THE HERALD, AUGUST 2008. COVER STORY / INTERVIEW

ARTHUR WALKER PUTS IT ON RECORD

It might sound more like the name of someone’s favourite uncle, but in fact Arthur Walker is the moniker of one of Plymouth’s newest and most exciting alternative rock bands, who will be launching their new EP at The Hub on Friday 17 August. The band who recently delivered an excellent set at the Maker Sunshine named themselves after a song, that inspired lead singer Steven Stones:

“There was a band in the ‘90s called Cable, an absolutely amazing band who split in 2000. I think they had a dispute with their management, and they did this song – my name is Arthur Walker and I’m a lost explorer - somehow the name stuck in my head and I thought that it sounded like a good band name…”

It’s a name that sticks, especially when you associate it with it their unique brand of exhilarating off-kilter rock, which never fails to surprise and delight. Just when you think it’s all getting a little weird they veer into a melodic chorus, and not without a hint of pop sensibility.

“I quite like the pop element,” confesses Steven, “It’s really easy to get too out-there, in an obscure, technical, disjointed way – but we find that it’s useful to have something catchy and we do instinctively go that way, usually, about half way through writing a song, we’ll hit something melodious - something resembling a chorus.

“We’re finding that the more we write, the more melodic we’re becoming – there’s less of the screaming and angst – and anyway there’s only so much screaming you can physically do in the course of one gig!”

Steven even admits to secretly admiring the pop tunes of the likes of Britney Spears:
“I’m sure she had a team of writers and the songs are pretty formulaic, still when you analyse them they’re quite clever and complex…”

Steve and lead guitarist Jonathan Derwent know all about performing other people’s tunes – they spent two years honing their skills in Plymouth rock covers band Corenza, a couple of years he reckons were very well spent:

“We did contemporary rock stuff; Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, White Stripes, Franz Ferdinand, and it was a really good learning curve. Good for me as a vocalist to have to perfect all of the different styles, good for developing stagecraft and good for playing in front of a big crowd. We performed for people who were out to enjoy themselves, and as long as we played popular songs they were happy.”

Still, he’d always wanted to perform his own songs and in July last year Steve and Jonathan joined forces with drummer Drew Ellison, followed a couple of months later by bassist Stephen Spratt, to form the new ensemble.

By September ’06 they’d recorded their first demo, Hello Medicine, at Outhouse Studios in Reading:

“We did it in three days and the third track Molestation was the most challenging, as it wasn’t completely finished when we hit the studio. Having to develop the song within the confines of a tight time schedule helped to give the song its sense of urgency, the end result was much better than we had originally envisaged.”

Another learning curve, and one which they’ve doubtless taken on board with the recording of their new EP, endearingly called “I Am Skull and I Am Evil”, and recorded far closer to home at Deep Blue Sound Studios:

“The title track seems to be everyone’s favourite – it’s nothing necessarily sinister, by the way. I used to work at a residential care home and I made everyone laugh by running around with this skull and shouting “I Am Skull…”

“The other tracks are My Headphone Attracts – about how when I wear my ipod all kinds of strange people suddenly want to talk to me – and Extinguisher Glue, the first song I ever wrote. But I Am A Skull… is the most enjoyable to play, it’s quirky and is the only one we play in drop D tuning, so it sounds deeper and harder-edged. It tends to be the one that finishes our set.”

The EP will be launched tonight at The Hub. Support comes from Le Chat Noir and Consolation Prizefighter and the first 25 people through the door will receive a free pack of goodies including the EP, skull crusher sweets, a poster and badges.

Clare Robinson