The Long Blondes not short on cool

Published on Thursday 13 March 2008 16:32

ONLY those with a fondness for walking around with paper bags over their heads could have missed all the early hype that surrounded impossibly cool Sheffield band the Long Blondes.

Once touted as Britain's best unsigned band, the group initially caught the eye thanks to sassy frontwoman Kate Jackson, who one Evening News reviewer described as being 'a photofit of a male indie fan's ultimate fantasy woman'.

But while Jackson, who once bagged seventh spot in the NME's coveted cool-list, is the undisputed focal point of the group, her bandmates have the tunes to match their singer's glamour puss image.

That much was clear when the Steel City five-piece released debut album Someone To Drive You Home in 2006 – its snappy, literate pop coming as a breath of fresh air in a time of Arctic Monkeys clones.

Since then, the band have enjoyed a string of hits on their Rough Trade label – including Weekend Without Makeup, Once And Never Again and Giddy Strato-spheres.

Now, as they get set to release their sophomore album next month, The Long Blondes come to Cabaret Voltaire on Wednesday, when fans in the Capital will be among the first to get a live airing of the new material.

Ask indie's coolest band what hi-jinks they got up to making the album, however, and it's like Keith Richards had never been born.

Indeed, there's no tales of sex and drugs to be had here. Heck, they didn't even take a limo to the Spar shop for late night munchies.

Instead, to while always the hours while making their impending album, the band made a 'couples wall' at their London studio, on which they pinned pics of their favourite celebrity pairings.

"It was just a bit of fun to pass the time," explains drummer Mark Turvey, almost apologetically. "It started out with proper couples like The Carpenters, but then lots of other famous double acts were added to it as well.

"We had Gazza and Jimmy 'Five Bellies' Gardener, The Two Ronnies, Britney and K-Fed, and the Pet Shop Boys," he laughs.

The album was produced by London-based electro DJ Erol Alkan, who has brought a slightly dancier feel to the band's sound.

"That's certainly an element that Erol has brought out in us, especially with his background as a DJ," agrees Turvey. "But there's a lot more to him than the dance music that he's into.

"In general I think, our intentions with this album were to take all the elements of the first record that we liked, and push them to extremes.

"So the dance element is more dancier certainly, but at the same time we want the faster songs to be even faster and punkier."

While the band's debut album was penned largely by guitarist Dorian Cox, newbie Couples saw the rest of the band (the other members are bassist Reenie Hollis and keyboardist Emma Chaplin) doing a lot more writing together.

"I think we kind of inspired each other," says Turvey. "Because we'd been touring for such a long time, and also we've developed so much as musicians since we started, there was a real confidence and understanding between us all that really comes out in the songs.

"In that respect I think Erol was really important as well. We had such a great relationship with him in the studio that we were willing to try things that he suggested and that lead us to pushing the songs in different directions that previously we wouldn't have considered."

He adds, "I think, when we set out we wanted to make a record that really reflects where we are now as a band, and I think we've achieved that."

Looking ahead to the tour, Turvey says the band can't wait to try out the new material in front of a live audience.

"We did some secret shows a couple of weeks ago under a different name, just to test the water," he says.

"The new songs went down really well, but in bigger venues it's going to be interesting to see how they go down.

"As well as the new songs, we've reworked a lot of the older tracks – so that there's plenty to look forward to.

"We're a band who love being out on tour, and we can't wait to get up to Scotland, where we always get a great reception."

Though they've always scored high marks for their energy on stage, The Long Blondes built up an unfair reputation of not being able to play properly, which is something Turvey says the band are keen to counter this time.

"I mean, we're still not Tortoise or anything," he laughs, "but there is certainly a real sense of musical development on this record that I hope will come across live.

"Due to the nature of the new songs there's going to be a lot less guitars and a bit more keyboards, and Kate is a bit more involved musically as well."

He adds, "We do still have the attitude live, though it's less about a perfect recreation of the songs and more about putting on a great show and giving off a certain energy and atmosphere, so hopefully we can still do that as well."

&#149 The Long Blondes, Cabaret Voltaire, Blair Street, Wednesday, 7pm, 9, 0131-220 6176