He Is The Claw

A few years back, Belfast band Cutaways appeared well placed to, ‘er, cut free from the local pack. Their debut album, Earth And Earthly Things was a whip-smart collection of spry-indie lifted to promising heights by the observational lyrics (and lyricism) of frontman, Paul McIver. In another time or another place, it could have launched the trio into a dizzying orbit. Unfortunately, events conspired to ensure that the enterprise remained grounded, and within a few months, the album had disappeared, and the band dissolved. So, when we meet up with Paul, and prepare to hear all about his new band, Morning Claws, there’s something we need to clear first – Earth And Earthly Things: a source of pride, or a kick in the knackers?

“Both,” he smiles. “A lot of that record is great indie-pop with a lot of nice twists and turns – which is the way I think music should be. However, I feel that I was guilty of trying to make everything an opus, whereas it would have been better if I’d shown more patience and a bit more attention to detail in bringing together a really coherent bunch of songs. I will have fond memories of most of those songs, but with Morning Claws I took the time to think of exactly what I wanted musically before I ‘unveiled’ it. I’m a happier guy as a result.”
Given the inevitable heartache and hassle involved in a break-up, there’s never a better time to measure a person’s commitment to their craft. According to Paul, the demise of Cutaways only acted to reaffirm his songwriting ambitions.
“I don’t think quitting really crossed my mind,” he says. “I kinda felt even more determined to make sure that whatever came next was something that I could truly believe in. I didn’t feel in any way finished as a songwriter. I’d only been the main songwriter in a band for three years. I knew I was capable of so much more. If Cutaways had been the best band I could ever have been in I would’ve maybe thought: “Well, there’s no point carrying on”. As it was, I still felt that there was something great lurking within. And if that sounds sinister, it is!”
Sinister or not, we should all be glad he’s still looking to force the issue. A quick introduction to Morning Claws’ nascent catalogue finds the left-leaning pop moments of Paul’s previous mob all present and correct. If the sound is a bit fuller (courtesy, he claims, of the new mob stretching to five people; four of whom share vocal duties), and the melancholy a little richer – it’s also clear that his happy knack for the wry, observational lyric has also survived the big move.
McIver seems every inch the type who walks around quietly taking mental notes for potential song subjects.
“I’m more likely to be the loon you see walking down the street singing into his phone,” he laughs. “I don’t like to be pre-emptive with lyrics. I write them down and see where it takes me. As I’ve said, it usually leads me to discuss something I feel emotionally connected to; either by personally being the voice in the song or having a character do that job. Either way it’s extremely personal and I always want the song to make narrative sense. Much as I love the lyrics of Captain Beefheart and Steven Malkmus I get frustrated when they seem to be cryptic and nonsensical for the sake of it. However, wade through that and there are some beautiful and meaningful lyrics to be found. I don’t want people to have to wade too much when listening to my songs.”
With a debut album currently being knocked into shape with Rocky O’Reilly, and a host of Irish shows – north and south – due in the coming months, Morning Claws look set to make lots of favourable introductions throughout 2011. The twice-shy Paul, however, is taking a pragmatic stance in regard to his ambitions.
“I want to release a great album, play loads of shows all over the place and have people we play to like us and remember us,” he says. “All the stuff we don’t have any control of we’ll just leave to chance. If we fulfill our potential we’ll be okay.”

Morning Claws give their upcoming ‘Slack Magic’ single a run out in White’s Tavern, Belfast (April 28) and Whelan’s, Dublin (May 14)