Q&A: Cane 141

musicOMH caught up with them for a quickfire round of questions and answers...

musicOMH: Firstly, the obvious one has to be, who thought of the name Garden Tiger Moth and why? What does it mean?
Michael: Garden Tiger Moth was the name of a compilation tape made by John Doherty. He also appears in the video for The Grand Lunar and Real Spacemen... It reminded him of Foxbase Alpha and us of Pere Ubu's New Picnic time, Captain Beefheart's Troutmask Replica.

musicOMH: People have perhaps unimaginitively likened Cane 141 to Kraftwerk, Paddy McAloon (!) and (inevitably) Tim Buckley (some music hacks reckon everyone sounds like him). Who do you listen to and who influences your music?
Gerard: I listen to all kinds of stuff but I think only a couple of people have influenced my own writing. I think Juliana Hatfield is a fantastic writer and I guess I sometimes try to write really blunt, upfront lyrics like her. I would say the more melodious moments of Faust and The Velvet Underground have influenced me. I love Royal Trux, Cat Power and also a host of one-hit wonders from the last 40 or so years.
Michael: This year I've been listening to a lot of early electronic music - people like John Cage and Stockhausen. Also a lot of late sixties stuff like The United States of America, Joe Meek and The Silver Apples. I loved the last two records by Broadcast and Saint Etienne. Apart from that, Northern Soul and some seriously cheesy handbag......? Yes, we're fans of Tim Buckley and Kraftwerk - but not really Prefab Sprout. In fact, not Prefab Sprout at all... but not in a bad way. You know a record we all really like? Love's Forever Changes and Cardinal. They have been more than inspirational. Also groups like Can, Faust, Neu, Popul Vuh and the mighty Pere Ubu. Before making Scene from 6am I overdosed on Scott Walker too.
Gerard: Influences? Let's not forget Blondie, Tim Hardin and American Music Club (Mercury, to be specific); particularly around the time of our first album.
Shane: Mostly electronica type stuff these days, Aphex Twin and the like and more ambient music like Labradford. The folk and country of yesteryear is still loved but seldom seen on the decks of late.

musicOMH: How did Cane 141 form?
Gerard: It formed as a hobby one summer. Mike had just finished school and he and I and a friend called Paul started trying to make up songs together. We had vague ambitions about making a mysterious Datapanik in the Year Zero type of record. Of course, it was years before we were remotely ready. When we did, it turned into an album called Scene From 6am in 1997. By this time Shane Burke had joined the band. Then Paul Maye quit and Paul B. joined. Then, Shane's brother Ronan and Paul's friend Colm joined. That's the current line-up.

musicOMH: How do you go about starting to write/record a track?
Michael: We generally go into our studio and multitrack. Often we just record the bare bones of a track and then leave the rest to serendipity. God, I've kind of forgotten how it's been done up to this point.For the next release we're going to put down more stuff live. Yahoo!

musicOMH: Do you have your own studio - what equipment do you use in the studio (eg. Logic, CuBase, a four track...!)?
Michael: We kind of have our own studio. We use old Farfisa organs, Korg analogue synths, Logic Audio Sequencer - tons of old gear and some new digital fandangled stuff. I have started to use more software and am doing some computer based compositions.

musicOMH: Which keyboards were used on the album?
Gerard: Farfisa organs, Philips organ, Hohner fan organ, Korg analogue synths, Roland sh-101, Lorenzo fan organ and a very very nasty Casio.

musicOMH: The Frank and Walters' Paul Linehan once said that he'd earn more money from being on the dole than he would in a band. How do you feel about how musicians are treated by society?
Gerard: I used to worry about playing in the band and making a living. Then, I thought screw it you know, Big Black, Guided by Voices, Silver Jews, all those guys have jobs and make records, that's what I'll do. I'll have to get back to you on how this works out because Cane 141 are only beginning to get the chance to play in other countries and do more records and all that showbiz stuff.

musicOMH: Where would you most like to play live?
Gerard: American tour! Set it up! I can leave tonight!

musicOMH: Is there a tour on the way? Any new singles/albums?
Gerard: Tentatively, we're playing in England, France and Spain around June time. The next single is New Day Parade and then some kind of mini album which will be out in September maybe. We've just recorded five tracks for John Peel which are very groovy and will be broadcast in a couple of weeks.

musicOMH: What were you all doing before Cane 141 formed? What would you do if it didn't exist?
Michael: We were punk rock kids, then students and hardcore record completists. It's hard to remember a time when Cane 141 didn't exist but you know I'm open to suggestion...
Gerard: I would be working with people with literacy problems, but I would have tried to get a visa to go and do it in America as I've always had a dream about living in Northern California. I would also make non-speaking cameo appearances in various cool movies.

musicOMH: Where is your favourite place anywhere?
Michael: As David Thomas put it, "I want to see More Places Forever....."

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