“Holding on's not easy / But that's another story"
we may have mentioned bulldozer crash on these pages before - stephen maughan (creator of this almighty pop!) and marc elston's early 90s pop combo who shimmered brightly for sunday records of illinois with singles from "sarah said" to the mini-lp "imperfection": the latter, as its title suggests, though not without flaws, was a very human, quietly rewarding and dramatically undervalued creation. now, it's 2 for the price of 1: while stephen and new co-conspirator geoff suggett have resurfaced as kosmonaut with a hook-filled, spacey single on firestation tower and apparently one to come on matinée, marc has set sail in the liberty ship, a bold and beautiful aggregation of indie sensibilities with elements of alt country, west coast americana, lush sixties velvet(s), even (whisper it softly) folk stylings. songs like "i guess you didn't see her" (first previewed on the firestation tower compilation "i tried a thousand times a thousand times to change your mind") and "don't react", as we may have noted, are pretty instant: musically there's nothing hidden, just in-yer-face harmonies. right about now, things are starting to happen for the liberty ship: "i guess" being the new 7" on matinée, while in a few weeks their old friend albert at sunday will be putting out a six-tracker called, according to the label site, "small lives". as is our wont, we made a nuisance of ourselves and marc duly obliged to answer our garbled, but well-meaning, enquiries. starting with the most dully prosaic of all.
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why the name ?
Real liberty ships were famous for splitting up mid-voyage. On a more earnest level a few years ago I gave myself permission to write melodic, simple and guitar based songs again (twee ? fuck off!) The Liberty Ship is a vehicle for creative honesty... so there!
when you started writing songs for the 'ship, was it always your intention to get a full band together, or were you thinking purely in terms of a solo / studio project ?
I always wanted to get a full band together but I thought I was doomed to bedroom noodlings. The band fell together with uncanny ease.
so you're now a fully fledged 3 - or even 4 - piece ?
We are a four piece now. Tim [bass] is an old friend, Rachel [guitar] we got through an ad in a music shop (a risky strategy that paid off!) Steve [drums] works with Rachel. Steve is that rare thing, a drummer into songs rather than drumming!
i think it's fair to say that the new songs have a very different character to bulldozer crash - there are many more influences than just the traditional "indie" sound, and some of your recent demos are very rustic - a world away from the feedback of "changing"... is this just the way your songwriting has developed, or did you consciously want to move away from those recordings ?
I wasn’t consciously trying to get away from the Bulldozer sound (if you glue the Ship and Stephen’s new band Kosmonaut together [maximum soundclash!! excited editor] I guess you would get the v. 2002 Bulldozer Crash). My influences in B. Crash were typical of anyone who spent the late 80’s and early 90’s in various Indie Discos. My tastes are wider now (curiosity, more money and re-issue CDs). Some things I listen to now would get me shot by the Indie Taste Police…but endear me to my Dad!
how did the slot on the firestation tower comp come about ?
It is fair to say I was a bit…erm …out of the loop when it came to small labels. My brother Graeme [Love Parade, Eva Luna, Slipslide] gave me a list of labels to send demos to. Firestation made positive noises. I’d love to play one of their club nights if they’d have us. [memo to FST: you know what to do].
are you a big admirer of gene clark then ? [the b-side of the new single is a fine rendition of clark's "she don't care about time"]:
Gene Clark is great, under-rated, especially by the other Byrds.
and other favourite songwriters of now and yesteryear ?
There are loads of writers I admire. Lennon and McCartney - obviously, Andy Partridge - witty and original, Edwyn Collins - wordplay and Michael Head - simplicity and melody.
tell us about the songs on the forthcoming mini-lp, which reunites you with sunday records.
Sunday took an interest early on. Cabin Fever is on the mini LP as it is too long to cut as a 45, it is just about my favourite song as it achieves the kind of sound I have been chasing since I started. The other songs were recorded before Steve joined so there are some which we probably will never play live. I thought it would be cool to give Sunday a new version of What Happens Now… a coming full circle type thang. On an Indie trivia tip, Albert, the Sunday supremo sends THE shortest e-mails!
what other bands should we be looking out for in the east midlands at the moment ?
Difficult this. Things have reversed since the 80’s, it is easier to record and get music out than it is to get a gig in Nottingham (witness our pitiful gig tally). Johnny Domino keep coming up trumps, I’m an unashamed fan. Derby’s Frankie Machine sound great as long as you’re not looking for a good laugh. Apart from that it’s the usual grim procession of Nu-metal and tribute bands.
what if you're looking for a romantic meal ?
Bees Make Honey on Alfreton Road.
... a big night out with the, um, "crew" ?
I went for a so-called lads' night out last Friday, my advice to anyone visiting Nottingham is to take the civilising influence of female companions as without them you don't stand a cat in hell's chance of gaining entry into Nottingham's premier night spots.
... a sunny sunday stroll ?
I don't usually get much further than Spar for the newspaper. The Embankment by the lazy River Trent.
and to finish the ilwttisott questionnaire, we're focusing on alcoholic afternoons, celluloid and a leading champion of both... what are your favourite tipples, all-time movies and (naturally) smiths songs ?
Marc: Marston's pedigree bitter, Brighton Rock [a particularly brilliant choice, if we may say so], and "Unloveable" - today!
Tim: Jamesons, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, "There is a light..."
Rachel: Gin, Rita Sue and Bob too, "What she said".
Steve: Rolling Rock, Mad Max, "This Charming Man".
before you go, any world cup predictions ?
No predictions, potentially painful, all I have to say is... Danny Mills - why ?
Real liberty ships were famous for splitting up mid-voyage. On a more earnest level a few years ago I gave myself permission to write melodic, simple and guitar based songs again (twee ? fuck off!) The Liberty Ship is a vehicle for creative honesty... so there!
when you started writing songs for the 'ship, was it always your intention to get a full band together, or were you thinking purely in terms of a solo / studio project ?
I always wanted to get a full band together but I thought I was doomed to bedroom noodlings. The band fell together with uncanny ease.
so you're now a fully fledged 3 - or even 4 - piece ?
We are a four piece now. Tim [bass] is an old friend, Rachel [guitar] we got through an ad in a music shop (a risky strategy that paid off!) Steve [drums] works with Rachel. Steve is that rare thing, a drummer into songs rather than drumming!
i think it's fair to say that the new songs have a very different character to bulldozer crash - there are many more influences than just the traditional "indie" sound, and some of your recent demos are very rustic - a world away from the feedback of "changing"... is this just the way your songwriting has developed, or did you consciously want to move away from those recordings ?
I wasn’t consciously trying to get away from the Bulldozer sound (if you glue the Ship and Stephen’s new band Kosmonaut together [maximum soundclash!! excited editor] I guess you would get the v. 2002 Bulldozer Crash). My influences in B. Crash were typical of anyone who spent the late 80’s and early 90’s in various Indie Discos. My tastes are wider now (curiosity, more money and re-issue CDs). Some things I listen to now would get me shot by the Indie Taste Police…but endear me to my Dad!
how did the slot on the firestation tower comp come about ?
It is fair to say I was a bit…erm …out of the loop when it came to small labels. My brother Graeme [Love Parade, Eva Luna, Slipslide] gave me a list of labels to send demos to. Firestation made positive noises. I’d love to play one of their club nights if they’d have us. [memo to FST: you know what to do].
are you a big admirer of gene clark then ? [the b-side of the new single is a fine rendition of clark's "she don't care about time"]:
Gene Clark is great, under-rated, especially by the other Byrds.
and other favourite songwriters of now and yesteryear ?
There are loads of writers I admire. Lennon and McCartney - obviously, Andy Partridge - witty and original, Edwyn Collins - wordplay and Michael Head - simplicity and melody.
tell us about the songs on the forthcoming mini-lp, which reunites you with sunday records.
Sunday took an interest early on. Cabin Fever is on the mini LP as it is too long to cut as a 45, it is just about my favourite song as it achieves the kind of sound I have been chasing since I started. The other songs were recorded before Steve joined so there are some which we probably will never play live. I thought it would be cool to give Sunday a new version of What Happens Now… a coming full circle type thang. On an Indie trivia tip, Albert, the Sunday supremo sends THE shortest e-mails!
what other bands should we be looking out for in the east midlands at the moment ?
Difficult this. Things have reversed since the 80’s, it is easier to record and get music out than it is to get a gig in Nottingham (witness our pitiful gig tally). Johnny Domino keep coming up trumps, I’m an unashamed fan. Derby’s Frankie Machine sound great as long as you’re not looking for a good laugh. Apart from that it’s the usual grim procession of Nu-metal and tribute bands.
what if you're looking for a romantic meal ?
Bees Make Honey on Alfreton Road.
... a big night out with the, um, "crew" ?
I went for a so-called lads' night out last Friday, my advice to anyone visiting Nottingham is to take the civilising influence of female companions as without them you don't stand a cat in hell's chance of gaining entry into Nottingham's premier night spots.
... a sunny sunday stroll ?
I don't usually get much further than Spar for the newspaper. The Embankment by the lazy River Trent.
and to finish the ilwttisott questionnaire, we're focusing on alcoholic afternoons, celluloid and a leading champion of both... what are your favourite tipples, all-time movies and (naturally) smiths songs ?
Marc: Marston's pedigree bitter, Brighton Rock [a particularly brilliant choice, if we may say so], and "Unloveable" - today!
Tim: Jamesons, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, "There is a light..."
Rachel: Gin, Rita Sue and Bob too, "What she said".
Steve: Rolling Rock, Mad Max, "This Charming Man".
before you go, any world cup predictions ?
No predictions, potentially painful, all I have to say is... Danny Mills - why ?
* * * * *
Why indeed. We should point out that Marc's comment on Danny Mills was made prior to the England v Sweden game, which makes him (Marc, not Mr Mills) one of the more prescient pop stars on the block... Anyway, rather than dwell on it, we suggest you check out these guys - the band whose tastes range from everything from Brighton Rock to Rolling Rock... ILWTTISOTT
Why indeed. We should point out that Marc's comment on Danny Mills was made prior to the England v Sweden game, which makes him (Marc, not Mr Mills) one of the more prescient pop stars on the block... Anyway, rather than dwell on it, we suggest you check out these guys - the band whose tastes range from everything from Brighton Rock to Rolling Rock... ILWTTISOTT
