MUSIC
preview
Cowboy punkies
They’re a little bit country, they're a little bit rock 'n’ roll and they’re, uh, a little bit krautrock. They're
SCOtt 4. Words: Sarah Dempster
Skyscraping stetsons. Gritty-eyed stares. Frowns the size of Arkansas and arms l'olded like Beelzebub‘s own henchmen. You can tell a lot abotit where a band are at from their press shots. And with cowboy philanthropists Scott 4. that place is slightly west of Mystery/ville . . .
‘What we're trying to do is get away from recognisable song structures and familiar music routes.‘ explains gai'rulotis guitarist John Moody. ‘We prefer to keep things a bit mysterious. We‘re always trying new things and so sometimes it doesn‘t work. But when it does. when it all comes together and we‘re all confident with each other's input. it‘s very satist‘ying.‘
Formed three years ago. the London-based trio haye picked tip glowing accolades l‘or their rolling brand of ptinkil‘ied country and screwball hip hop. And. with their lorthcoming second album. the wildly eclectic qur/ts- I’m/wt LP. Scott 4's dial is tuned defiantly to Krautrock FM: a genre previously explored in their motorik classics ‘You Set The Scene‘ and debut single 'Deutsche LP Record‘. It's no wonder. then. that Germany has fallen hook. line and lederhosen tor the gang‘s grooved-up manifesto.
"The Germans have been pretty curious from the start. I think. Because we use their language in a l'CSDCClltll btit l‘airly playl'til way. they appreciate what we‘re doing. You tend to find that kids there enjoy music for what it is.‘ muses Moody. ‘ln London. you get people gripping the bar and gripping their chin and jtist checking otit everyone else‘s shoes. In Europe. though. the music scene seems to be more balanced. they appreciate things a lot more. They embrace artists that are trying to do something. they don't get their protractors out and work out their degree of cool. They’ve got taste.
'In tact. there's a massive dil‘l‘erence between touring England and the rest of the Continent. l'till stop.‘ continues a hepped-tip Moody. ‘I mean. the venues are nicer. the PA‘s actually sound good. the promoters smile and gi\e you l‘ood.‘
Following the release on Satellite ol‘ their first album. R(’('(H'(/(’(/ l/i Slult'. Scott 4‘s one album deal came to an end [and they jumped ship. landing t'irmly
38 THELIST 10-24 Jun 1999
'We bought one of those swingbeat compilation CDs with a picture of an oiled-up woman in a bikini on the cover. It was just too much.’ John Moody
Scott 4: eine kleine country musik
in the welcoming lap ol‘ V2.
‘V2 were the only record company who would let tis ptit out stuff on our Folk Archive label.‘ reveals the guitarist. So are these widescreen westerners planning to sign-up a herd ol~ eager young bucks in a Beastie Boys/Grand Royale-style cotip'.’
‘Well that was the plan: to have a little family of things that we liked and wanted to promote. But we simply haven‘t had time yet.’
Nevertheless. it's this open-minded. ‘everybody welcome’ attitude that has made Scott 4 such an intriguing proposition. Wearing their unpredictability like a sheriff‘s badge. their latest single. 'Catastrophe‘. epitomises their willingness to lasso together as many disparate genres as possible: be it hip hop. blues. pop or electronica. But is there any style that the band wouldn‘t touch with a branding slick'.’
‘Swing beat.‘ sighs Moody. tinhesitatingly. ‘We've
all got a bit of a problem with it. so we bought one of ,
those compilation (‘Ds with a picture iii an oiled-up woman in a bikini on the cover. We stuck with it for about an hour and then gaxe tip. It was just too much.‘
Scott 4 play Glasgow: King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Sat 19 Jun. The Works Project LP is released on Folk Archive/V2 on Mon 14 Jun.
Surface noise
news mongered, tittle tattled
THE LIST'S EVER vigilant spies have reported a sorry tale of bladder mayhem, rising rock stars and the M8. News, and we use the term loosely, has reached us of the after- show shenanigans that followed on from Suede's recent Glasgow showcase. Support act Annie Christian got happily wired into the devil's bath water and had a rare old knees-up with Brett and chums. Such was their enjoyment that they missed the last train home and Annie Christian had to stumble on to one of the late night buses back to Edinburgh.
Unfortunately, said bus wasn't equipped with a loo and the lads had to beg with the driver to make an unscheduled pit stop. After much fervent discussion, the driver pulled into a layby and let the band hotfoot it into the bushes. But the sighs of relief soon turned into howls of dismay as the bus driver pulled out of the layby and headed off down the M8 leaving Scotland's latest great rock hopes marooned in the night.
Our reporter thinks that the driver relented and went back for the band but she can’t be sure as she passed out.
OFF TO LOCH Fyne where Salsa Celtica recently spent a blissful weekend getting Latino on the locals and bloating themselves with gallons of crustaceans at the aptly named Loch Fyne Seafood Fair. As the sunday night wore on, salsa celt Toby Shippey fell into conversation with an American who had turned up. The American bought one of the band’s CDs, complimented Salsa Celtica's playing and told Toby that his own band, The Mavericks, had just played a gig in Glasgow.
Not recognising the band name, Toby enquired as to whether or not The Mavericks had been playing around a couple of the bars in Glasgow.
‘Well, not really,’ replied the bemused American. ’We just sold out the SECC.‘
’0h,’ said Shippey before sheepishly adding, 'Bang goes our support slot then.’ (Jonathan Trew)
For future reverence: The Mavericks