It is finally upon us! Thanks to the sheer volume of vinyl being pressed for Record Shop Day, the East India Youth Hostel EP got rather delayed in manufacture. For this, apologies, but we’re happy to report that the record is now with us, and will be reaching your local record shop this weekend. The vinyl is thick, and the cardboard sleeve so smooth it creates pleasurable sensations when you rub it against your cheek.
We thought we’d celebrate this by making another track from the EP available for you to listen to. ‘Coastal Reflexions’ is a meandering, building ooofer of a track featuring well-spoken narration of the rail journeys between Southampton and Brighton, and London and said south coast resort. If only South West and Southern rail operating companies were able to operate their services with the ease and panache which which young Doyle delivers his song! Upon describing the song to Brett Anderson, he remarked that it might sound like "John Betjeman meets Pet Shop Boys", which we’d be inclined to agree with, with a bit of Balearic and some of the euphoric drones of My Bloody Valentine’s ‘Soon’. Listen below. As for the EP, part with your hard-earned currency via Boomkat, Rough Trade, Piccadilly Records and Norman Records.
We thought we’d also have a chat with William Doyle about what he’s been up to of late. A briefing: a support slot with British Sea Power led to this wonderful review by Simon Price in the Independent On Sunday wherein his set was proclaimed "mind-blowing". Doyle also supported Wire at Drill:London and participated in the Pinkflag Guitar Orchestra. At last week’s gig with Vondelpark a figure no less than Brian Eno went to see him play, and apparently was seen to be wolf-whistling in appreciation down the front at the end of his set. Next Thursday, April 18th is the very first East India Youth headlining gig in London, which we’re sort of making the EP launch do. This takes place at the Sebright Arms, tickets are here and there’s a Facebook page here for those of you into that sort of thing. Interview here:
So Will, since last we spoke we’ve got your EP ready to release. How’s that been?
William Doyle: Brilliant! It looks fantastic. It sounds fantastic. Couldn’t really be happier with it. Delays or not, it’s very exciting to have something on wax finally.
What have you been up to lately?
WD: Nothing out of the ordinary I’m afraid. Just plugging away. Lots of rehearsal and lots of writing. Feels like I’ve been playing in London every week for ages now. I’m starting to cocoon myself into the world of a new record at the moment too…
What’s been the best bit of the past few months?
WD: There’s a lot to choose from really… Playing in the Roundhouse, perhaps? Definitely playing with Wire at Heaven and being a part of the Pink Flag Orchestra. What a fabulous racket. Just the overall stunning reaction to the tracks online has to be a highlight too. It’s insanely encouraging.
What do you have planned for the Sebright Arms?
WD: I’m thinking of ways to make the setlist a bit special and for it to flow in a different way to previous gigs. A headline set gives me a nice amount of time to take the audience on a bit of an expansive sonic journey, perhaps letting sections continue for longer and let the sounds develop slower. Also I should have a new piece of clothing that night.
Havex you been recording new music? How’s that shaping up?
WD: Really well. It’s been a productive few weeks so the general vibe and the common thread running through all of the new pieces seems to be changing quite a lot. The sound and style is a bit harder to pin down and it’s causing some problems to how I may approach things like vocals… but given enough time these things can be worked out. I’m very excited about the new material.
Can you recommend us some new music and a good book?
WD: The European’s ANTI-PATTERNS 1 EP is well worth a punt if you like slightly skewed, Pet Shop Boys-esque electronic pop music. He’s releasing a series of EPs on Stolen Recordings over this year… I highly recommend him.
As for a book, I haven’t really been stuck into any hefty novels or anything at the moment but I’ve recently returned to something I used to carry around with me a lot. It’s a short book of poetry called Story The Flowers by Rick Holland. I don’t know if it’s just that the places and settings referenced in it are very personally relevant to me or not but I think it’s great. I believe it’s self published so you’d have to buy it direct from him…
