COVENTRY Music Museum curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.
Sometimessean -The Drifter
I’m delighted to have heard a new composition from Sometimesean, or Sean Graham as you may know him.
He’s of course a fully paid-up member of the Warriors Of The Dystotheque, who have released some pretty impressive music over the years.
So now its Sean’s turn to do something on his own, and what a track it is. ‘The Drifter’ is as mesmerising as it is powerful. There’s a lot going on here, but there’s no audio overload, it all works so well together, production is class.
So, I put a couple of questions to Sean about the new project.
PC: “So I suppose the big question is, what about Warriors of the Dystotheque, are they still going?”
SG: “Yes Warriors are still going and we are working on a second album with Howie B co-producing that. Jonny Mac applied for some Arts Council funding to get that one moving.”
PC: “So why this solo track now?”
SG: “I’ve been working on some solo stuff recently in between Warriors Of The Dystotheque working with Howie B (producer for U2, Bjork and Tricky).
“With the solo stuff, we work very tightly with The Brothers Nylon who are amazing multi-instrumentalists for Warriors of the Dystotheque, and they are based in New York.
“The solo stuff is about me exploring my other lo-fi influences from Andrew Weatherall, DJ Shadow or Death in Vegas and bringing in some influence from bands like The Cramps or The Sonics thanks to my dad’s influence (Ian Graham, Coventry’s premier Cramps fan).
“It gives me a chance to explore live instrumentation and break away from the typically clinical programming of electronic production.” The Drifter is available on bandcamp at sometimessean.bandcamp.com
Too Big A Bite by Nigel Meffen
Not content with being be a top bloke, bass guitarist and music video maker Nigel Meffen has turned his hand to novel writing.
Is there no end to this man’s talents, well apparently not.
As Nigel himself said: “ Well I’ve only gone a published my first novel.
“During the first lockdown – in between my work with Alternative Sounds and my video making for local acts and the Coventry Music Museum – I took some time out to sit down and write a novel I had been thinking about for several years.
“After a few months, ‘Too Big a Bite’ emerged from the page.
“At first it was simply a vehicle to fill my time, but after encouragement from my family and friends, I have self-published it.
“It’s a definite first for me.”
What I have read of it so far it looks like an interesting and imaginative journey is unfolding, if you fancy going along, the book is available now as a Kindle version on Amazon for just £1.50.
