Band Of The Week #308 - Pynch
This week's Band of the Week is the British guitar band Pynch - who have just released their new album 'Beautiful Noise' via Chillburn Recordings/State51.
Following their acclaimed debut Howling at a Concrete Moon, a coming-of-age record that captured the disaffection of youth in austerity-era Britain, Pynch have released their new album Beautiful Noise via own label Chillburn Recordings with the help of State51. Less concerned with making sense of the world around them, their second full-length shifts its gaze inward, taking a trip though love, death, faith and the pursuit of meaning through art.
Produced by frontman Spencer Enock in the band’s home studio, with drums recorded by Stereolab’s Andy Ramsay at Press Play Studios, Beautiful Noise is a lo-fi odyssey that feels both more intimate and more ambitious than its predecessor. Mixed by Jimmy Robertson (Fat Dog / Los Campesinos!), the album is a kaleidoscope of distortion, new-wave synths, breakbeats and glitchy vocals presented in playfully DIY fashion.
They took a moment to talk to us about how the album came together.
Hey there Pynch, how are you? So your album is out now – how does it feel to have it out there?
We’re doing great, thanks! It feels so good to finally have the album out. We’ve all put so much work into the music and the campaign, along with our wonderful friends and collaborators, so it’s amazing to finally have it out in the world - We’re just really proud of the record. We’ve released it on our label, Chillburn Recordings, through State51 Distribution, and have builts up a great team over the past couple of years so it feels like a big evolution for us.
It’s called Beautiful Noise – what is the meaning behind that?
I think for us, it really captures the themes and sound of the record. Lyrically, the album is about existentialism and the chaos of being alive, so you could see it as a metaphor for that. Our approach to recording is also very DIY, which comes through in how it sounds. We’re just trying to make music that connects with people, and I think that comes through in an imperfect but quite human way.
Where was it recorded? Any behind-the-scenes stories you’re willing to share with us?
We recorded most of it in my bedroom in Brixton in the evenings after work and on weekends, which I think adds to the intimacy and feel of the album. We also recorded the drums and a few guitar parts with Andy Ramsay at his studio in Bermondsey, which is always such a fun experience. He helped us so much with the last album, so it was great to be back in the studio with him. He gave us some great advice on equipment to buy for our home studio and even sold us one of his handmade Jazzmasters, which we used a lot during recording!
What are the key influences behind the album?
Musically, we’re inspired by so many artists, but I think some of the more obvious ones would be Pavement, New Order, Yo La Tengo, and Jonathan Richman. We all listen to a lot of different music, though, which you can hear on the album.
If the album could be a soundtrack to any film, which one and why?
Hmm, I feel like the songs would suit being in a film like The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Maybe that’s kind of a basic answer, but I love that film and think it shares a similar melancholic but hopeful feeling with the album.
Do you have a favourite lyric on the album? If so, which one and why?
This was really hard to asnwer because we love so many of the lyrics. I think Forever have some really simple but beautiful lyrics:
“I wanted late nights, to go see the world
To find God in the eyes of a girl
To hold tight and know what it means
To give love and receive it with ease
I've been waiting all my life for stars to align and I've wasted too much time.”
I just feel like they have this wide-eyed, searching quality to them that I really like.
Now the album is out there – what’s next for you?
Well, we’re heading out on tour around the UK for most of October and have some dates in Europe planned for next which we’re really excited about! Julianna is also going to be releasing some music with her brilliant other band, Disgusting Sisters! We really want to start working with more artists and releasing other music on Chillburn Recordings. Myles has some music coming out with his ambient project, Stained Glass Rue, and I’ve also got some plans to release some solo stuff on the label next year - so there are lots of cool things on the horizon!
