are not a trendy band” and thus don’t attract fickle trend followers. He then goes on to say that “our fans have always been with us and they choose music over product and image any time.”
Ultimately, choosing The Music is the right thing to do. Go and check out their new album, which is in stores now!
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