|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Utayo Furukuni: Firstly, where does the band's name come from? Well, it's quite British,
isn't it?
|
|
|
|
|
Yan: The name refers to the British Naval Force and the British Empire. Like
George Orwell we are very anti-Colonialism. We can still see the effects
of the British Empire all over the world. It's a way of putting our hands
in the air and saying "We are not like that, we wish this never happened".
We know our country has had a tainted past.
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm deeply moved by your debut album The Decline of British Sea Power. You artistically created beautiful, emotional and intense music with
great guitar sounds! I play it on again and again and always can find something
new, pure and emotional from your music. Could you tell me the concept/ideas
of the album?
|
|
|
In our minds we wanted to create something similar to a J.W.Turner painting.
He made very dramatic, almost hyper real paintings at a time that most
people painting scenes which may look like a photograph. He wanted his
paintings to have the feeling of actually being in the midst of a storm.
We enjoy the emotions that we have been born with. We enjoy melancholy
and sadness, to be intense, and happiness. Being comfortable and happy
all the time has none of the glamour of a good fight against the things
you despise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The phrase on the album cover:
"We ourselves may be loved only for a brief time... Even so, that will suffice...
There is a land for the living and there is a land for the dead"
where does it come from? That is really impressive and meaningful. Is that
a quotation or your own message to listeners?
|
|
|
It is an adaptation of a quote from the front of a book. We believe there
is a land for the dead. We live on like ghosts in books, on gravestones,
in music, and in chemicals.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Have you got any particular theme when you write lyrics?
|
|
|
We sing about landscape and memory.
|
|
|
How about tunes? When do tunes come in to your mind?
|
|
|
Tunes can appear at any time. Whilst out walking in the country side or
on the way to the shops. Sometimes whilst washing the dishes or swimming
in the sea.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What do you focus on most in the process of recording this time? What is
your recording work environment like?
|
|
|
We recorded the Album near a huge grave yard and also by a large canal.
The idea of time really gets stuck in your head. On one side you have the
bones of people who died years ago, and on the other side you have the
water that has kept on flowing for centuries through different worlds.
|
|
|
Could you explain each songs of the album in a few words?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Men Together Today - The Antidote to a football crowd chant.
|
|
|
Apologies To Insect Life - Fyodor Dostoevsky was correct on most things but disrespected insects.
|
|
|
Favours In The Beetroot Fields - Field Marshal Montgomery taking care of his troops sexual desire.
|
|
|
Something Wicked - Emblems of Nature used for unnatural purposes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remember Me - Where is memory stored? In chemicals, books...
|
|
|
Fear Of Drowning - Fear of the right wingers, fear of suffocating in a sea of information.
|
|
|
The Lonely - A song about a friend Geoff Goddard. The man who wrote Telstar and Johnny
Remember me.
|
|
|
Carrion - An Ingmar Bergmann film put to music.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blackout - Hyperventilating into the world of the dead.
|
|
|
Lately - An Epic story of a soldier's thoughts and sights in world war 2.
|
|
|
A Wooden Horse - The musical version of the Trojan Horse.
|
|
|
Could you reveal your influences as a musician? Some of the critics say
that you and Joy Division/The Smiths/The Fall /Echo & The Bunnymen
have something in common. What do you think of that?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
They can say what they like. We like Joe Meek, John Betjeman, The Shaggs,
The Silver Jews, Pavement, Roy Orbison. many more and all of the above.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I first saw British Sea Power when you supported The Flaming Lips in January.
The opening song "Heavenly Waters" was absolutely beautiful that I hold my breath for a while... How
did the amazing song develop from the start?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hamilton was playing it round at Woody and Nobles flat on a newly purchased
1950's organ. Noble had bought an Ebow and they played together and it
sounded lovely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Why did you project a British film called "A Matter of Life and Death" on the back screen before and while playing "Heavenly Waters" on stage?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I wanted the audience to have something special to do before we came on.
It is a great film set between heaven and earth, and very dramatic. We
love David Nivens voice and moustache, and June is a lovely girl too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In my personal opinion, I thought "Heavenly Waters" might be put in the new album but it wasn't. Instead you put this
song on the new single "Carrion", why was that?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We hadn't recorded the song by then! It is featured on the American version
though, and maybe the Japanese one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You sing about Scapa Flow and Rotherhithe in "Carrion". What is Scapa Flow? Is that a place in London?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scapa Flow is found at the most northern point of mainland Scotland. Many
warships were destroyed there during the World Wars. The sea is warmer
there as the sea is brought up from west Africa. Its a good spot to go
scuba diving and bird watching.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The 7-inch vinyl version of "Carrion" comes in a limited edition of 1,264 - with each sleeve hand -inscribed
with the name of a feature from the British coastline. It's really unique
and what kind of intention did you have ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We wanted to momentarily focus peoples attention to all the lovely coastal
areas around Britain and we hope people will visit them. We also wanted
people to think of memories they have had in the past at the seaside.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm so impressed by your costume and props on stage. It's really theatrical.
Is that a part of the expression of your music concept?
|
|
|
Everything we do is an extension of ourselves. We literally will wear our
hearts on our sleeves.
|
|
|
I heard that you have been touring around the British islands so far. What
do you get from doing this rather peculiar tour?
|
|
|
We got to see a cuckoo and a Manx shearwater. These are birds we had never
seen before.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What kind of book/film can represent British Sea Power most? Can you name
it?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Combination of George Orwell, Jaroslav Hasek and Bill Odie.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What are your plans from now on? Oh! I hope that British Sea Power will
come to Japan soon!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We should be in Japan in December. Germany and Holland in September UK
and America in October Writing more songs and having a good look at this
big world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
