Introducing... Electro duo Any Color Black

Published on Thursday 31 January 2008 16:59

THERE'S nothing conventional about Any Color Black, which is fitting for a band which began life at 4am after its two members took a ride in a shopping trolley one long, messy night in Glasgow.

"We found ourselves outside a chippy in search of some post-drink snacks, and I think my mate actually started chatting him up," explains Louise Black, laughing as she recalls how she met her musical cohort.

"It's a bit blurry, but somehow we ended up getting pushed down Buchanan Street in a shopping trolley," she adds. "At the time all I can remember thinking was 'I hope this guy has good balance or the curb might kill us'."

Partner in rhyme Andy Black puts a slightly different slant on events. "The way I remember it," he chips in, "one of her friends was chatting me up and another was giving me abuse.

"The natural progression from that was to get in a shopping trolley with Louise and let the rest of her rabble push us down the street – the perfect beginning for a band if you ask me."

Since their drunken beginnings, the duo have sobered up to become one of the hottest names on the live circuit, playing a host of venues both at home and abroad – including Liverpool's Barfly and Berlin's Knaack Club.

Asked about the music they make and the electro-sleaze duo have some difficulty, possibly because it comes from so many influences.

"I started off making mix tapes of cheesy pop from Atlantic 252, then got depressed as a teenager and started listening to Metallica and Radiohead," explains Andy. "Then I got happy again and started listening to anything that sounds exciting, like The National."

As for Louise, she's pretty much influenced by everything. "I started with Guns and Roses and was brought up on country, but recently I would include anything on Modular or Kitsune labels on my list of influences."

The duo's next live outing takes place tomorrow at the newly-renovated GRV on Guthrie Street, as legendary rock club Electric Banana comes to the Capital for the first time.

Any Color Black, who have been described as sounding like "the lovechild conceived after a night of heated passion involving Courtney Love, Foo Fighters, Pixies, Garbage, Peaches and Metallica," promise a great live show tomorrow.

As to what those heading along can expect, Louise says, "Two very loud guitars, lots of hooks, a laptop running drum loops, bass synths and the two of us.

"I think our live show definitely demonstrates sleaze elements and you should be able to pick out the moments we're being influenced by the acts mentioned," she says.

Andy adds, "When we play there's always lot of energy and strobe lights – it should be a great night."

The band are currently in the studio putting the finishing touches to their new EP, which is due for release soon, with a nationwide tour and a full album scheduled for later in the year.

Joining them on the bill tomorrow evening will be hotly-tipped young Edinburgh act Jakil, who recently reached number one in the unsigned download charts after winning the Radio Forth One To Watch award, with their song Who Are Ya.

&#149 Any Color Black, Electric Banana, The GRV, Guthrie Street, tomorrow, 8pm, 5, 0131-220 2987