Band Of The Week #100 - False Advertising
This week’s Band Of The Week is Manchester three piece False Advertising, who have just released their album ‘Brainfreeze’, which sees the band at their new label home - Alcopop Records. They took a moment to talk to us about how their sound has changed since their last release, and their plans for the next few months.
You are back with a new album, how has your sound changed since your last EP release?
Chris: Well the boring answer is that the last EP was recorded in many different locations with different equipment and help from different people, Whereas Brainfreeze was all done in a proper studio. I dunno, we have always known that the band would naturally evolve, not least because none of us are majoring in our first instruments in this band, So I guess we become less naive as the band continues, and better songwriters as you write more songs.
Josh: We’ve certainly had the luxury of experimental freedom in terms of recording Brainfreeze in a studio. There’s some piano, keyboards and lovely amps and effects that we never would have gotten the chance to use otherwise. Jen has also written some incredible string arrangements that we’ve got on a couple of tracks that were live recorded. So we’re moving forward and branching out - but still distinctly us.
Jen: I think in terms of the sound itself, we've previously always been quite restricted by the manner and spaces in which we've recorded. This is the first time where we've actually been able to think in detail about how things should sound and revisit songs and refine bits, it was a very enjoyable process and we felt the need to push the songs into places we would never have been able to go back when we were recording in garages etc.
It is called ‘Brainfreeze’, is there any reason behind the title?
Jen: We agonised over it for quite some time. I think we sided with it partially because we had decided on the melting ice cream idea for the cover and destroyed sweet images for the other artwork. It felt like those kind of visuals and that name fit well alongside with the themes of self indulgence in the album's lyrics.
Chris: It seems to work for us on many levels, plus the idea of confectionery going through a state change was an early visual theme from the first single "You Said" - an exploding bottle rocked, which was the starting point for the rest of the singles and album art.
Josh: Brainfreeze is essentially the promise of something good (ice cream) which is ultimately ruined by someone acting out of self indulgence. This can translate on so many levels to us personally. Being lied to, by government, businesses, media etc, who each operate with the guise promising something better.
The album is being released by Alcopop Records, how did that partnership come about? We are seeing more and more bands sign to this label, and feel at home there. How does it feel to be part of their family?
Chris: Awesome, we love Tigercub, Peaness, Husky Loops, Gaffa Tape Sandy and Kagoule to name a few and have stalked several of them in a creepy fan way (Sorry Kagoule). In fact Gaffa Tape will be joining us for some shows on this tour.
Josh: Jack came to see is one time a while ago, then kept in touch and it feels like it was meant to be.
Jen: It's weird because it's felt like a really natural progression, simultaneously both a big deal and also not scary in the slightest. It's not been very long since we've been entirely DIY (including recording and mixing our own releases, and artwork etc), working with Jack and Alcopop has enabled us pool our resources together so to speak, which makes us much stronger in all the ways that are true to our ethos, which feels right.
Your recent video ‘Wasted Days’ was self-directed, what led to that choice? Where was the video record and how does it link to the song? Also what flavor was that ice-cream cone
Chris: It came about because the last video for Influenza nearly killed Jen in the amount of video editing, whilst she was simultaneously doing the best freelance graphic design work of her life (QOTSA website amongst others). So I was adamant we should do something with minimal post production, that I could do the lion's share of the prep for, to take some weight off, so a one shot video seemed like the way to go. I thought we should incorporate a melting Ice cream to show the passing of time and the rest was extrapolated from that concept. Keeping in mind we had limited time and resources we shot it in the corridor outside our rehearsal room. The ice cream was vanilla flavour of course!
Jen: I think with the song also being called 'Wasted Days' and about feeling that you're wasting your time in a situation because you can't change it for the better, that also links to the warping of time idea in the video too. I think it took us about half an hour to shoot the whole thing which was then edited down to just over 3 mins.
Josh: At one point we had to call the fire brigade too because there was an electrical fault in the building.
What are the key inspiration for the album?
Chris: For my part I wanted the Music to be a bit more upbeat and less dark, but thematically I kept my lyrics quite cynical and politically charged, I'm not sure what specifically inspired me, it was a lot of things, I do remember referencing Kasabian in the production side of things, and I had to change one of my melodies because it was too "Nirvana".
Jen: I seem to remember you were wearing a Nirvana t-shirt when we first talked about doing that, or maybe when you were re-recording it! Hilarious. I think the songs I've written blend all my favourite things about music; accessible melodies, wildly contrasting guitar tones, energy and idiosyncratic beats. I've written more about personal struggles on the record, so I suppose Chris's take on it balances it out and stops it from being too moany.
Do you have a favorite lyric from the album?
Chris: In At The Top I sing "Filters Noam, not the truth" It's not necessarily me favourite Lyric, but I point it out only because I believe everybody should ready Manufacturing Consent by Noam Chomsky immediately, like now, stop reading this and read that instead, but them come back and finish this obviously.
Jen: Not sure of an exact lyric but I quite like how the lyrics to Reading it Wrong turned out. It's a bit cryptic but ultimately about being frustrated with a friendship and eventually figuring out that you are better off without it. I started writing it a few years ago about when I was much younger and then finally finished it after spotting someone I'd not seen for years in a crowd at Glastonbury of all places.
Last summer saw you intensely playing a number of festivals, is that the plan again next year? Or will you be taking a rest from the camping life style?
Josh: It may have appeared that way but we only actually ended up camping twice! We drove back home or to the next show on all the other occasions. But yes, massively plan to hit it hard in the next year.
Jen: I'm hoping for a city festival or two to even out the amount of time I have to spend in a tent. Which isn't my favourite. I actually forgot to bring my tent poles to 2000 Trees last year which wasn't the best, fingers crossed I'll have a reason to get some new ones in 2020.
Chris: Festivals are the best, but I to try and find a cheap camper-van for rent now though so I can bring my child, yes I'm going to be one of those annoying people. To be fair I have had a lot of internet love from our friends in the music community who all want to meet him, I just bought him ear defenders the other day actually.
Now the album is out there, what next? What are your plans for the next few months?
Josh: We’ve got a chunky tour coming up for the rest of November. Feels like a while since we last played so we’re really excited to get the new tunes on the road. Then I think we’re gonna be heading back to the studio shortly after.
Jen: We're also doing a BBC 6 Music session shortly after the tour, which is a dream come true.
Chris: We're hopong we can do the tour, and then sit back and watch the money roll in basically hahahaha, no.. Seriously though, Christmas does mean a break for the industry at large and January too usually, after that we'll be hoping to play more shows, hopefully supporting some other bands, fingers crossed.
False Advertising Live Dates
Nov 9th - Fairfield Social Club, Manchester
Nov 10th - Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
Nov 11th - Head Of Steam, Newcastle
Nov 12th - Phase One, Liverpool
Nov 13th - Key Club, Leeds
Nov 14th - King Tuts, Glasgow
Nov 16th - The Big Top, Cardiff
Nov 17th - Crofters Rights, Bristol
Nov 18th - The Black Heart, London
Nov 19th - The Prince Albert, Brighton
Nov 20th - The Forum, Tunbridge Wells