‘WE'RE JUST FOUR GUYS IN A BAND, TRYING TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS’
To die for
Doug Johnstone discovers a musical marriage consummated among the CD racks marked ‘T’. DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE are primed for your love.
f you weren‘t already sold on Death (‘ab For (‘utie
then the fact that they formed through a mutual love
of Teenage Fanclub should seal the matter. The four-piece band started back in the mid-90s at college in the States when singer guitarist Ben (iibbard met multi-instrumcntalist and producer (‘hris Walla. and it was the jangly genius of Bellshill‘s finest that did it.
‘Ben was dating my best friend from high school. and she told me I should meet him.‘ says Walla. ‘So we went to see his band. and he was wearing his Teenage l‘anclub T—shirt. the spray paint logo one. It was that night he and I both decided we were made for one another. We‘re both kind of obsessed with Teenage lianclub: they‘re a hinge for the band.‘
A fine hinge to have. These days. DCFC have eclipsed the success of their musical heroes. as the band's profile has shot through the roof over the last three years in extraordinary fashion. In 2003. when they released their superb fourth album. 'I’runsullunticism. the band were a respected but relatively unknown indie outfit. btit these days the talk around the band is of sales kicking on for seven figures and Grammy nominations. While some of this success is undoubtedly down to hard graft on the part of the hand. it‘s impossible to ignore The ()C‘ effect. Y‘see. the band featured heavily in the show (being indie nerd Seth‘s favourite band) and even appeared and played a couple of tunes in one episode.
‘lt‘s a mixed blessing.‘ admits Walla. ‘I suppose in some corners of the world we will forever just be known as the band from The ()C. but you know. by the time The ()C picked up on us Trrmsatlanrir'r'sm had sold
almost 2()().()(l() records. A lot of people have come to us by way of The ()(I that's for certain. but I think it's important to remind people that we‘ve been a band for eight years now.‘
Another big factor in the band‘s success is that their most recent album. the linely-honed indie dreamscapes of Plum. was their first on a major label. While some bands find the transition from indie label to major problematic. it couldn‘t have gone smoother for l)(‘l5(‘.
‘When we signed the contract they said we were going to have a lot of freedom. but I figured there must‘ve been some fine print somewhere that would have people in our hair all the time. but it really wasn‘t the case.’ says Walla. ‘Actually. in terms of day-to-day involvement with the record. I think we got less input than we did from our old indie label. They really left tis alone and let us do our thing.‘
The result speaks for itself. Plum is a consummate slice of indie rock which manages somehow to sound both hugely commercial yet intelligent. heartfelt and edgy at the same time in a way that. say. ('oldplay. can only dream of. Much of this is down to the balance achieved between (iibbard's intuitive songwriting and
Walla‘s inventive production. (‘hortises burst out of ambient noise. tension builds within songs and an air of
plaintive melancholy draws the listener in to a record that will undoubtedly stand the test of time.
‘We‘re jUst four guys in a band. trying to make all the right decisions.‘ says Walla slightly disingenuously. But then. they haven‘t made a wrong one yet.
Barrowland, Glasgow, Sat 4 Mar.
Fraser Fifield Trio lhe saxophonist and piper (i()liil)lllf?t2 both instruments and influences from folk and jazz in original fashion in his excellent trio Willi gtiitarist Graeme Stephen and drummer Stu Ritchie. To/boot/i, Stirling, Fri 3 Mar. (Ja/Xl
Death Cab for Cutie See preView, left. Barrow/and, Glasgow. Sat 4 Mar. (Rock 8 DOD)
Wolfmother Australia has given us many great things: kangaroos. Nick Cave. soap operas. Wolfmother — three black-hearted demon sludge rock purveyors. See 5 Reasons. page 70. King Tut's. Glasgow. Sat 4 Mar. (Rock 8 Pop)
Yasmin Levy lsrali Singer Levy launches Vox Femina. a season of female Singers from around the globe. from Janice Ian and Karen Matheson to Jane Siberry and Corrine Bailey Rae. Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 5) Mar. (Rock 8 pop)
My Latest Novel As iiiitso genre-hopping, over-dramatic indie kids go. these ones are the toppermost. New album Wolves is not a homage to Eddie lzzard's upbringing but is a stroll through the indie backwoods. See prevrew. page 63; reView, page 64. Mono. Glasgow, Sun 5 Mar; Venue, Edinburgh, Tue 7 Mar. (Rock 8 pop)
Tommy Smith Group Rare outing for the saxophonist in his home town, leading his fiery quartet in a set of original and exciting leSlC. The Lot. Edinburgh, Wed 8 Mar. (Jazzi.
Cara Dillon CarVing a niche for herself in the Irish muSic scene and successfully traversing the traditional and contemporary genres. Dillon is a peerless singer With a growmg cache of songs that endure. See preview, page 62. Lrgurd Room. Edinburgh, Sat 77 Mar; Arches. Glasgow, Sun 72 Mar. (Folk)
l/a’ 2’3", THE LIST 61