Bang 2003 - The Cardigans/Mclusky
The Cardigans. . .This album strikes me as very sad, I say. There’s a moment of silence (there’s a difference between those and pauses).
“Maybe . . .” grumps guitarist-songwriter Peter Svensson at last.
“At least it’s not angry, like ‘Gran Turismo’,” says Nina, perhaps a little defensive. “It wasn’t angry, but it was dark and hopeless. This one is dark and hopeful. We tried to make it a bit sunny, and I think we managed, but maybe we’re a bit more attracted to melancholy.”
Magnus: “Some of the early stuff [was] a bit quirky, funny in a way. This time it’s more stripped-down, Nina’s vocals don’t have any gadgets. Maybe that’s why it sounds less humorous, less fun.”
Magnus, I’ve been reading your recording diary (at www.thecardigans.com). It’s great. “It’s stupid,” he smiles, inaccurately. I think more bands should do it. Anyway, at one point you relate how you all sat and listened to all your work. “It all started up with ‘Emmerdale’ where we all had some good laughs . . . Then came ‘Life’, which we laughed even more at.” Do you dismiss your early work?
“I’m quite impressed with it,” says Peter, from his teenage-telly-watching slump-spot on the sofa. “I wouldn’t know how to do it today. The first album is almost ten years ago, we were really young. So maybe it's difficult to relate to. . .”
* * *
Mclusky’s Guide to Cardiff
Matt Harding (native Cardiff boy) and Andy Falkous (adoptive, from Newcastle) of cerebral punk fucks Mclusky discuss where to find hot women and warm sandwiches in the constantly evolving Welsh capital.
SANDWICHES
Andy: “La Mina on Albany Road. Great secret recipe Mina sandwich. There comes a time in a man’s life when he’s gotta upgrade from Gregg’s. It’s the pissed generous uncle of Greek baguette shops on that side of that road. It’s very friendly. The queue can vary. The staff aren’t too tall. One thing though, if you can put this in the article – this happens in a lot of sandwich places. They put the napkin in with the sandwich, so you pull out the sandwich and the napkin’s all covered in sauce. What fucking good is that?” (Further discourse on German and American sandwiches, petrol station sandwiches, likelihood of Bang readers being catering experts or indeed university professors)
VENUES
Andy: “Clwb Ifor Bach. Did you once have to prove you could speak Welsh to get in? There was a scheme where you had to declare at least that you were attempting to learn the Welsh language in order to get membership. They don’t do that anymore. As long as you miss the acid jazz nights the Welsh Club is fabulous. It’s quite cool for a club, which is a good thing as far as I’m concerned, you don’t want to be in this big hot cauldron of a place.”
Matt: “I don’t think I’ve ever pulled in the Welsh Club, so I avoid it unless we play there.”
Andy: “A simple agenda, simply expressed.”
PUBS
Matt: “I hate pubs. I’ve never pulled in the pub.”
Andy: “A wide, wide agenda.”
Matt: “I don’t like pubs cos I don’t drink. I don’t drink cos I don’t like pubs. That’s how I feel about it.”
Andy: “The Rummer Tavern would be more of a favourite if it was closer, but it’s alright. It’s next door to Subway’s, but their sandwiches can be a little tasteless. Rummer’s good, you walk in there, you don’t feel intimidated by satin, you don’t feel like some Australian’s going to come and challenge you to an arm wrestle. You don’t get trouble in there, or people dissing sandwiches. It’s a bit like a tunnel, but without the bad bits of a tunnel. It’s also where Murry The Hump split up. It’s the oldest pub selling records in the world. It was originally designed by King John II. And they do bottles of red wine for six quid.”
Matt: “I’d like to thank the Philharmonic. Thanks to the Philly for good times, 1996 to 1998, and thanks to the guys from the STD clinic for all the good treatment, 1996 to 1998.”
Andy: “Note to record company – sex sells.”
* * *
posted by lethalbuzzle @ 1:07 PM
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