This is your first full length album in 7 years, what have you been up to over this time? Seven years after their epic double album The Glass Factory, Edinburgh psychedelic rockers Frantic Chant are back with another full length release. Tomatrax caught up with the band to ask a few questions.
Stazy - We never realised it's been 7 years since the last last album. We went back in the studio in late 2019 and done an E.P. and we were planning on having a launch party in March. That went to plan. Next was the usual cliché about learning how to home record during lockdown,so we were still busy writing and demoing. Once things got back to normal we got back into playing a few gigs,but carried on writing. We went into the studio in July 23 ,then had a month off, then basically spent the rest of the year finishing recording and mixing.
Col - We recorded a single for a brilliant Scottish label, Whanga Records. It was called Sail On. We played a few gigs for Whanga In their hometown of Dunfermline, meeting and playing with some excellent bands like Birrell or Biscuit, Panhead Sharps and The Froobz. We did plan to record another song at that session but the partying took its toll that night.
Nick -
7 years! Blimey,time flies. I grew a beard that was laughable and not to be repeated
Nick - A new found joy in foot pedals. We can do it all ourselves. Staz and Col excelled on keys, then Ally took it stratospheric.
Col - Most of the songs were almost complete by the time we started recording, the only thing we couldn't do was play piano with more than two fingers so that's where producer Ally came in.
Stazy - We didn't go out our way not to use outside musicians, it's just that all extra instruments were played by us and Ally, our producer on this album. Col also bought a synth during lockdown so he was adding a lot of nonsense with that.
Where did the title humbumcheekumbas come from?The only other person on the album is Doogie Sawdust, who added the Saw to Trampton Comes Alive and Take Yesterday Off.
Nick - I didn't know where it came from, but say it out loud, it suits this album.
What was the inspiration behind the albums cover?Col - In the housing scheme where me and Stazy grew up there was a fair bit of violence. When the older lads wanted a fight with us, they would chanthumbumcheekumbas over and over In a very sinister way before trying to attack us.
Nick - Well tunes always come first, how can we top that? Same with the artwork, just one night home from band practice, wait a minute it's obvious, kitchen mantlepiece! Then expand. Staz and Col up the house, lights, ideas flying about and what you see is a culmination of that. Nice touch is us anonymous again, hidden behind not just a newspaper but a 1966 Melody Maker.
This album is almost half the length of your previous album, was it a conscious decision to make a shorter release?Col - We just wanted to do something a bit different from previous albums and Nick suggested using his kitchen for a photo. We set up some lights, sat Nick down reading an old music mag and filtered the fuck out of the photo I took.
Stazy - Was the last album a double? We never think about runtimes when we're recording, we just get in and do it and however long the tunes are, that's how long they are. Or short. We never keep songs off albums either. What's the point in keeping shit back? They're only songs.
Nick - My hand died (hence the song titled Viking Claw)
Most of the songs go for longer than 5 minutes, was this something you were aiming for when writing?Col - I don't think we've ever recorded an album thinking about practical things like running times. We've always just recorded a set of songs we had at that time , warts 'n' all. It was the way The Clash done it and I always loved that thing of capturing a band in the moment.
Col - Again that would imply we know what we're doing and have some master plan. The songs just come out as they are with very minimal tinkering with structures.
Stazy - There are a few longer tunes but we try to keep the interest going. Despite Repeated Warnings is really two songs joined together and on songs like Dave's Wet Cardigan we made all three verses different melodies and that pricks the ears up a bit. We did edit some tunes down to about 7-8 minutes as well.
You previously released the album "the 51st best band in Edinburgh" how did you work out you were number 51?Nick - We like a groove then throw in stuff like samples etc....... there's no end to us.
Nick - #1 band in Leith, go up toon, too many. 50 odd bands, we play the hits, they play drivel.
What do you have planned for the rest of 2024?Col - It was a tongue in cheek response to some Edinburgh promoters who were putting on a festival billed as the 50 best bands in Edinburgh. We weren't invited and about 49 of the bands were fucking shite.
Stazy - We're demoing the new batch as we speak. There's still a couple that need the shit kicked out of them and then we'll be ready to get in the studio and walk like panthers. Hopefully get in before the year's out. Then we will spend the last day of the year looking back at sales, counting the money and enjoying some red wine and glue.
Col - As soon as the album came out we just started writing again. The temptation is to release a single or EP but I'd rather just go for another album. We've not been gigging too often and we should really put that right.
Check out Frantic Chant's Facebook page to find out more!Nick - To play and sparkle.