CABLE #7 THIS ISSUE: CONTRIBUTE: Mugstar Apposing Send your news stories to: Pacificstream Elevator’s Christmas Party [email protected] The Wombats Smiling Wolf Follow us on: Bendal Interlude www.twitter.com/elevatorstudios Miles Kane or www.facebook.com/elevatorstudios WORDS WITH...MUGSTAR Mugstar’s stats are impressive. Achievements in Mogwai and Wooden Shjips, signing to Important work out. Working with Rob Whitely, in White- 2010 alone stand at 2 albums, 1 single, 3 UK tours, Records and we will have some very exciting news wood Studios, has had a massive impact on this ap- 1 European tour, and 1 film credit. They’re listed in shortly, which will be a massive highlight.” proach and he has actively encouraged this. 5 top 50 albums of the year lists and appear at num- ber 6 in the NME’s top 10 noise rock bands. To say Do Mugstar feel the John Peel connection played “The reception to ‘Lime’ has been unbelievable. It’s they’ve put in the hours is a horrendous disservice an important part in their success? “By having John been called the ‘best space rock album of 2010’. to the work load they’ve undertaken. All this and Peel play our music he opened a lot of doors for us. We recently had a great review in Mojo magazine producing the best material of their lives? Though But for ourselves he somewhat validated what we and in a number of magazines in the States. We’ve they’ve been together 8 years, it seems Mugstar were doing at the time, making you realise you must had more press than ever before, so it’s been a very are just getting positive release started... for us in terms of developing our “2010 has been profile. I feel it a massively busy is more immedi- year for Mugstar,” ate than our last explains bassist Ja- records and the son Stoll. “We’ve response reflects released two full this. We’ve had length albums; ‘... great reviews Sun, Broken...’ in the world over, March and ‘Lime’ from Canada to in November, Australia, UK to both on US label, Asia.” Important Re- cords. Neil (Mur- How have the phy, guitar) wrote band seen the and made a film Liverpool scene with film maker change over the Liam Yates, called time they’ve ‘Ad Marginem’, been together? which we wrote a “I think there soundtrack for and a lot of good premiered in the things happen- Bluecoat in Sep- ing in Liverpool tember. We played at the moment at our favourite and there seems UK music festi- to be a lot more vals; Supersonic people linking and All Tomorrow’s Parties and released a new 7” be doing something correct,” says Jason. “With the up and putting shows on. However, I do still feel single called ‘Red Shift’. 2011 seems like it’s going depth of his history with a lot of our favourite music, that there are very separate scenes and there are to be even busier!! it was great to be a part of that history. The record groups of individuals who will never link up with label tend to use the fact that we recorded a Peel others. So from this sense, things are better but very During the 8 years they’ve been together, the Session on the press releases, so it must still have far from being unified.” ‘psych kraut rock band’ have gained some impres- weight to it.” sive plaudits, a worldwide following, and have had How do the band feel about companies such as El- the opportunity to work with some names who form In the 8 years they have been together, how has the evator’s Ditto, who make it possible for unsigned part of the most highly regarded music collections. creative process changed? “I think we have changed bands to chart? “If it opens up the charts so that the way we make music especially with the last more ‘interesting’ bands get to chart, then surely What have been their personal highlights? “It’s been two albums, ‘...Sun, Broken...’ and ‘Lime,’ which that must be a good thing. But the charts are about great to have worked with the people we have,” have seen us experiment in the studio environment ‘popular’ music and popular music isn’t always go- explains Jason. “My personal highlights are: John more,” he explains. “Previously we would have defi- ing to be ‘interesting’ music as the general masses Peel playing our first 7” record, recording a ‘Peel nite ideas which we would stick to, as we had done want something to sing or hum along to and dis- Session’, Sonic Youth, Julian Cope and Will Ser- with previous bands, however, we now have loser cordant guitars probably don’t cut it! The music geant becoming fans, releasing a split 7” with Mud- ideas and experiment with song structures more than industry seems to be in a constant state of flux - CD honey, selling lots of records in San Francisco and before. It’s quite an exciting way to work really as sales are down, but vinyl sales are up, 28 million Chicago, playing shows with Oneida, Mudhoney, we don’t know exactly how the finished product will vinyl albums sold in 2010. The only way for bands PAGE 1 to make money is to constantly tour and play live. So, record labels are making less money and are less FREE CREATIVE BUSINESS ADVICE FOR LIVERPOOL’S INHABITANTS. likely to invest. It’s a messed up system.” Elevator isn’t short of creative types, be they artists, tions you have and provide the professional advice musicians, crafts people through to dancers. Design that will help you succeed. The business support Why did the band choose Elevator? “We think El- Initiative and Pacificstream have teamed up to of- services we deliver are free for those living and/or evator is a great place to be. We first recorded in fer free creative business advice to anyone based in setting up their business in Liverpool. Whitewood Studios with Rob Whitely and really Liverpool wanting to set up a business. liked the feel of the place and by the end of that “The support includes: Branding, Budgeting, month we had a room in the building and haven’t If you’re based in Liverpool and you need help, sup- Developing your creative idea, Portfolio devel- looked back. It’s been a creative time for us since we port, funding or training with your burgeoning busi- opment, , Business Bank Accounts, Business moved into Elevator and it has somehow increased ness, then this could be the scheme for you. Development, Employment, Finance, Funding, our creativity and productivity. The ‘creative hub’ Intellectual Property, Getting Started, Market ethos has definitely been beneficial to us.” Design Initiative, working with Pacific Stream, has a Research, Marketing, Presentation and Pitching specialist team of start up business advisors that un- skills, Creative and Cultural Networking, PAYE, And what does 2011 hold for Mugstar? “2011 looks derstand the ethos and needs of creative and digital Promotions, Sales, Setting up a company, VAT, like its going to be busier than ever before. More re- design enterprises and have a proven successful his- Websites, Writing your business plan.” cordings, touring and releasing more records. We’ve tory getting people started and helping them develop got the soundtrack to our film Ad Marginem to re- and grow their business models. For further information call: Ray Haigh on 07921 193775 or cord in February. We have been offered to play in Roy Jones on 07974 432937 or visit www.pacificstreamenterprise. co.uk. Mexico City in the summer so will try and link this They specialise in getting your ideas and businesses with some west coast American dates with White off the ground, developing business plans, raising Hills and Wooden Shjips.” funding/grants, connecting you to networks, EU re- search and development, clients and suppliers. For more information, go to: www.mugstar.com They will support your idea and art and design prac- tice from conception to releasing your full ambi- tion, and fully understand the need to focus on your creative idea and personal art practice allowing the business concepts to develop in unison and concor- dance. “Make the time to get professional advice. It will save you time and money,” they explain. “We un- derstand you won’t know everything about how to run or set up a business. We can help. Design Initia- tive and Pacific Stream can answer whatever ques- THE WOMBATS COMPLETE NEW VIDEO FOR JUMP INTO THE FOG BENDAL INTERLUDE RELEASE The Wombats have completed the new video for ‘Jump Into The Fog’ offered as a free download in SELF-TITLED EP forthcoming single ‘Jump Into The Fog’. Released 2010. ‘Techno Fan’ will now be released in March. on January 24th, the video was filmed in downtown Bendal Interlude have released their latest self LA, and saw the band endure less than ideal condi- Track-listing for the forthcoming single includes titled EP to rave reviews. The self-released debut, tions in the bug-infested hotel location. new B-sides ‘How I Miss Sally Bray’, ‘Valentine’, recorded in the band’s Elevator practise room, has and ‘Addicted To The Cure’. The single is available seen the stoner-thrash outfit’s EP draw plaudits such The band were also kept grounded by a real coro- for pre-order now from the iTunes store. as: “The Bendal Interlude have absolutely nailed it, ner’s note pinned to the door of one room. The handcuffed it to the bedposts, slapped their business new single, a wry look at modern debauchery, adds The band will embark on an extensive UK tour in card on its chest and stomped out of the room.” further weight to the new, synth-ier direction the March, after the success of their sold-out tour at the new material has pushed towards.