BlFFY CLYRO
After years of causing a quiet storm in the underground Biffy Clyro have finally made the album which will bring them to the attention of the masses. Mark Robertson meets them in Copenhagen for a day of rock mania, rollerooasters and quiet reflection
I seemed like a good idea at the time. The Golden Tower is a tall structure not unlike a stunted Big Ben with a row of seats strung around it. It looks like a lot less of a drop than you think even when you’re stranded several hundred feet up. legs dangling, mouth dry, gazing out over the flat expanses of Denmark’s capital city. It almost seems fun. Then, just when you’re getting to appreciate the vista, you are dropped several hundred feet. For half a second you're completely weightless, a guinea pig in some oversized physics experiment. Moments ago the three members of Biffy Clyro were joking. laughing and egging each other on over who could handle such a trip. Now they are being mocked openly by a group of Danish teens waiting next in the queue who take great delight in highlighting their collected ashen complexions.
The Danes are smart people. embracing progress for the greater good. This is manifested not only in the huge number of wind turbines that line the edges of the ()resund Straights which cut through Copenhagen but because they built a theme park in the middle of their city. Tivoli Gardens is part Alton Towers. part Chelsea Flower Show, with a bandstand. aquarium and restaurant thrown in. If Edinburgh Castle had a year-round fun fair up on the hill. there would be a lot more satisfied customers.
Biffy Clyro have just arrived in Copenhagen from Glasgow after appearing at the Scottish leg of the Give It A Name Festival where they shared the bill (somewhat mismatched) with the great and not so good of American emo (American bands: never happy. Even the rich ones, confides a member of the Biffy crew later).
It is an indication of the kind of people they are that they choose to spend an aftemoon goading a joumalist onto rollercoasters rather than sleep off hangovers in their bus. The Golden Tower (or
the last stops before the band -- James Johnston. along with drummer/vocalist and twin brother Ben Johnston and guitarist/vocalist Simon Neil reconvene for their latest performance as tour guests to Bloc Party who are somewhat immodestly steamrollering mainland liurope with their new album.
While Bloc Party‘s time in the sun is very much now. you get the feeling that Biff)‘ (‘lyro's might just be coming up. Some records are important. some records are ahead of their time. some spawn a million imitators. but the best ones are just great. Puzzle. Biffy (‘lyro‘s fourth album. is more than great. it is truly special. It is the most coherent. accomplished record the trio have made. after years of being perceived as a little too tricksy for mass consumption. lndeed. single Living is a Problem Because Iz'i'r'ri'I/Img Dies
predicted to go top 20 in the UK at the time of
80ng ‘0 PMS- efl to right: Si . As (Jordon Moakes of Bloc Party and head .and Ben Johns Biffy cheerleader emphatically puts it: "They're ‘
Golden Shower as bassist James Johnston christens it given the fear that he could do himself a urinary mischief mid—ride) is among
16 THE LIST 24 May—7 Jun 2007