BIFFY CLYRO
‘YOU LEARN AS MUCH FROM THE BAD BANDS AROUND AS YOU DO THE GOOD ONES'
Bloc Patty’s backstage folding lkea bicycle.
Showered. dressed and hungry. we set off in search of sustenance. only to end up enjoying an accidental extended gad about (‘openhagen‘s back streets. unable to locate an area ‘just round the corner“ packed with places to eat. Some time later. we stumble upon an Italian trattoria. Here. the band finally find time to reflect on the making of their album.
'There‘s a feeling from some corners that things are falling into place on this record.‘ Ben explains. ‘Which is great but the only pressure we feel is from ourselves. The pressure we put ourselves under to make it.‘
‘You learn as much from the bad mistakes you make and the bad bands around as you do from the good ones.’ adds James. ‘llow m)! to do it is as important as how to do it.’
The brothers share that connection that only twin siblings do. Ben is excitable and emphatic. while James is more reflective and analytical. digesting questions behind his spectacular mane of copper hair and heard. Simon Neil slots in perfectly between: his soft voice. piercing eyes and mischievous smile camouflaged behind his black whiskers. That‘s not to say he’s being evasive. the band are cheeringly honest about their past achivements and future ambitions. They have learned how to be confident without being cocky. They are genial hosts. unpretentious artists and fevered. insightful musicians.
The last decade has been eventful for them. A self-financed debut single was followed by a release on Stow (‘ollege‘s lilectric lloney label. the first after Belle and Sebastian‘s 'li’gcrmi/k. This led to a deal with Beggars Banquet. While their debut. 57. was a creditable post—i\’m'w'miml pop record they remained modestly underground in the post-grunge. nu metal wastelands. Singles
from their last two albums. 2002's The li'rtigo of
Bliss and 2004‘s Infinity/mid battled their way into the top 30 and there was some sense that they were building in increments.
‘\\'e might not have exploded but we‘ve had the chance to get gradually betterf James says. ‘Not enough bands are afforded the opportunity to develop like we have. We‘re eternally grateful to Beggars for that. I don‘t think we‘ve been ready to make a big. major label album until now anyway.‘
The band have steadily built a fanatical following over the years. aptly displayed at tonight‘s show when Danish teens are singing along to songs from an as-yet unreleased album.
‘We were asked what our ambitions would be for our next record and we realised they were different from our label‘s] says Simon.
They parted ways with Beggars Banquet but
went through protracted wrangles getting out of
their contract.
'In a way. having that time was good for us.’ explains James. ‘Normally we‘d go into the studio with a dozen or so songs to record. this time we had the opportunity to write and rewrite and ended up with about 4(l.‘
While that might be viewed as an upheaval. nothing could compare to what happened next: Simon Neil's mother died.
18 THE LIST '/4 May» /' Jim 2007'
The band were literally struck down and it is an understatement to say that Simon struggled.
While he‘s keen to avoid detailing the litany of
bad feeling he’s been through of late. suffice to say. copious drink. drugs — prescription and recreational — and depression have all snarled him in recent times. The product of exorcising such beasts from his system has been Puzzle. The death of lileanor Neil is at the broken heart of the album. Lyrically. the songs meditate heavily on his loss. The centrepiece is a moving tribute entitled ‘liolding Stars”. which sounds like someone really not wanting to say goodbye.
‘There are songs I‘m not sure we‘re going to be able to play live.‘ Simon admits. 'Not yet anyway. That's one of them.~
That‘s not to say this is a maudlin record. it is rightfully peppered with moments of fury and despair but also hope.
‘We‘ve been through a lot. But it‘s what has made this record what it is.‘ says Simon. ‘Survivingf
If there was ever a time when a band like Biffy (.‘lyro were equipped musically to become a more common concern it would be now. They hold the same emotive hooks that make l-'oo
Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age so appealing and there is a sense that they deserve it.
l’uzzlv is a complex. complicated album that is imbued with the redemptive spirit that all great rock music should have. Nirvana did it. the Pixies did it. Wee/er do it. Billy ('lyro do it too. They scare with hlusterous. unpredictable noise but kiss it better with melodies from their bittersweet pop heart.
It’s a little after l.3()am as The Li's! returns wearily to our modest digs after bidding the band a safe onwards trip to Sweden for the second of another ton of dates before they return for their own l'K headline shows. The hope is that when they next return to this fine city that they‘ll be the ones packing out the Vega.
(ireat music makes us feel good to be alive. Like being dropped off the edge of a huge metal tower with gravity as our only combatant. (ireat inusic is a genuine. undiluted thrill. Biffy (‘lyro‘s music reminds us why it‘s good to be alive.
Biffy Clyo play Potterrow, Edinburgh, Thu 31 May; Barrowland, Glasgow, Fri 1 Jun. Puzzle is out Mon 4 Jun on 14th Floor Records. See page 58 for our review.