Tindersticks - Interview

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 16 / 2 / 2008

intro

Melancholicists Tindersticks are returning in April with their first new studio album in five years, 'The Hungry Saw'. Anthony Strutt speaks to frontman Stuart Staples about it and why the band stripped down from a six piece to a three piece for its making

It has been five years since melancholists Tindersticks released a new studio album. In the time since then front man Stuart Staples had released two solo albums, 'Lucky Dog Recordings 03-04'(2005) and 'Leaving Songs(2006) and the Nottingham-formed group, which has become renowned for its lush ochestral sound, has stripped down from a six piece to a trio consisting, as well as Staples on vocals and guitar, of Neil Fraser on lead guitar and David Butler on keyboards and percussion. The new album,'The Hungry Saw', is due out on April 28th. Pennyblackmusic caught up with Stuart Staples on a brief break in his active schedule to ask some questions about it. PB : According to your new MySpace page, the band now has three full time members. Did the others quit, or could not they just commit themselves at this time ? SS : With 'Waiting for the Moon' we had reached a kind of dead space between the six of us - we needed a break. Over time we gradually found a clarity and a reason as to why this band should exist and what was deeply wrong. Changes have been made that have given it a feeling of reinvigoration. PB : How do you think ‘The Hungry Saw’ compares to 'Waiting for the Moon' ? SS : 'Waiting for the Moon' took a long time to make. It's a very considered album. With 'The Hungry Saw' we gave ourselves a small amount of time to record and trusted in each other and the ideas behind it. I think that gives it an energy of the moment. It's a proud album. PB : Your last released material was a double CD of’ ‘BBC Sessions’. You have done countless BBC sessions. How did you choose what was going to be on this ? SS : The nature of a Peel session was to play songs you didn't quite have a grasp of, that were on the start of their journey, which is fine at the time. Listening back...? There's some 'interesting' stuff there.We tried to maintain our dignity with the choices we made for the release. PB : Your last show was a Don't Look Back in which you performed ‘Tindersticks 2’. Why did you choose to do this album ? SS : It came from a time when we were really working together creatively. It was great fun writing and recording this album, because there were so many ideas coming from all directions. Visiting those songs again felt effortless. PB : You now live in France. Has this influenced the writing ? Was this new record easier or harder to write with regard to this ? SS : I don't think that changes are instant in this respect, although I have felt the effect of having space around me, I don't feel cramped anymore. I couldn't have finished 'All the Love' if I was still living in London. The studio is big and ambient – it seems to give space for ideas to flow. PB : How well did your two solo albums sell compared to Tindersticks releases albums ? SS : Tindersticks albums were bought by close friends and neighbours. The solo albums’ sales were restricted to family members. PB : The band are known for smoking on stage. How do you think the no smoking in public ban in the UK will affect your live performance ? SS : I've been a lone smoker in the band for a number of years now. It's kind of a private thing these days. It has to be. PB : Have you missed performing live and the touring that goes with it ? SS : Singing songs for people is the hardest, most rewarding experience of making music. I am afraid and excited in equal measure at the prospect of the concerts. PB : Thank you.

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