February 2008

THE GRILL: GRAND NATIONAL

What are the optimum conditions for listening to your new album?
We released this album on vinyl and only did a short run of about 1000, god knows how you even get hold of them. They were released in the USA only I think. Anyway, it came out as a double album, so four sides…First side, sitting down at –7 degrees Celsius with vintage Antarctic replica clothing drinking a cheap armangac, no armangac available? A cheap rum or whatever is the local moonshine. Side two, raise temperature to 12 degrees slip into something comfortable (long johns underneath if 12 degrees is an issue. Stand up as if you were in the kitchen of a fairly decent mate’s house party, pour yourself another armangac add a can of 5% continental lager of your choice, add lime if feeling partially tropical at any point. Moving over to side three, heating up to 20 degrees, remove long johns, nod head a bit, pour yourself and any imaginary or partially real friends a Zubrowka and apple juice, if you feel like you are developing an alter ego at any point soon get yourself an imposing sounding cocktail to accompany the part of you that’s emerging (Pisco Sour, Tom Collins or Polish Martini will do just fine) Carefully turn onto side four, turn heating up full pop a qualude or valium, remove clothing, lie on floor with imaginary or perceived friends. Keep drink of choice near. Wake up to a really warm flat.

What other albums have been hogging the Grand National stereo?
Barbara Striesand – Guilty
Queens Of The Stone Age – Era Vulgaris
Morgan Geist – Unclassics

Who else would be on your fantasy bill if you were headlining your own festival?
We definitely wouldn’t be headlining our own festival, we both enjoy a drink and are trying to not go on stage as drunk as we used too, so we’d happily take the when the sun goes down slot, and then off to a conveniently placed bar to watch the rest of it. So seeing as you said “fantasy”. The Smiths a week after Morrissey and Marr finally admit they’re in Love and get married in Vegas. Stone Roses, Bowie as Ziggy Stardust out of retirement. Hendrix (In an alternate universe where it wasn’t a problem to choke on vomit) where he finally got to do an album with Miles Davis then gig it a bit (our festival being strategically placed at the high point of the tour.) Flaming Lips.

Name a place you’ve played that you think more people should know about.
Stuk in Leuven, great venue plus it’s got the most friendly bowling alley close by where Dirk will teach you and some friends how to get really competitive over unprouncable Belgian ale.

Which new act should we all be getting in to?
Oh fuck it, it’s not the year for new acts its all about the old acts that gave a bit of promise delivering a great second album.

Which film would you like to soundtrack?
Paris, Texas if Ry Cooder hadn’t already done such a great job.

What would you do if Lenny Kravitz knocked on the door?
Hypnotise him into signing all his royalties over to us. Then we’d spend five years recording an incredibly expensive fourth album in Zurich, he’d get a thanks in the album credits.

A Drink And A Quick Decision is out on Sunday Best Recordings on March 3rd