Elbow more fun into songs

GUY DITCHES THE BALLADS FOR LP

VETERAN rockers Elbow have learned new tricks by making their first ballad-free album.

And the chaps admitted it was time to put having fun first in the studio.

New album Audio Vertigo is the 10th Elbow full-length in their 23year history, having become famous for anthemic ballads such as One Day Like This.

Singer Guy Garvey told me: “We haven’t really used fun as a motivation before making this album.

“When we were recording, we kept saying about the songs, ‘Because it’s fun.’”

Keyboardist and producer Craig

Potter added:

“When we were writing, if a song sounded too Elbow-y, we’d question it.

“We wanted something different out of these new songs.

“We sacked off a load of songs that were like ones we’d done before.”

That sense of fun included writing new song Knife Fight as a way for Guy to get back at his wife, actor Rachael

Stirling.

The Detectorists star Rachael had been unimpressed when Guy told her the song’s story, about witnessing a knife fight on tour in Turkey.

Guy laughed: “It’s the first time I’ve weaponised my songwriting. When I told Rachael Knife Fight’s story, her reaction was so dismissive and impatient.

“I thought, ‘Right, I’m writing that as a chorus.’

“But I didn’t want a song to end in a divorce, so I’ve ended it with some love for Rachael.”

The frontman is less amused by the state of modern live music. He believes the closure of many smaller venues has led to a drop in standards in gigs.

Guy stated: “A lot of pop is made stylishly in the studio, but isn’t done with enough work or skill when it’s taken live.

“Some singers end up with a cruise shipstyle drummer and guitarist, going really over the top.

“They spend so much time making a cool record, then cabaret it up live and that’s not cool.

“If smaller venues aren’t kept alive for people to learn their craft, it’s only going to get worse.”

At least arena favourites Elbow, who tour from May 7, can still have fun on tour.

Craig revealed: “One reason we’ve lasted so long is we still make each other laugh.

“Even in the depths of sleep deprivation on tour, we still find each other funny – especially each other’s misfortunes.”