Matters

The year was 1998, Oremi had just been released and I got the opportunity to talk to its maker. What a wonderful woman and equally brilliant, trail-blazing musician. 

The Chemical Brothers make music that’s not been made yet. Whether they were working with Mercury Rev or Mazzy Star, they had an ear for what works.

Remixing wise, they’re legendary, only because they have a lot of ideas. ’94. ’95 was a great way of getting their music out there. As they became a band, they focused on themselves, for no less than 14 months. They wanted their own voice and Surrender was it.

Surrender needed explaining and Tom was happy to unpack it, here.

Moby in interview with me, 6 July 2021, talking through his journey in music and more especially his lush retelling of his greatest hits, orchestrally.

Described as the album that brought Mercury Rev back from the edge by guitarist Sean "Grasshopper" Mackowiak, 1998’s Deserter’s Dreams went on to become one of the last millennium’s more critical listens. Fast forward 23-years and the album’s subject matter could not be more relevant given our collective current reality.

I chatted to the band’s Adam Snyder to unpack the backstory and explore their reverential indie-fringe appeal.

In 1997 Jon Bon Jovi was in a good place, but had something to say as a solo voice was ready to deliver his second chapter.   

New beginnings, fine collaborations and serendipity, AKA Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) producing, this is Jon's story of that time. USA meets UK, Jon knew how to make records and Dave knew how to experiment, together they were strong.

Finding the sandcastle inside of yourself. Spontaneity is key, Yello’s Dieter Meier spoke to me about his and Boris’ journey in music – not as pioneers, but as authentic artists making music that matters, circa 2 May 1997.

Influenced by the sounds of nature, diesel engines and the music Boris heard, it’s a conglomerate of the planet’s sounds.

"We are who we are." Yello never tried to fit a format.

Frontman Huey Morgan in the room, dropping the dirt on what made 100% Colombian, great!

Wilco multi-instrumentalist, John Stirratt in May 2007 spoke frankly and openly about the Chicago-based band’s journey to Blue Sky Blue’s release.   

Six albums in and still riding on the coattails of 2001’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and 2004’s A Ghost is Born, listen to an interview that sheds light on a journey filled with being overly self-aware, lacking objectivity and the joy of being in a band that could have happily coexisted alongside Pink Floyd, Dylan or Jonathan Richmond.

Staying true to themselves, Soft Cell returned in 2002 with the group’s fourth studio album, some 18 years after their last, 1984’s The Last Night in Sodom. Cruelty Without Beauty was their triumphant return, and I had the privilege of interviewing one half of the duo, Dave Ball.

Another of my legacy interviews, this one being of equal age as Soft Cell’s hiatus was, all dusted off and resuscitated for those curious to hear their journey in music whose contribution fundamentally influenced and shaped pop music made in the 80s, 90s and nulls.

#daftpunk #chemicalbrothers #tainedlove #crueltywithoutbeauty #thelastnightinsodom #

Tim, Jules and Ben, Up Close and personal, circa May 2021.