Nine Black Alps (Interview)

by David Cross on 18.08.09

MANCUNIAN rockers Nine Black Alps have recorded an album with a difference.
Breaking free from the media’s grasp, this popular band has gone back to basics with just pure and raw rock.

Singer and guitarist Sam Forrest said their third album, ‘Locked Out From The Inside’, has been intentionally made to be more alternative.

“Our new album is much weirder and heavier than the previous ones,” he said. “We wanted to record something slower and darker. It’s all about making it less poppy.”

The four-piece – who first met at the Star & Garter in 2003 – have enjoyed success ever since they formed.

Even before the release of their first album, ‘Everything Is’ in 2005, it always felt like Nine Black Alps were in the eye of a media storm which they could not control. The band caused a publicity frenzy in Manchester when they got signed a few years back.

Their second album was no different and it was impossible for them to live up to expectations. In many ways, ‘Love/Hate’, released in 2007, should be seen as their debut because they were plucked before they grew. It was the first album that sounded like them, rather than their idols.

A triumphant show at London’s Koko put a full-stop on the second album campaign – and possibly the band – before the four went their separate ways. Jones, Cohen and Galley went back to Manchester and Forrest back to York.

“I think we all needed to get time away from it,” said Forrest. “We had a feeling of failure – the way we’d become consumed by the machine.”

“It didn’t really feel like our band by the end of it, in terms of the way that the songs from the last album had changed so much from the original demos.
“And things like the way we were presented. It just felt really weird.”

The band, having felt like they had lost their identity to media campaigns and speculation, wanted to make music like they always intended. And the new album tries to reflect that.

Forrest said: “We just got a bit bored of doing something dead obvious – and wanted something that was a bit more against what the record buying public might like.”

“This album isn’t really about reaching listeners because the previous two albums got so heavily marketed and hyped that it got a bit embarrassing. So we wanted to do something that was more for ourselves.”

“We paid for it all so that we didn’t get any interference from anyone. It was just us and our producer, Dave Eringa.”

With their objectives set, the songs came thick and fast.

“The first song we wrote was ‘Buy Nothing’,” said Forrest. “I wanted to play to our strengths. Something fun and enjoyable – not self-centred. Half of it is fairly tongue-in-cheek, but half of it is making a point about mindless, rampant consumerism.”

And the band really does loathe consumerism, which is apparent in their new album. ‘Vampire In The Sun’ is a salute to corporate daylight robbery. ‘Every Photograph Steals Your Soul’ is about a picture of Marilyn Monroe and how “…people are used and consumed by their own identity”. And ‘Ghost In My City’ is about alienation.

But the main theme – is rock. Heavy, weird and no nonsense.
“We had twenty days to make whatever kind of record we wanted,” said Forrest. “And there was no-one to come and say ‘that’s too heavy’ or ‘where’s the hit single in this?’.

“We realised we’re not that kind of band and we had to make a record that feels good for us – the ultimate Nine Black Alps record.

“There’s nothing on the radio or television like us. People like Lily Allen are being held as the saviours of the British music industry and it’s this vacuous, self-absorbed, self-centred celebrity thing.

“If I was a teenager now and saw what was being presented to me, I’d be seeking something a bit cooler to be honest.”

And crucially, the band members actually enjoy listening to this album – unlike the other two they have done.

“It’s the first one that we’ve done that I’m not squeamish about the way the vocal sounds or the way that the whole thing sounds,” said Forrest. “I think it sounds like us at our best.”

The album, which was finished two months ago, is due to be released soon. And Nine Black Alps are currently trying to figure out how they want this to be done.
Any fans who are eagerly anticipating the third album can expect less pop and much more rock as this band move towards the style they always dreamed of.
The band is currently touring the country. The new single, ‘Buy Nothing’, can be heard on www.myspace.com/nineblackalps.