The Uncarved Block
The Magazine dedicated to Unsigned
and Independent-Label bands
The Slow Cooked Bears
James Gilbert returns to answer some more of our questions. You can read the 2019 interview below.
ANDY - Thank you for agreeing to this follow up to last years (2019) interview, James
JAMES - Thank you for providing a momentary escape from our current state of isolation! It’s lovely to be here, even if remotely talking to a friend about music!
ANDY - So when we last spoke, you had just recruited Josh on drums. How has he fitted in?
JAMES - Josh has certainly made his mark now, he’s challenging some of our ideas and I think we are all pushing each other into further realms of creativity. We are loving it, in fact every week we rehearse together it feels like we've taken ten steps forward. The buzz this creates makes us just want to get lost in the songs.
ANDY - You obviously took some time out to practice and write new material - you promised us some new tunes, so what can we expect from your new sound, with Josh's input?
JAMES - We’ve been reworking older material a lot, as well as working on new material. Josh has brought a lot of low end to our sound; I think this filling in of the lower frequencies has made the songs sound bigger! Recently people at shows have been saying we no longer sound like a three-piece band and it’s as if there’s more instruments, I think that’s a compliment.
We have a lot more focus on a modern sound, that doesn’t mean copying what’s currently popular, just not trying to do what’s been done before and make something new. Our first single is actually very electronic sounding. The idea being the drum and bass patterns sound like sequenced machines but played on real instruments, and the guitar is very synth sounding. But it gets dirty and rocks out too, it is a Slow Cooked Bears song after all.
ANDY - So, what we are desperate to know is which song are you going to release first? And what is the inspiration behind it?
JAMES - The first Single is going to be "Space Odyssey," and as with any song I want it to mean whatever you feel it means to you when you hear it. I will however reveal some little things. We mention Major Tom - that’s a little nod to the late Mr Bowie; Major Tom appears in Space Oddity among many others, but I couldn’t let the title go without a little reference. Actually it’s Bowie's Berlin albums that had a big influence on me and in this song I make a lot of use of the e-bow on guitar. I always thought Robert Fripp used an e-bow on The Bowie song Heroes but I recently found out it was actually a triple tracked guitar and no e-bow was used.
Obviously there's the movie of the same name, which is very symphonic in its nature, and we emulate that a little, too, with the guitar work being very orchestral sounding.
ANDY - It certainly stuck in my mind when I saw you play it live, and I am really looking forward to hearing the studio version. When are you due to release the single?
JAMES - It will drop on the 10th April. We have a follow up already recorded and this will come soon after, when the current situation calms down and we can get a music video recorded, and actually play a release gig.
ANDY - And where will we be able to purchase or stream it?
JAMES - In short - everywhere! Spotify, Apple, Google, Amazon, Tidel, Deezer! And then Soundcloud and Bandcamp by Friday (10th April) afternoon
Joshua Hack's input has added a new dimension to
The Slow Cooked Bears sound
James concentrates on getting it right
The latest single "Space Odyssey"
Released 10th April 2020
Bass queen, Hyunsu Lee, in the studio
ANDY - I seriously can't wait. And can we expect a video to coincide with the release?
JAMES - Yes, actually we have a music video that will drop just after the single, and a little behind the scenes documentary type piece we made in the studio to help get you in the moment when we were recording. The music video is based off the studio footage and feels really authentic as we were all concentrating so much on getting a good take there’s no dancing and singing to camera, it just feels real.
ANDY - Sounds great. We'll put a link to both videos as soon as they are out. A little ray of sunshine, in these strange and difficult times. Saying that, how has the virus outbreak effected your progress, as a band?
JAMES - We can’t rehearse together while this isolation is in place; we miss it so, so much right now and there’s a real danger of becoming lackadaisical with all the distractions but music is a welcome respite for all of us and it is spurring creativity.
We lost at least 4 gigs and I’m really missing going to other people’s shows as I’m sure everyone is. The online streams from living rooms are the best most bands can do but we are isolated as many are, so it's not something we are exploring till some restrictions ease off.
It is a great time stay in and spend hours with a metronome getting better at our instruments and write some new material so that’s exactly what we are going to do!
ANDY - Yes, it's such a difficult time, so thankfully we have music to keep us sane. Let's hope it will all clear up soon enough, and we can get back to normal. We will, of course, keep everyone updated with your progress. Thank you again, for taking the time to talk to us, and good luck
JAMES - Thank you, too!
Have a look behind the scenes as The Slow Cooked Bears record their debut single
Here is the first interview (2019) with James, from The Slow Cooked Bears
ANDY - Thank you for being our "Slow Cooked Guinea Pigs," by agreeing to this, our first feature/interview, on the back of our review of your fantastic "Eclipse" EP. Firstly, why don't you introduce the band?
JAMES - Well, the band has just gone through a line up change and a new look Slow Cooked Bears is immanent: consisting of myself, James Gilbert (Nottinghamshire born and bred) on guitar and vocals, Hyunsu Lee (a polite but bad-ass South Korean) on Bass and Joshua Hack (the new blood from Surrey) on Drums.
ANDY - And how did you you all get together?
JAMES - Myself and Hyunsu decided to form the band a couple of years ago but it took us a long time to find our sound and I think we will always be evolving. Having played a series of gigs as a trio with our previous member Gareth on Drums for over a year, we have finally started to find our voice. We were joined by Josh only a week ago after he replied to an ad we’d placed on a well known selling site. Having a new member is refreshing and challenging but we feel we are about to take the next step musically.
ANDY - Sounds like you are embracing the changes in a positive way. And your band name is quite unique - how did you choose it?
JAMES - The band name has a few meanings. First and foremost I think climate change is on all of our minds but with climate change deniers in political positions of power it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of it even more. I was watching a BBC nature documentary about polar bears starving and losing their environment as the icecaps melt and that powerful image stuck with me, the idea of animals slowly being cooked alive by human activity and not having a voice with which to complain or the ability to fight back. The name also refers to the bands pursuit of music; we were not the finished article, i.e a prime piece of pop steak, but as we slowly cook, we are developing a deeper flavour, with a more interesting collection of elements.
ANDY - The social conscience element can certainly be heard in your music. And in terms of band politics, is there a leader that makes the final decisions?
JAMES - No, while I might instigate and guide some of the ideas, it’s important, I think, in a creative environment that everyone has the freedom to try things and put forward ideas - only through trying things can you find new and exciting things. Actually being a trio, its a bit like the early Roman republic with a triumvirate: it’s usually a fairly democratic process, we try something and it’s normally either a unanimous vote or a 2 to 1 victory, and the third person provides a new idea until we find the magic.
James and Hyunsu in full flow
ANDY - So, changing the angle a little, what are your views on the current music scene in London?
JAMES - My feelings are a bit Yin and yang. I think the odds of getting anywhere as a band are stacked against you. Most bands don’t get the time to develop as the local live scene is experiencing real critical heart failure; people’s attitudes to going out are changing. But through the adversity there are new opportunities - maybe the live circuit needs a change, with new types of shows with mixed artistic disciplines at non-traditional venues. Recorded music-wise we are lucky, radio seems to be surviving and maybe learning to adapt to the internet. Stations like KEXP and even the BBC are championing new music and I still find great new music this way but a lot of people now rely on music algorithms which encourage bands to stick within the confines of genre defined accessible music to get as many streams as possible and this is having a damaging effect. Don't get me started on the tiny amount of money being given to artists per stream. However as with social media I think we are now seeing a sort of backlash where people are getting mentally ill looking at other people’s fake reality of online lives and they are looking for something more authentic. I think the same will happen with music and people will rebel and look for more challenging music; and as musicians that’s exciting. Viva la musical revaluation!
ANDY - That's a good point. So what do you think we can do to help change the music scene for the better?
JAMES - We need to start building local musicians networks, going to each other’s shows, taking photos and writing articles (like in The Uncarved Block). Basically create our own local scene. More DIY shows with free entry in unique places alongside the more traditional venues.
ANDY - I agree, and the internet is a powerful tool to help us communicate and congregate. So, finally, with that in mind, what aspirations do you have, as a band, going forward?
JAMES - We are really excited to share what we have cooking in the background; next on the list is our single with a music video and then you’ll start to see us popping up here and there. The dream for us is to play a major music festival and have the backing to make credible album. Until then we’ll just keep slowly cooking.
ANDY - We wish you all the luck, and we will certainly keep promoting your work here on The Uncarved Block. Thank you for your time James.
The "New-Look" Slow Cooked Bears
from left to right:
Hyunsu Lee (Bass and Backing Vocals))
James Gilbert (Guitar and Vocals)
Joshua Hack (Drums)
ANDY - And in terms of that magic, what are the processes for writing new material – is there a main songwriter, or is it more of a band effort?
JAMES - I love writing songs, and at the moment I bring the lyrics and melodies to the rehearsal room. We fine tune the counter melodies and arrangements there.
ANDY - Well, it seems to work. Your sound is quite eclectic so it would be interesting to know where you draw your influences?
JAMES - I’m not going to mention the standard names on everyone’s list from the 60s and 70s, but they are there big time. This could be a ridiculous list but I’ll try to keep it concise. A lot of people hear the Smashing Pumpkins and Placebo in our music and it’d be hard for us not to agree, but before them (and Nirvana) there was a very important band called The Pixies. Queens of the Stone Age and Radiohead are two massive influences and I think you might start to feel that more in this new version of the band. There are definitely hints of other things that make their way on to our songs, like the experimental Blonde Redhead, the reverb heavy atmosphere of the XX, post-rock heavy sounds of Sigur Ros and Mogwai, funky grooves like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the dancey bits of a Daft Punk record. I could go on and on but I think everyone creating something new is just making a giant washing machine of influences and the more elements you add the more unique and interesting the results.
ANDY - And it certainly comes across in your style. Having had the pleasure of seeing you live, I can tell everyone that you are a polished outfit. How often do you rehearse or practice?
JAMES - We obviously practice separately all week, but actual full rehearsals tend to be biweekly, adjacent to gigs. With the new set up we are likely to try experimenting where and when we play live, which will change the nature of the rehearsals.
ANDY - So where can we see you playing in the next few months?
JAMES - Well at the time of writing there is an amazing gig planned for next year in the Bird's Nest (Deptford) called Mamapalooza from the 7th May 2020. Apart from that you are going to have to keep your eyes on our feeds, but there are going to be some interesting gigs being lined up, and we're planning a tour in the future. (Keep checking the Facebook page and website for latest gig details)
ANDY - Your "Eclipse" EP was released in September 2018, and it has left us wanting more. Do you have any plans to record again soon?
JAMES - We are planing a full debut single before the end of the year. We are actually really excited about this song, but with the new line up, we will take some time to get it tight before we head into the studio.
The future is looking good for The Slow Cooked Bears (climate-change permitting, of course!)
If you haven't already read our review for "Eclipse" then check it out below, and then go buy the tracks on Bandcamp. You can find out more information on their website and Facebook page.
"Eclipse" by The Slow Cooked Bears (2019 Review)
The Slow Cooked Bears, based in south-east London, describe themselves as "visceral alternative noise rock" and we have no argument with that. They skillfully merge The Bluetones' style of melodic guitar pop, with a darker edge, not too dissimilar from Placebo. A weird combination, but give them a listen and you will understand.
Track 1 on the "Eclipse" EP (recorded in September 2018, but still their most current release) is “Pandora's Jar” which begins with a funky guitar-picked intro before the booming bass (played by Hyunsu Lee) and the jazz-like drums (played by Gareth Tarling) kick in over the additional fuzz riffing of James Gilbert. The lyrics (also sung by James, with backing from Hyunsu) have a leaning towards the political, but are not angry. In fact the song leads into a soaring chorus, over-flowing with melody - it makes you crave for it to come in again, as the song switches back to the funky verse. A cowbell can also be heard throughout this bright and cheerful tune, but the bridge section, towards the end, displays a moment of tension before slipping back into the chorus one more time.
This tension is also heard throughout the other tracks, but none more so than in "Spiders" which has a creepy intro (which reminded me of The Cure's intro to Caterpillar). The prickly, eerie effects pave the way for the bass to loom in, hauntingly, probing the darkness before the drums and guitar add to the suspense. The playing is well controlled before the chorus lightens the mood momentarily, until the great use of a splash cymbal gives an unusual sounding edge to announce the return of the verse.
The title track, “Eclipse” is more of a ballad; with beautiful clean guitars, and the bass pumping like a heart beat throughout this well-written song. It makes you want to be in a field listening to the band on a summer day, whilst not forgetting that our selfish actions are actually ruining the planet. The eclipse seems to be a metaphor for the human race closing our eyes to this problem.
Track 4, “Animal Empire,” closes the EP with a faster paced song to dance to. It tips it's hat to George Orwell's "Animal Farm" without becoming pretentious or preaching. It also has a catchy chorus, with a driving melody, and builds up to a crescendo, ending on a big scale.
The Slow Cooked Bears are a band for a sunny festival, but with a conscience. "Eclipse" has been part of my soundtrack to the summer, constantly reminding me that climate change and the global pollution problem is our fault, and we need to stop being greedy in order to save the planet.
The best thing about this EP is that there are no extraneous notes (no need-less, over-complicated messing about that just muddies the mix). Every note here feels absolutely necessary and deliberate, but rather than it making the songs too simple, it truly adds a clarity and cleverness to the writing - the songs are not “too hot” or “too cold” they are “just right” for Goldilocks and The Three Slow Cooked Bears.
Andy