//join.the_dots

While it hardly ranks with Rain changing their name to Oasis, the artists formerly known as co.uk are now to be known simply as co_dot.

"When we started, all you'd hear on the telly and radio was something or other co.uk this, co.uk that," explains co_dot frontman Joe Brush. "It was pretty funny, but the joke is wearing a bit thin and anyway, the new name isn't that new for us, that's what we've always fucking called ourselves! It s all down to the bass player. The bass player has nothing better to do except sit around coming up with that kind of shit, so we just let him get on with it."
Now with their shorter and snappier moniker boxed off, co_dot are about to embark on a flurry of live activity which will culminate with the release of their debut album first thing in the New Year.
"Well for starters, we're finishing off a few more demoes to rush out to people tonight," adds Joe. "Then its off to the chemists to get my 20 bucks worth of Strepsils to see me through the live dates. We are doing three tours between now and Christmas with The Dum Dums, The Almighty and Terrorvision. One of the tours involves thirty two dates back to back, so it s going be a mad one. The album is finished and delivered to the record company, but there is one track I want to re-do which they are totally cool with, so it is a relief to have that amount of control and freedom. Please excuse me a second, there is someone at the door."
Bar a few muffled exclaimations, I can't make out what is going on. When Joe comes back to the phone, he confusingly exclaims; "Oh, my God! That was someone from the library looking for unreturned books! What the hell is going on?"
I can only enquire whether Joe actually owns the missing books in question. "I don't think so... At least I hope not! Anyway, where were we? Oh yeah, the album. We're releasing the first single from it on October 2nd (same release date as the Radiohead album) which is called 'Black and Red'.
Initially, I was startled and surprised when the powers that be chose it as a single, as I didn't think it was even worthy of being a b-side. However, I can appreciate the power of that song now. I suppose that is the kind of thing that happens when other people hear your material, because it is impossible to look at it objectively when you've written it and spent so much time doing it. It s a real soft/noisy/quiet/noisy offering that is based around being in a total headfuck. Sometimes that state of being comatosed and shocked by something is amazing and you don't want it to end."
One thing co_dot share with Southern noise pop merchants Turn is a certain Hugh Jones who handles their production duties.
"He was perfect for us," enthuses Brush. "We were considering getting someone who could do something new-fangled with loops and so on, but Hugh brings out all our strengths as a three-piece. We were thinking about broadening our sound recently, but then we listened to loads of old Police stuff and it made us feel great to be a trio."
Do Joe and the boys share my fascination with the raw, gut-wrenching power that a classic three-piece band can wield?
"Well, to be perfectly honest, it suits us best because it s hard enough to keep it together with three people rather than five. Imagine all the hassle of trying to get someone else out of bed in the morning!"

co_dot release Black and Red on Monday October 2nd with an extensive UK tour to follow. Irish dates will be confirmed in the coming weeks so watch this space...