Here's Tom and Chris being interviewed by FaceCulture, talking about An End Has A Start and other hot topics. 2 years earlier Tom and Chris were interviewed for the first time by FaceCulture, which is also available here at the Archive. You can view that half-hour video interview by clicking here. The clips here were originally birthed into the world as 5 separate parts, but I've combined them into one in the interests of "the flow".
It's interesting to hear Chris talk about the recording process of AEHAS, discussing sounds and frequencies as well as ways of making guitars sound weird. This would of course be taken several steps further with ITLAOTE.
It's interesting to hear Chris talk about the recording process of AEHAS, discussing sounds and frequencies as well as ways of making guitars sound weird. This would of course be taken several steps further with ITLAOTE.
As with the first FaceCulture interview where the dreaded Joy Division comparison raised its head, there's another fine moment of awkwardness where the interviewer compares the sound of An End Has A Start to Coldplay. It clearly annoys Tom and causes a typically sardonic reaction from Chris. It's the only time during the entire 22 minute chat that it feels as if everything gets derailed, but only momentarily.
There's an oddness about FaceCulture interviews that gives it a feeling of a weird kind of therapy session. The interviewer is very softly spoken and asks a lot of questions that go beyond the usual fluff you get during these promotional encounters. This is both good and bad because some times it feels intrusive, but you do get some real insights that you maybe wouldn't have gotten in they'd taken a more conventional approach:-
"So, what's you're favourite colour guys? I bet it's black. Is it black? Gee, you sure are gloomy. Who came up with the band name The Editors?"
There's an oddness about FaceCulture interviews that gives it a feeling of a weird kind of therapy session. The interviewer is very softly spoken and asks a lot of questions that go beyond the usual fluff you get during these promotional encounters. This is both good and bad because some times it feels intrusive, but you do get some real insights that you maybe wouldn't have gotten in they'd taken a more conventional approach:-
"So, what's you're favourite colour guys? I bet it's black. Is it black? Gee, you sure are gloomy. Who came up with the band name The Editors?"
An example is when Tom talks about the meaning behind Well Worn Hand, an answer that comes off what absolutely feels like an inappropriate question for a meeting with the press. He's essentially asked to recall a moment of death that inspired a song, which leads him to talking about WWH. What we learn about that song is very interesting, it just feels like we had to get a little exploitative to get it.
Later on, when commenting on the "big" sound of AEHAS, we get this response:-
Later on, when commenting on the "big" sound of AEHAS, we get this response:-
Interviewer - "You see a stadium when you hear it."
Tom - "Well, we'll see where it takes us........"
A really interesting statement considering the size of venues they went on to play after E2 was released. I wonder at this stage if they had any idea of just how much the second album would change things, in terms of the way they would eventually be able to deliver their music to people? Stadium dates with REM? Flamethrowers in the Ziggo Dome?
We learn what Mr Smith's lowest point in the band had been up until that point, and a lot of the problems seem to centre around their ridiculous touring schedule. As has been referenced at the Archive before, The Back Room broke them commercially but almost broke them creatively at the same time.
"I like to think we'll learn from the harder times of the last record..."
...but then they hit the road and did exactly the same thing again with the AEHAS campaign. There's a definite balance to be struck between working hard to reach people, and working so hard that you lose touch with your love of why you're doing it. Enjoy the chatter ;)
stream it here
We learn what Mr Smith's lowest point in the band had been up until that point, and a lot of the problems seem to centre around their ridiculous touring schedule. As has been referenced at the Archive before, The Back Room broke them commercially but almost broke them creatively at the same time.
"I like to think we'll learn from the harder times of the last record..."
...but then they hit the road and did exactly the same thing again with the AEHAS campaign. There's a definite balance to be struck between working hard to reach people, and working so hard that you lose touch with your love of why you're doing it. Enjoy the chatter ;)
stream it here
brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love :) x
