NOW Ian interview

[Kounelaki]

Echo chamber
New wave legends Echo & the Bunnymen draft new blood and rediscover rock

By Jason Keller

Ian McCulloch sounds far too excited for a reputedly gruff Liverpudlian who’s leading his band, Echo & the Bunnymen, into its 31st year.


The 50-year-old lead singer for the legendary gloom rockers can’t wait to unleash Echo’s 11th studio album, The Fountain (Ocean Rain), saying the new material even recalls the swagger and menace of their 1980 breakthrough.

“It reminds me of Crocodiles… the energy coming out of the speakers,” he says from his manager’s office in Liverpool. “It’s like the debut, but with more crunch.

“That’s what I’m trying to do – write music and do gigs that I as a 13-year-old would love.”

McCulloch isn’t just energized by Echo’s new material and sustained career – he’s downright cocky.

“Still got fantastic skin and hair and still look like a dude,” he laughs. “We’ve always stuck to our maintaining of standards and being cool and not being seen to lick anyone’s ass.”

The Fountain has more vigour than Echo’s last record, Siberia, and the sonically charged blast of lead-off track Think I Need It Too sets a vibrant tone for the rest of the disc.

McCulloch had some assistance writing the disc from two London-based “blokes,” Simon Perry and David Thomas, whom he vibed with immediately after hearing their ideas. Perhaps their youth, along with John McLaughlin’s amped-up production, has given Echo, known for contrasting infectious pop hooks with a downcast post-punk sound, a needed jolt of spirit.

“They had some backing tracks that I listened to, and I was like, ‘Whoa, that’s exactly what I’m looking for,’” he recalls. “I think Siberia was a bit too jingly-jangly, so with this album I’ve got more crunch.”

“Crunch” is repeated frequently as McCulloch exuberantly talks about all things Echo in 2009, that is, until I mention the only other remaining original member in the band – Will Sergeant.

When it came time to write The Fountain, McCulloch was disappointed with what his long-time guitarist brought to the table.

“I was beginning to wonder if it was just me who wanted to write great songs for the Bunnymen, because he didn’t have anything,” he says. “That’s why I’ve taken the reins across the board. I’ve always had them, I suppose, but I’m more determined to just see it through now.”

http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.c ... ent=171755

[fat cherry]

can i have it noted that i said this, on this thread before kok did.... we're all doomed. thanks.

[fat cherry]

obviously he could have done that thing where you type in your message and then think, oh cant be arsed with this anymore and click the back button, but even so.

[fat cherry]

theres a bloke on the radio talking about how he survived Necrotizing fasciitis. very interesting.

[fat cherry]

soooo, will has lost his mojo then. i was right. yes me. woo hoo. we're all doomed. did i say that already?

[Dr Cheese]

Maybe I've been listening to a different cd but so far I've failed to detect any "crunch" on any of the songs on The Fountain.
And Mac's disappointed with Will is he? Will doesn't want to write "great songs" for the Bunnymen does he?
It's the beginning of the end folks. About time too if you ask me.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

That lazy, bone-idle Will Sergeant. He just hasn't got any ideas to bring to the table what with his jingly-jangly. Hallelajuh for Mac, with his fantastic hair and skin, is there to steer the Bunnymenship on the right course.

Probably right about the beginning of the end. To make a statement about Will in an interview probably says it all.

[Dr Cheese]

Don't forget the Do Do Doo's and the La La Laa's. Forget Will, thank God for Mac I say.

[fat cherry]

Echo chamber

“It’s like the debut, but with more crunch.

like more crunch than say..... hmm, strokes chin, all that jazz. yep, that'll be proxy with its 'look at us now oo ah oo' chorus i expect.

“That’s what I’m trying to do – write music and do gigs that I as a 13-year-old would love.”

wasn't he a velvets and bowie fan? so looking forward to the christmas gigs will we be expecting him to come out in a dress and spangly tights and a big red stripe across his face and doing that mime thing - you know where he pretetnds t run into a glass door with his hands in front, and then prize them apart and squeeze through.

[Dr Cheese]

It's Mac talking out of his arse as usual. I wonder how Will puts up with him, I reckon anyone else would have chinned him by now.

[fat cherry]

i expect youre right cheesey. presumably when he was 13 he wanted to see a band do a bunch of songs that are between 25 and 30 years old and ignorehis fave band's new album. Will probably thinks, well i could still be a chef in Woollies, and look at me now? No thats unkind. i withdraw that comment m'lud. though you never know, he maybe daydreams that he could be head chef in the vegetarian section of whatever shop woollies is now saying, hey, do want mash with that nut roast mate? no, i still withdraws it. I htink someone ought to make cartoon of the bunnies. it could be good.

[Lancashire Fusileer]

That bit of writing really is a puff-piece extraordinaire. Pravda's got nothing on it.

[tonywojo]

That bit of writing really is a puff-piece extraordinaire. Pravda's got nothing on it.

so full of shit

different slant this time

[Voodoo Billy]

I think the Sarge deserves better than that.

[Mr. Brian]

“Still got fantastic skin and hair and still look like a dude,” he laughs.

It sounds like someone is working on an endorsement deal!