Disco Dudes Releasing A Massive New Album…
Your new album coming out on 2020 Vision – ‘Stop Space Return’ – a brilliant album combining classic songwriting with some cool disco grooves… talk us through your fourth album…
“The album was created in a transitional period of time involving breakdown of relationships, good friends moving away, changing management and labels… and keeping the rave alive! It was conceived initially with all of us mic’d up in a room jamming out ideas live, and then refining some of those ideas over a longer period. Some of the last songs to go on there were created for the dancefloor so in a smaller group – its the most personal to date for all the reasons above and because we’ve grown in confidence.”
You have performed at some huge festivals over the years – what have been your best festival moments and THE best festival you’ve played at?
“Well the best festival moments has to be our first big festival – 20,000 people at ‘Good Vibrations’ in Sydney in 2004 and The Big Chill in 2007- both were challenging and completely exhilarating. It’s hard to pinpoint a best festival, but the Garden Festival in Croatia is our current favourite.”
Who is the best Disco performer/band/diva of all time?
“Well Disco performer – Prince circa the 80’s.
Band – someone like War…
Diva – Grace Jones for her ability to still blow your brains out with her presence.”
The best disco tune ever?
“Sylvester- ‘Over and Over’ (thanks Jim).”
Best disco producer of all time?
“Quincy Jones”
Best disco club you’ve ever played at?
“Ah bum! Forgotten the name but it was a club in Perth which is no longer there… we got offered money to play another tune… and the crowd were electric!”
What are your views on live bands/DJs using laptops instead of keeping it real with insturments?
“I love real instruments but everyone experiments these days… I’m talking to you via a lap top so it’s now a very acceptable way of communicating expression.”
Donna Summer or The Police?
“For me Donna Summer- although The Police are ace.”
So the band – yourself, James Baron, Chris Todd, Tim Davies and Matt Klose – how did you all meet?
“Some of the lads at University or school and I met Jim and Chris at a party at my house where I used to do Shirley Bassey impressions and play music to people who had no choice – I forced myself upon them, they had to give me an audition!”
So we are on the Crazy P tour bus – what tunes are blaring out?
“Jim usually compiles a ‘For the moment’ CD depending on our mood. Sometimes it’s melancholy and so can be anything from Elbow to John Martyn or it could be on route back from Ireland where we reacreate a disco bus by playing anything from Techno through to heavy Disco (not interfering with the drivers concentration of course)… takes us through lots of moods though.”
So, three previous albums now followed up by ‘Stop Space Return’, your earlier releases ‘A Nice Hot Bath’, ‘The Wicked Is Music’ on Paper Recordings and ‘Night On Earth’ on Shiva (all albums I think may have been album titles thought up late at night!) – what do you think has been your best release?
“Well we all have a soft spot for The Wicked Is Music – we were at the beginning of the live thing and so all the tunes felt fresh and everything was so exciting-but like I said before, I do love Stop Space Return as it is personally close to my heart.”
What was playing at the Radio 1 Maida Vale Studios via Pete Tong like?
“Incredible. I couldnt stop smiling. And the thought of going out live on such a popular and national dance show was so nerve racking and yet at the time great to think all our friends were listening and supporting… aw yes! Tremendous to be in a building steeped in such musical history from the Beatles to The London Philharmonic… and us!”
Ibiza – best moment?
“Well as a live band we havent really experienced much so I would have to hark to mine and Chris’s experience at Pacha where for one reason or another we struggled for 20 minutes to find our way out of the restaurant. It was truly an amazing night – magical, blurry, hilarious and memorable (well from what I remember).
What’s next for Crazy P?
A summer of festivals, back in the studio to write some more music and a haircut on Thursday.
Crazy P ‘Stop Space Return’
Out…
Part One May 18th
Part Two June 1st
