If you heard last years brilliant Call In The Crash Team, no doubt you’ll be a fan of LYR, the band comprised of poet laureate Simon Armitage alongside producers Richard Walters and Patrick Pearson. It’s slightly amazing and at the same time disconcerting that the band didn’t seem to get the recognition they so richly deserved for the work they created – Armitage’s beautiful words set alongside these rather lovely backings, often piano led but always with moments of melancholy and beauty, and decorated with scattered electronics.
They returned recently with a new track, Cascade Theory alongside Rozi Plain, and it’s if anything better still. Now sugared with a shoegaze backing and with Plains enveloping vocal wrapping its notes around the listener, it’s of course still a vehicle for Simon Armitage’s words, which seem to drag you into the stories they tell whether you want to or not.
Check it out, here
We spoke to Patrick Pearson from the band to find out his thoughts and memories and influences and favourites in his Soundtrack Of Our Lives. The playlist follows the interview – please go listen, like, follow, share, and check out some of our others.
The track that influenced me to start making music?
When I heard Modest Mouse, everything changed. Someone lent me Baron Von Bullshit, I remember being obsessed with the energy and the drama. It made me want to write and record and be in a band. Dramamine is a perfect place to start.
Tour bus favourite?
It would have to be something involved, repetitive, long. Einstein on the beach by Philip Glass is always a favourite to waste away the road. Not only is it gigantic, it’s captivating. It gives you those meditative moods. So be careful if you’re actually behind the wheel.
Saturday night tune?
Most probably ‘House of Jealous Lovers’ by The Rapture. It still slaps. Without fail I’ll be raising both hands in the air and whipping my body around to this. I don’t think it will ever age badly. It’s just too raw.
And a Sunday morning record?
‘Ribbons’ by Bibio – its stunning. I stumbled across Stephen James Wilkinson (Bibio) whilst scrolling the roster at warp records, which I’m a huge fan of. The project really stopped me in my tracks, especially this record, its hazy folk and tape warble just pushed all the right buttons for me. I’d love to collaborate one day with him. If you’re reading this Stephen, lemme know!
The first record I ever bought?
Fat of the Land by Prodigy, bought in a supermarket back when they stocked CD’s. I’m pretty sure a friends parent bought it for my birthday. I’ll always have that image of the charging red crab burned into my early musical memory. It was the first time i could feel music charging my energy. Awesome.
The Cover we would love to play?
We’re still trying to work that out! Maybe ‘Memories Can’t Wait’ by Talking Heads, its still up for debate and we like to be diplomatic. So the jury is still out. Who knows, perhaps the next show we play we’ll have something rehearsed.
The best cover of all time?
Sun Kil Moons tiny cities record is hands down my favourite. An album of Modest mouse covers, done perfectly in Kozelek’s double tracked, howling style. In my opinion they could be even greater than the originals? Bold I know, but if your a fan of both these artists then you must find a copy and listen, and disappear.
The best song we have written?
Personally I think Great Coat, that’s my choice. It came together very unexpectedly. We didn’t have much control over the creation of this, it just seemed to steam roller into something unstoppable.
The song that I remember most from my childhood?
Nina Simone’s Sinnerman, it just seems to throw back so many memories of childhood. This was when I’d worked out how to use my parents CD player, I’d put on the best of compilation. This one always stood out, I remember, how does someone play piano and sing like that!
A favourite track made by friends?
An Ordinary life by Grace Lightman is a great track. I’d say that cause I helped create it. And I’m shameless. But its a beautiful concoction of production, (shout out Ben Baptie) arrangement and song. Really quite strange.
And by the band that should have been/should be bigger?
Theres a band called ‘Drew Grow and the Pastors Wives’ their self titled record is beautiful. It definitely shaped my music, my friends and I still swoon to it late at night with wine. Check out Friendly Fire, but it’s such a great record. I think they disbanded after this, tragic.
A guilty pleasure?
XTC, Andy Partridge, no one can write quite like him. ‘Earn Enough for Us’ is a piece of art. Along with all the others. I don’t think this should be a guilty pleasure at all. I wasn’t in the XTC generation, but it’s fantasy and bravery blows me away. What can I say, Andy, he’s a national treasure.
The record in my parents record collection that attracted attention?
My parents didn’t really have much of a music collection, the Kinks was definitely a CD that always fascinated me, All Day and All of the Night, I’d grab a tennis racket, and pretend it was a guitar, and wreck the living room.
The record I shall have at my funeral?
Pyramid Song by Radiohead, and probably the rest of the album after that. However, I’m quite torn, perhaps I think about this too much? But Eric Clapton’s ‘Please be with me’ is a tie break contender. Yeah, put that on. Let the tears flow.
The words of this song inspire me?
Ben Howards – ‘Towing the Line’ really got me lyrically, its earthly and beautiful. He’s like a fine wine, he gets better with age. I do also have that Devon pride thing going on. However, anyone that can make me homesick with lyrics is inspiring to me.
The best record ever?
Probably In Rainbows, Probably, but that’s not a question I feel comfortable answering. I def feel that would be the band choice. However I might be sneaky here and say ‘Relationship of Command’ by at the drive-in has my vote. It’s a masterpiece.
The record that makes me sad?
Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds is a stab in the heart. I went to see it at the Cinema, when he released it as part of a 3D film piece. Honestly I couldn’t keep the glasses on, I just cried, it all went blurry and surreal for an hour or so.
The record that gets us on the dancefloor?
Devo? Girl you want? C’mon. Banger.
The best record we have ever recorded?
I guess we only have one choice in this answer, we’ve created one record, Call in the Crash team, so I’d choose that. Perhaps in later years it will still be the best, perhaps it gets usurped. Whatever, plug it, go buy it.
