It’s been five or so years since Bloc Party formed, with an array of singles, a huge following and two studio albums under their belt, today marks the release of the third album, Intimacy. With a busy touring schedule ahead of them, it was a great surprise and pleasure that the Killahbeez crew were able to hook up with Bloc Party drummer Matt Tong for an interview. What ensued is a hilarious Q & A between us.
Killahbeez: First off thanks guys for taking the time to answer a few questions for our readers / fans of yours.
KB: I took a look at your touring schedule and I have to say it’s insane! Pretty much from July of this year to April of next year and I was lucky enough to catch you guys at the Virgin Music Festival in Toronto. How has the tour been going? Any tales of madness from fans or from yourselves?
Matt Tong: Been fairly good so far. We were a bit worried it might be too much to turn the new songs into a crazy live show, but we seemed to have pulled it off.
Mad tales? Not really. We stole one of the festival buggies in Baltimore and spent an hour going round and round the horseracing track. I wanted to take one back to the hotel but was advised it might lead to my arrest.
KB: The new album, Intimacy, is coming out on October 28th, what can fans expect from this album? How is it different from the other projects?
MT: It’s a bit more stripped down than the last record. We’ve sort of learned what to leave out. I’m not entirely sure if I’m ready to explain to others what to expect because we didn’t really know what to expect when we started making the damn thing. I’m still not sure I’m meant to expect now. It’s good though. Go listen.
KB: Do you guys have a favorite track from the album?
MT: We don’t really sit around discussing our favourite album tracks. It’s not like I walk into the office one day Kele’s all like, Great fill on “Halo”.
Love your work Matt’, and I’m saying, “Those lyrics on “Ares”. Splendid. A ferosh call to arms.” Even though we obviously feel that. It doesn’t need to be said. Or does it? I just don’t know.
[Laughter]
KB: The first single and video, “Talons”, tell me the story / concept behind the video? It feels very manic and intense, a reflection of the lyrics.
MT: It is deeply manic. We went deep on the mania. We were just really into this idea of Kele running round with his top off. He¹s trying to break into bit parts in body moisturizer adverts.
[Laughter]
KB: This is your third studio album, how does the collaboration process work now with the group? Do you all work together in the studio or is more each person recording in a studio and sending the layers and tracks to the other.
MT: Normally Kele is in the studio laying down ideas and things and then he literally mails us spools and spools of tape to listen to on our multi-track tape players at home. And then we record our comments on to the spare tracks of the tape and give them back to a courier to return to him.
KB: From start to ending, can you tell us what inspires the song writing and building process?
MT: Start: A homeless man sits by a deserted train station in Gloucester. He whimpers softly to no-one in particular.
Middle: Detective Broder of the Northern District receives a facsimile containing a photofit and detailing the crimes of the homeless man, which are known to no-one.
End: We write a song about it.
[Laughter]
KB: So whom is the band listening to nowadays? Any artists that wow you guys?
MT: We all listen a lot to the Stone Temple Pilots. Those elegant bachelors. Wow factor: Wet Paint.
KB: Are there any producers or artists out there that you guys would want to work with down the road for either albums or remixes or videos?
MT: Album: Stock, Aitken and Waterman.
Remix: Armand Van Helden
Video: Michael Winner
KB: The state of the music industry, how do you guys feel it has changed from when you first started? Or has it?
MT: It hasn’t changed. London’s industry is still full of twits called Danthanthiel mincing about in Diesel and idling tapping away on Blackberrys, throwing good money after bad.
[Laughter]
KB: Anything else you boys want to say to the fans of Bloc Party?
MT: We owe and continue to owe you so much. Thanks for sticking with us.
The third studio album, Intimacy, is available in stores and iTunes today. Visit Bloc Party’s website for more information: www.blocparty.com. Also hit up www.killahbeez.com for more interviews.
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