Having carved a formidable live reputation since emerging on the Sydney scene in 2006 and releasing their imposing Ducats EP a short time after forming, the band have finally put out their self-titled album. YourGigs cuts to the chase with drummer Benjamin James.
yourGigs (yG): What does it feel like to finally have the album come out? What do you think it will do for the band to now actually have it out there?
Benjamin James (BJ): The whole idea of being "content and happy" when the album was finally released went to hell May 30 [the release date]. All I want to do now is write another one. It's a goddamn joke, I tell you! I didn't even really celebrate! I poured myself a wine and wrote some lyrics. I was completely disenchanted, I felt cheated and dirty ... Anyway, as far the album being out and about, on the town and getting thrown out of the Sly Fox for dancing in the bar, I imagine all it will do for the band is get us into a lot of trouble.
yG: Does having an actual product to present and the additional attention that has come along with it - reviews, airplay, interviews, etc - change any of the ambitions you had or have for the band?
BJ: Before the album, the ambition was to write a song better than the last one. I guess it's changed now to "write an album better than the last one".
yG: Jimi Goodwin of Doves once said, "Your first album's meant to be the most fantastic thing you do." Do you agree with these sentiments and did you have a similar attitude towards making your debut album?
BJ: Damn Jimi, that's a lot to ask of yourself. We're just getting started here, so no, I don't agree with the pressure Mr Goodwin put on himself (poor chap). Pressure is for business men. Maybe when we get a couple of albums in and figure out what our idea of "fantastic" is, we can batten down, stop having fun and strive to make an album that will be to ourselves what the wheel was to mankind. But I can't see us taking shit that seriously just yet.
yG: Did you go into the recording with any particular aims and ideals for the album, and how did the finished product resemble those?
BJ: We didn't want to stray too far from our live sound; at the moment we are first and foremost a band to be seen live. As much as we enjoy tinkering around in the studio, these songs are live songs.
Maybe in the future we'll be more comfortable with doing a "this is the record/this is us live" type of deal. Say like TV on the Radio or something. I saw those guys and their live set is completely different to the record, but both their ability in the studio and live is level. So neither side of their music, or their listeners, suffer - mucho respecto.
So yes, this time round just a bit of extra flavour in the studio. Though next time should be interesting once people get an idea of where we are coming from, from this debut.
yG: You recorded your Ducats EP right when you started out with very new songs - how do you think you have moved on musically since then and also did the experience of recording that help with making the album?
BJ: We recorded that EP in six hours in a "live" situation. I was blown away that we were actually recording, let alone taking notes. I can honestly say I took nothing from those recordings aside from a few good tracks and a hangover.
Though once we finished the EP and started writing new songs, there was this general knowledge in the band that every song from now on was going on the album, which makes you tighten up pretty fast.
yG: What was Tim Carr (Studio 301 and Soviet Records main man) like to record with and what did he bring out of the band?
BJ: Recording with Tim brought confidence out of the band. Put the three of us on a stage or in a writing situation and we'll be just fine. Doing anything for the first time takes some getting used to, but being in the studio with a mate/producer cuts this whole process out basically straight away.
Also Mr Carr is one of the most individual people I've ever met, which really does coincide with the type of album we were making, and Tim knew what we wanted to do. All ideas were to be thrown on the table and tested. We had some literally insane ideas; Tim also. He did 'blank' us the odd couple of times though.
yG: Was your live performance intensity something that was challenging to capture on tape?
BJ: Due to the time changes we find it easier to lay tracks down live, no click or anything. Just get in a room and lay it down as tight as a frog's butthole. The live element is a lot easier to catch this way also. I mean, sitting in a room by yourself sounds pretty freaking boring anyway right? The songs' energy seemed to bounce to tape quite easily I think. These are not exactly lacklustre tracks.
Talons' self-titled album is available now through Rice is Nice. Catch Talons on tour with Regular John from June 18.
Andy Ryan
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