Interesting Wallpaper: Interesting Wallpaper EP – review & interview

Interesting Wallpaper – Interesting Wallpaper EP (self-released)

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New Southampton band built around scene collective organiser and song writing veteran Pete Harvey. Indie guitar, shiny brass section and top-quality songs are hid behind a self-deprecating band name. Much more than a ‘local band for local people’ says Ged Babey, as he talks to Pete ‘Interesting’ Harvey about the debut EP.

The name came after an excruciating (for me anyway) solo show, it left me thinking – I wish I had a little combo with me, we could just be noodling away and people could ignore us or tune in, notice us, like interesting wallpaper. The best laid plans of me and mice eh? I’ve ended up with a great band, full of artists that can’t be ignored. I kept the name though’

Ever since I moved to Southampton in 1984 Pete Harvey has been a constant presence in the music scene (organising the Bevois Valley Peaceniks festivals and compilation tapes and the online equivalent the Sofa City Collective) and in bands playing locally.

In the 80’s it was his Housemartins style group Up Balloon Up.  Who probably only decided on that name so they could play the city’s annual (Hot Air) Balloon Festival.

His next band, Trip made Snub TV and the local news in the 90’s with their ‘Loaded’ style indie-dance crossover and movie-score placement, and Neko Roshi in more recent years, were a return to a more garage-rock sound.

I asked him about his latest band.

The impetus for gathering all the musicians came after “February Album Writing Month‘ (which is an international thing).. I wrote 14 songs in 28 days and put loads of brass and backing vocals on the demos. (All 3 EP songs were written that way). I realised I needed a big band to deliver the songs!

Who are the other members?

Alex Parent (bass) ran away from a French theatrical background to join this circus. His imaginative playing style has been honed over years in bands in Europe and the UK.

Leyanne Coombs (singing/keyboards) sang with (‘better than the Levellers’) folk-rockers The Judacutters. She then sang and danced her way onto the dub-folk scene with ‘Transcendental’ and shone latterly with deep-synth EDM mystics ‘Midimoths’.

It has been officially proven that Leyanne is the nicest person in the world, which always makes me feel guilty for not-liking the Judacutters in the late 80’s.

Charlie Brown (drums) provides an unshakeably groovy beat to the wallpaper sound and is also a drum teacher and sound engineer.

Having a drummer with the same name as Snoopys mate is just so-cool.

Pip Borthwick (saxophone) adds an improvisational jazz edge to the sound and guarantees every performance is unique.

Dylan Orba (trombone) is a child prodigy who adds yet more brass imagination to the sound when he’s in town.

The songs are great; the usual Harvey knack of catchy tunes, smart lyrics and upbeat vibe.  The Dexys / ‘Reward’ style brass gives it something old, new, borrowed and cool.

I asked him about the songs: Which Old Testament tale is 40 Days based on?

40 days is New Testament, the Easter story, I was trying to beat the hymn Lord of The Dance, Motown version.

Actually it’s ‘Lent’, you know, when people give up something before Easter? (when Jesus was crucified?) well before that he went into the desert for 40 days and the devil tempted him and tried to stop him going through with the dying for mankind’s sins thing, he offered him all sorts but Jesus said no.. according to Matthew’s gospel.

My bible studies are a bit rusty, but yeah I think I remember that from Sunday School. What is ‘the Righteous Sound’?

The righteous sound comes from a Tom Wolfe article about the Noon Day Underground, where young mod workers in the 60s would go into bars in their lunch breaks and dance..

I think we’re making a Righteous sound too.

Yeah, definitely. You’ve encapsulated all your years of enjoying, writing and playing music nicely wrapped up in a positive sound, as ever.

And Sleeping Lions…?

Sleeping Lions has lots of layers of meaning, real people are in there (in that Bowie ‘Don’t think you knew you were in this song’ way) and dreams and films and all sorts, I’d like to leave it to the listener to interpret it as they want. 

Cool.  Nice quote.

I like the fact that Interesting Wallpaper (sorry, I still think it is a terrible band name) have gone for a Freemans Catalogue every-day-wear style in Damian Cooks publicity photos.

Along with Southampton contemporaries like Dan O’Farrell & the Difference Engine and Tien Rens Superdrone it’s great to hear Pete still making new music of quality & distinction.  It’s a really neat debut EP of upbeat, shiny, happy, brassy, toe-tappy, gospel, indie pop. It’s just too good to be background, ‘wallpaper’ music.

Download /listen from a choice of platforms

All words Ged Babey with Pete Harveys quotations in italics. 

Source: louderthanwar.com