Tuning Into The Shortwave
Beatmag’s Khalid Mallassi quizzes the nonchalant, comeback kings.
The Shortwave Set are perhaps the luckiest band in the UK. After their debut 2005 album “The Debt Collection” won them critical acclaim, radio support from tastemakers like Zane Lowe and Lauren Lavern as well as remixing the likes of Moby, Scissor Sisters and Goldfrapp… then they were unceremoniously dropped by their record label. They were down, but not out. Now, with a brand new record deal and help from the biggest record producer in the world, they are back with the epic “Replica Sun Machine”.
How the hell did you manage to get Danger Mouse to produce your new album ‘Replica Sun Machine’?
Shortwave Set: “Obviously he’s a man of immense good taste and discretion. We became aware he was quite taken by our first album ‘The Debt Collection’ and we were invited to play a few shows with Gnarls Barkley. We diplomatically allowed him to destroy us at table tennis on the tour and so it wasn’t actually a massive surprise when he phoned to ask if he could produce our new album…”
And, how did you manage to get Van Dyke Parks and John Cale on the album too? Did you have to perform some sort of dark Pagan ceremony in the woods somewhere to get that lucky?
Shortwave Set: “No, there were no ritual sacrifices necessary. We called on Van Dyke while we were in LA and he was very sweet and keen to do something. Danger Mouse already knew Mr Cale so the connection there came through him. We definitely got the tingles when he whipped out that legendary viola. It’s all very flattering obviously but we don’t consider ourselves ‘lucky’. We are arrogant enough to think that we offer something a little different and the endorsements from people we really respect kinda reinforce our self-belief still further. It’s weird though, I concede.”
After your first album ‘The Debt Collection,’ you moved to California with no money and no record deal. What was the plan?
Shortwave Set: “Well, we didn’t really move there. We decided to spend the summer in LA in order to make the record but it was all planned out quite meticulously before we left. It’s true we didn’t have a deal or much money at the time but that really didn’t concern us. We were focused on the idea of making a great album, we just hoped things would take care of themselves after that. In any case how concerned can you be with the Californian sun on your back?”
Any juicy Hollywood stories to tell while you were there?
Shortwave Set: “Well, we frequented a few nightspots and hung out with Mike Tyson and The Strokes which was very bizarre. I couldn’t possibly divulge what was said to Iron Mike but suffice to say I didn’t offer him out…”
What would you say are the main musical influences on the album?
Shortwave Set: “I think we were going for some kind of contemporary psychedelic feel for the record. We took the ideas from our first record where we’d sourced a lot of sampled textures and attempted to create similar atmospheres ourselves this time. Obviously, having a 24-piece orchestra helped in that regard. We were listening to a lot of old psych record. I think that definitely had an effect.”
Psychedelia and prog rock seem to be making a big comeback in music lately, why, in your opinion do you think that is?
Shortwave Set: “Is it? We’re not too well connected when it comes to stuff like that. I would suppose that there were an awful lot of bands that heard ‘The Debt Collection’ maybe? Of course, I jest. There have always been a lot of oddball groups making psych-influenced music. Maybe it’s just the media is picking up on it a bit more than they had been previously.”
Any of the current Psychedelic bands that are floating your boat at the moment?
Shortwave Set: “I quite like Vampire Weekend, not sure if you’d consider them psychedelic though. Fleet Foxes seem very good and from an electronic angle Crystal Castles are suitably chaotic and messed up.”
What’s next for the Shortwave Set?
Shortwave Set: “Well, clearly we want as many people to hear the record so we’ll be working our asses off to ensure that is the case. Soon enough though we will begin the process of writing and recording another record and do our level best to go stratospheric…
