Stereoboard Speaks To The Pattern Theory About Recording Their New Album, Touring & More (Interview)
Monday, 09 May 2011
Written by Patrick Gormley
With the imminent release of the debut album and a full on tour of Europe on the horizon, Stereoboard were somewhat fortunate to catch up with Carl Schilde and James Yates of The Pattern Theory. The band, formed in Leeds but now based in Berlin have been busy for the last few months finishing the record and practicing for the tour but found time to explain why the album was recorded in a disused office block, the current transition within the music industry and the interesting idea of a concert for 12 mobile subwoofers.
How did you guys meet?
James - We all met at University, where we were all on the same course. Carl knew Luke, then got me involved. We recorded one EP with pop survivor Danny Laycock on Bass.
What was the inspiration for the bands name?
James - I think originally the idea of the band was to play some pretty far out Math Rock stuff in the vein of Don Caballero etc…. Taking the Math bit literally, our music was/is Pattern based, so it seemed a good idea in back then.
Carl - Yeah, the music changed, but the name fits any type of music, it's all patterns in the end.
The band began life in Leeds, so why relocate to Berlin?
James - We wanted a change really, Carl’s originally from Berlin so it seemed a good opportunity to move to a capitol. Luke and Carl still live there, but I live in the UK again.
Carl - It's actually quite good creatively to live in 2 different countries. When we come together to rehearse now it's 100% focused on making music.
James - Definitely a good point, and because we’re now almost working backwards to how we worked before in that stuff is recorded before its played, albeit in demo form. But then when we come together we have lots of ideas of how to present it live. I like it really, it’s a good way of working.
Why record the album in a disused office space?
James - It was our practice room located in an old post office building. Basically we had no other real option for recording, and we’re all really into recording and production, so we thought it will cost us this amount to go in to a studio, or this amount to get a few more mics, which we’ll have forever, so it seemed like a better investment/experience of trying to get a studio sounding record, with modest equipment and a sort of treated room. The downside of this was we had to wait ‘til midnight when it was quiet enough to start recording...
Carl - Yeah, that was a weird time. I didn't see daylight for a couple of months, coming back from work when other people went to work. Then waking up at 6pm, have a quadruple espresso and then back to the studio. I think the record is definitely influenced by this darkness or wanting to get away from it.
James - I remember the last day of your guitar recording when you got tired and had to spend €10 getting a tiny jar of Kenco from the garage at like 4am or something…. Me and Luke met up with you in the morning; you were just like “I was on, I had to finish it”. Haha!
Best and worst part of the recording process?
James - Best: Finishing it & knowing we did all ourselves. Worst: It taking so long and recording the whole thing through the night was awful!
How would you like The Pattern Theory sound to progress?
James - We’ve already started recording album 2 stuff… So I think I can say with some certainty that it is a lot more smooth and kind of pushing to the limit of what we can do with just the three of us live.
Carl - The current record is defined by reduction and minimalism, so the next one is going be the complete opposite of that. We're lucky enough to go through the same musical phase together. So expect vocals, fm synths, out of control saxophone solos, 808 cowbells, basically everything we've denied ourselves to like in the last 10 years or so.
James - Definitely more of a ‘studio’ record as well. I’m looking forward to knuckling down to it!
The band are all involved in other musical projects, do you think this benefits The Pattern Theory?
James - Yes. For example; When we recorded the album I had never really recorded drums, so we kind of kept it safe with mic placements, which is no bad thing, we were learning, but since then I’ve done a lot of other recording for all sorts of things and become more aware of things, and now have a better idea how to get the sound that I want, I’m sure I would’ve got to that point with just theory, but the opportunity to try lots of styles and techniques that wouldn’t necessarily be on a pt release (I did some blast beats last week….), I think it all helps what we’re going to do on future recordings, just in terms of knowledge of different styles/getting specific sounds.
Do you work on other projects outside music?
Carl - It's still music I guess, but I'm involved in a lot of sound art/ installations. This band is my main focus, but I'm also really interested in finding new ways of experiencing music or sound other than through your ipod headphones. I'm currently organizing a concert for 12 mobile subwoofers, for example.
James - Yeah if you’re in Berlin the week that happens, you should go and witness that, it will be incredible. Bass everywhere.
What are you most looking forward to about the tour?
James - Playing old and new stuff with both Epic45 and Pattern Theory… And finally having our album to sell!
How are European audiences different to those in the UK?
James - Not massively different really, the people who get it; get it. Those who don’t, don’t.
Any bands out at the minute that really excite you?
James - I really like the new Bibio stuff, the track ‘Take Off Your Shirt’ is brilliant, I like how it doesn’t totally work on the album, but because of that totally works, if that makes sense?…. And ‘Excuses’ is damn cool as well.
In terms of excitement: shamefully I’m not the most up to date and current with music. I got the Conquering Animal Sound album fairly recently, that’s cool as well. Their live show is superb. I like the latest Jaga Jazzist album, ‘One Armed Bandit’, that has some incredible drumming on it, and it’s mixed by John McEntire, so it ticks all the boxes for me, brilliant record. We’re all massive fans of the Hall & Oates song ‘Adult Education’. That’s probably the best song ever written. Probably….
Carl - Tupolev's new record "Towers of Sparks" sounds amazing and, of course, "Weathering" by Epic45. Other than that, I've been into 70s/80s smooth jazz/new age for a while now. I think there's something there between all the kitsch which hasn't been fully discovered yet. Some of that stuff is so far out it's unbelievable.
James - Most definitely.
Is there a record/s in your collection that you could not be without?
James - 10cc – Deceptive Bends, Tortoise – Standards, Don Caballero – American Don
Carl - Agreed...
What are your thoughts on the current state of the music industry?
James - It is what it is, and can’t realistically be changed. I think if the average music listener knew how much it cost make and put out a record perhaps they’d think twice.
I was watching the Stewart Lee "If you prefer a milder comedian" DVD last week, and near the end there’s a guy just videoing him right up close on a camera he’s bought in, its crazy really; the guy just doesn’t stop until Stewart takes his camera away. I think all forms of low budget art will suffer if it isn’t made clear that someone loses out on a valuable part of their income by theft. Anyway, watch (buy!) that DVD, Stewart sums it up angrier and better.
Carl - The music business is in a transitional phase right now. Since music no longer has to be attached to a thing with objective value (aka CD), now you're basically just paying for pure information or data. Therefore the big question looms on the horizon: how much is music worth itself? You probably can't ever answer this question, but I'm sure there'll be a solution enabling artists to make a living again.
Where do you see The Pattern Theory in five years?
James & Carl - Celebrating our third album release party on our hoverboards...
Thanks for that Carl and James
The Pattern Theory release their excellent self titled debut May 13th on Valeot Records.
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What was the inspiration for the bands name?
