retro tag isn't one that I'd sit comfortably
with. There are bands and artists that have had a real impact
on us, of course, but we'd never wish to merely emulate what's
been before- what would be the
point?! ?
ZA: Not that it seems to stop so many others... There is little planning or inclination
to sound retro, just to sound like Automation, 2004.
2. Describe for the un-initiated the local
Liverpool scene and tell us how well do you think that you
fit in with it?
CW: It's little like the mainstream music press describes, in my experience
at least. Not everyone is sat around singing sea skiffle with their Uncle Kenny,
smoking bad weed, thinking "music ended in 1969, la". And those that
are, the rest of us try and ignore. It's varied, but not enough for us to feel
we fit in any way.
ZA: It seems that anyone who isn’t
in love with the sixties is lumped in together, regardless
of their sound or aspirations. That said, for the most part
we are happy to associated with other local bands doing something
different.
3. One of your best gigs so far has been
your support slot of The Fiery Furnaces back in February
at the Liverpool Barfly. How did you enjoy playing with the
quirky and raw, US bluesy rockers and did you learn much
from them?
CW: It was a very intense gig for us as
a band, for reasons best kept to ourselves for now... The
atmosphere
was really edgy, so it felt like one of those gigs where
you just think, "What the hell..." and it's all
the better for it.
4. You’re
are a tight and seemingly close knit, mixed gender quartet.
Do you fall out much? How
do you resolve any creative differences and has the chemistry
always been there for you guys or did you have to work at
it?
CW: We were friends first, band mates second, which helps.
So, even when the atmosphere gets tense (which at times,
it does), we know not to take anything too personally. Most
of the time, at least... A fag break at certain key points
doesn't hurt as well.?
ZA: We don’t fall out. Much.
5. You seem such balanced and happy people
on stage. Who or what makes you angry of it (aside from people
firing
annoying interview questions at you)?
CW: I'm happily -or resignedly- balanced to being pissed
off pretty much all of the time. If we seem happy on stage,
I can only assume it's cause we're calling the shots.?
ZA: That’s it. I spend the better part of my time off
stage sullen & annoyed at life.
6. You have recently released a single; ‘Automation
Hate Sound’. How far are you off from releasing a debut
album for the deserving music loving public? What can people
expect from your debut album, as and when it materializes?
CW: It will be a ridiculous, adorable, hopelessly over-ambitious
failure, as all debut albums should be. It would leave someone
who'd bought the band's first singles feeling confused, bitter
and disappointed on first listen, but in love on the second.?
ZA: Like all great debuts.
7. What music are you currently listening to?
CW: Leonard Cohen, Cluster, Vitalic and
The Wild Swans.
ZA: XTC, Wire, The Faint and Mission Of Burma.
8. Your lyrics at times depict urban life
with the accuracy, poetic nature and hint of cynicism of
a Philip Larkin.
A prime example of this is the first verse of ‘Cash
In The City’; “Battered cities serve as bait,
Shrouded up in sweet smells of energy and fate.
They aim to bite and bite to maim
Practicing their suction on any wild game’
What are the origins of this song?
CW: Living in London, trying to make
decisions about what to do, but being too swept up in things
to do anything. Violence,
sleaze and humour, with a nod and a wink to Walter Greenwood's "Love
On The Dole" novel.
9. On a related topic, do you read
or write much poetry?
CW: Read some, certainly. Haven't written
since songs got in the way.?
ZA: Read quite a bit, the usual culprits mainly.
10. What are your plans for the rest of the year?
CW: More records, more gigs; and the slow, covert poisoning
of the Kings Of Leon.
ZA: And Jet.
CW: Oh, goes without saying…
11. Who is your favourite all time Liverpudian and why?
CW: Tom Baker and/or Leonard Rossiter-
Liverpudlians from another planet.?
ZA: I second Mr. Rossiter. What a man. Also, Beryl Bainbridge
deserves a mention.
http://www.automationonline.co.uk
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