The
Gods of Dark Metal/Rock ANATHEMA are back on
tour in support of their latest release A Natural Disaster,
that got high-rated everywhere and even extends the fan base,
instead of making it smaller. After kind of an identity crisis
the band seems to have found its way again, being just themselves,
having thrown off all ballast. After another awesome show, filled
with such an emotional atmosphere I snatched up a good-humoured
Danny Cavanagh for an interview. We caught a small place anywhere
upstairs in the Matrix’s Bistro with the tour management
in tow. It was loud and lively around and sometimes even hard
to understand each other. Fortunately I had focused my questions
on the essence, not making that interview too long. And Danny
came up with a few interesting understandings and promises…
and FUCKING DAMN!!! The interview didn’t work, since I could
not understand anything afterwards on tape. Too much noise, too
many voices and loud music around. So I had to redo that interview
while catching Danny online, stealing his time and afterwards
doing a mix of both what was said in Bochum and written down later…
;)
Dajana:
Sorry for drawing on you again, redoing this interview. But there
was too much noise when we did the interview after the show in
Bochum. Dictating machines are very sensitive while recording
stuff… Ok Danny, let’s start again: what brought you
back to the band’s fold and why with Jamie in tow?
Danny: Well, I should never have left the band. It was
a mistake to think that I should leave and I will never do it
again. Now I’m back and the band is really where I belong.
It’s a direction and a focus for me and always has been
a big part of my life.
Dajana: So it was a short trip outside the band.
What were your experiences?
Danny: Well, I went to Ireland, thinking it might
be a good idea to start work with Dunc (Duncan Patterson, former
Anathema bassist/songwriter, now behind Antimatter - Cal), but
it was not going to be the right thing for me or him. After a
week or two I came home and tried to figure out what was wrong.
Then eventually spoke the guys in ANATHEMA and
apologized.
Dajana: But you enjoyed the acoustic shows you
played with him?
Danny: Yeah it’s a great pleasure to play
those songs. They are so good.
Dajana:
Why did you bring Jamie back? Do you think he will bring some
new impulses into the band?
Danny: With Jamie dropping in… well… he seems
to understand our music quite well. He is a very good bass player
too and I think his style suits us. And yes, his influences are
good too, plus, he his a hard worker. We couldn’t have made
A Natural Disaster without Jamie.
Dajana: Did Jamie relocate to Liverpool?
Danny: No, he still lives in Holland. He just
travels over all the time.
Dajana:
You have written all songs – except Balance (by Vincent)
– all alone – was it difficult for the other ones
to identify with the music and to handle the duties?
Danny: Maybe a little bit *laughs*… yeah, maybe
a little bit. But I think it will be OK. I also think, they more
identify with them now. The songs really suit us, but is was a
difficult time, very confusing for the other ones to see what’s
going on. Since then we often played the songs live, that helps
to understand them. And I think they realized I wouldn’t
be saying that’s the way I always will do albums…
I just needed to do this album and this way I was a really strong
person. But that won’t happen again. I don’t think
so. Next time I will be a good team player. I already started…
Dajana:
Don’t you think you might have deprived the music, the band
of some more possibilities, variety, influences?
Danny: Maybe in the production of the songs, yes. And
in the recording process, yeah. In the general production process,
yeah. Maybe we would have made the album 10 or 20% better if it
was a more team work yeah... But in terms of songwriting I have
no regrets about doing those songs. They should be on the same
album. It’s just maybe we could have produced it a touch
better.
Dajana:
There could be heard and read there are a bunch more songs already
written, waiting to be nailed down on the next album soon: what
do we have to expect concerning sounds, elements, musical directions
… etc.?
Danny: Yes, there is so many going around. We have a
lot of tunes, kicking around. I must have… at least 20 new
songs. And Jamie came up with some stuff too. Well, the songs
are in basic form at the moment, most are without vocals but the
seeds for maybe 3 albums worth are all there between us. And as
I said, it’s still unfinished work but the potential for
good music is there for sure. You might say AND
is a closing of a chapter for ANATHEMA and the
beginning of a new one.
Dajana: What about sounds, new elements?
Danny: Let me think…well… what I
mean is, now that the album is done I and the others feel it's
time now to do EVERYTHING we feel like doing musically. Everything
might be the title of the next album. To emphasize this point
the rest of the band bring a huge range of influences into things…
as well as I do. And among them would be everything from Beethoven
to the Aphex Twin, and all good stuff... the Moonlight Sonata
… and so on…
Dajana: Sounds… interesting. I’m
just curious how you will integrate things like that and how it
will sound… *lol*?
Danny: Well, I’m curious too…
Dajana:
Most of the songs of AND were written in the same period
as AFDTE songs, but have a totally different charisma,
different feeling, how do you explain that?
Danny: Well, I guess AFDTE
is more trying to stay together and AND
is more needing to break apart. I don’t know…
Dajana:
In earlier days it seemed that you wanted to get away from the
Metal scene, being more alternative and rockin’ like Radiohead,
Tool, Portishead. Now that you already made this step you mostly
refuse allusions in interviews…
Danny: That is not true! We don’t want to leave
any scene, any metal fans, we just want to reach people! We know
where our fans are coming from. We treat them with respect. And
we don’t wanna stay in the metal scene only, when we could
have wider appeal!
Dajana:
I also read somewhere you would like to create movie soundtracks
– what would be the perfect film for the first try? Existing
or new one, what style of film would be right to you?
Danny: Oh… that’s a difficult one…
I would be happy with any good emotional film, nothing too epic,
more personal stories and stuff…
Dajana: Like what? Like something from one of
your favorite directors maybe?
Danny: Well, there are a lot of good directors…
Roman Polanski, Kowalski brothers, Tarantino, Spielberg, David
Lynch… and the list goes on. Whoever did Fightclub too…
Maybe something like Dancer In The Dark, that’s a really
amazing and impressing film.
Dajana: Yeah, especially the scene, when she
gets executed at the end… That’s really an emotional
and sad moment…
Dajana:
Now AND tour is over and regarding your tour diary it
seems it turned out to be a huge success. What about the DVD day
in Krakow and let us know the funniest moments on tour.
Danny: Well, there was one night when we John and Jamie
were doing this long scene on the tour buss acting in 1920's Chicago
gangster/private investigator accents… I can’t do
the accent now… but it was enough to make me laugh hard
for an hour at least…
Dajana: Did you film this sequence?
Danny: No, we didn’t get it on tape as
far as I know… but if we did, it will be on there
Dajana: What can we expect from the upcoming
DVD, beside the Krakow show?
Danny: There is a film where Vinny (wearing long
coat and hat in Chicago 1920's style) was going through these
TV studios like a spy… much footage… backstage stuff
… we don’t know yet exactly…
Dajana: Ok, I’m at the end of my
questions. Thank you again very much for spending time doing and
redoing this interview. I really appreciate. |
