Anybody with a little bit of knowledge about Editors' past will know that this Q&A is the human equivalent of cats and dogs deciding to go out shopping for fondue equipment together. You just couldn't have seen it coming given the history between them, but here we are. It's all conducted very professionally and there's no evidence of bad blood or tension at all. Could the feud finally be over? Life is awfully short, after all.
It's striking to juxtapose the Mr Smith we see on stage to the one that has to plough through these grillings in the name of promotion. There's always a slight sense of discomfort that seems to suggest he'd much rather be playing music than dissecting it. The chat is mostly about the new album at the time, which was VI OLENCE, but there was also a lot of fan questions thrown in by some names which sound awfully familiar to me. You can tell who were the hardcore folks among the people asking by the nature of their inquiries. Those lovely moments where you get a "What inspires you" style question followed by "What plectrum did you use on Dust in the Sunlight? The exact make and grade of plastic please". Some of these people are in way, way deep and I should know. We can smell our own.
On a personal note, it was sad to hear that the full electric version of No Sound But The Wind is a song that they weren't happy with but that they put out, because that take is a definite favourite of mine. But then it's all about personal taste really, isn't it?
Trivia fact; the all acoustic concert that he refers to was the gig that Justin couldn't make in November of 2014, for the Rolling Stone Weekender. When he returned shortly afterwards they did another acoustic show for the Christmas Jumper Jam with all 5 Editors intact.
Lastly came the question about which Editors album he rates highest. It was a shock to hear that Tom believes that ITLAOTE is their most important album, historically, because of the risk they took in terms of its architecture and style. It was certainly a divisive move at the time, but to hear that the attitude behind it helped to shape where they are now is surprising. The obvious answer would have probably been The Back Room, given that it was the starting point for everything but ITLAOTE betrays a more strategic thinking at work.
Anyway, enjoy the chatter ;)
brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love :) x
