Immigrants, Emigrants & Drumcree

According to Buzz Records in Chicago, the sound that’s created by Irish band Half Film is “music for the solitary life”. Maybe it’s appropriate, then, that we’ve interviewed them without even talking, never mind meeting face to face.

Instead, we’ve exchanged a series of e-mail communications; civil at first, but with a developing sense of fun and excitement. From Belfast to San Francisco and back again, sometimes twice a day, bouncing ideas around, throwing missives into the ether on subjects as critical as “are Pelvis any good?”.

Let me explain. Half Film come from Coleraine, via Dublin and California. They make music that’s powerfully slow, aching and severe. They rate acts such as Swell and label mates Idaho. The vibe isn’t too different from those delivered by San Francisco’s sadcore bands. In short, they make the Jubilee Allstars sound like a right old laugh. Their album, East Of Monument features Con Devlin on vocals, Eimer Devlin on bass and Jason Lakis on drums. They’re fixing up a new record in Los Angeles and will be touring the East Coast (including the CMJ fandango in November). They won’t be slaying the world for a bit, but the groove is optimistic. Also, they say that father Devlin once fixed up Phil Lynott’s kitchen in 1982 and he rewarded the kids with Renegade T-shirts. Rock’n’roll!

Anyway, a summary of the internet babble with Con goes something like this: why San Francisco?

“A general affinity with the music produced here; bands like Swell, American Music Club although we all hate the Grateful Dead etc. Also, the city has a very European feel anyway – relaxed, decent architecture, moderate climate, an artistic centre etc. etc. And the Residents are from here too . . .”

What rattles your bucket, culturally speaking?

“Any art that’s created with a large dose of instinct and intuition. Tutoring or training in any artistic field turns us off – when it comes to rock music, I think the more you learn the less you know, and the more emphasis you place on the ‘right’ way of doing things inevitably takes you further away from your initial honest gut instinct.”

Do you feel akin to the likes of Mark Eitzel and Red House Painters – or are we making lazy generalisations?

“Only in a musical sense, the thoughtful pacing and so on. Lyrically they’re a different bag altogether. They tend towards the confessional and apologetic whereas we’re neither, our themes stretch towards memory and distance, movement and the passing of time. But it’s certainly not lazy generalisations. American Music Club and Red House Painters are two great groups.”

What do you miss about the auld sod?

“Not all that much, to be honest. I left Ireland at 20 so I don’t really feel a part of it any more. There’s not even that many contemporary Irish bands I like apart from The Divine Comedy who we played with over here in San Francisco. I just wish bands in Ireland would stop tailoring themselves towards major label deals and have faith in the independents.

“I think Keith Cullen and Setanta Records are a real antidote to this and their bands have their feet on the ground. I wish Ireland would throw up a Gallon Drunk or a Yo La Tengo; music for its own sake as opposed to a commercial venture. If there is one out there, tell them to send us a tape.”

Any messages for the folks back home?

“Don’t believe in major labels and listen to The Fall at least once a day.” (Half Film can be contacted at PO Box 191622, San Francisco, Ca. 94111. To order the record online, log onto http://www.symbiotic.net. You can gibber with Con down the line – [email protected])

COOL HOMECOMING

Back in Belfast and the place has the blues, big style. The knock-on effect of Drumcree surely led to the cancellation of the Killyleagh gig, which would have been such a cool homecoming. The month of July, which was rubbish last year, was pure torpor in ‘98. Tourism going down the crapper, hardly any rock and roll, cabin fever sucking the juice out of the people who hadn’t elected to light off on holiday.

But there were some valuable moments. Like the evening set up by Stuart Fleming from PRS in Scotland. He brought a bunch of industry heads from England, Scotland and Ireland together at the Limelight in Belfast. They had a discussion panel which threw up a few insights into the workings on the business and then some bands had the chance to play. Admission was free and the local press had telegraphed the message that here was a chance for bands to bend a few ears in the biz.

So we met Artfrique, with roots in South Africa, via Ballygowan and Belfast. The promo single, ‘Conscience’ sounds like a smart connection between Youssou N’Dour and Massive Attack, and the main guy, Tura Artura, is irrepressibly gifted. He’s been grafting away at the music course in the North Down College in Bangor, and he’s a credit to the school.

Kickdown come from Antrim and favour the Deftones, Rage Against The Machine and all the grunge heavyweights. Their tape is admirably mean, with songs like ‘Ghetto Gangsters’ and ‘Respite’ piling up the bile. Fierce-looking chaps; you wouldn’t argue with them.

The Moth are more affable guys, who formerly travelled under the Peppermoth moniker. Their Inside Disaster EP lays claim to some throbbing rock-outs in a Manics kind of a way. Decent enough.

Other game parties included William Maxwell from Immortal Records, planning another compilation LP which we’ll cover in the future. Importantly, we also met up with Throat, unabashed Helmet fans who are fierce and definitely worth a return to this column along with their wildman mates, Low End, a primordial prospect that’s still too barmy to fully contemplate.

Finally, there’s some constructive news to report from Portadown. They’re forming a music collective, co-authored by Phil Woolsey from Joyrider, a famous son of the parish. Combining with various funding bodies, they’re starting a 20-week music course in conjunction with their friends in Monaghan. The operation is currently advertising for applicants from these areas, aged 18-28, currently unemployed.

Send your applications to: Music Programme ‘98, c/o MAPP Ltd, 16 Church St, Portadown, BT6 3LR. Tel (01762) 392828.