Mutineers - 2011

Bizarre is the music world, a year ago we reviewed an album by the name of ‘Friends, lovers, rivals’ by a North West band called Mutineers, in fact this is how that review wrapped up ‘’ Mutineers have really taken the best of their former bands and put together a fine, fine album. It is the right side of dark, the right side of poppy and has bags of melodies and a sack full of tunes… did we say they were from Manchester too, nuff said!’’. After the review we got in touch with the band and they agreed to answer a few questions.

Fast forward a year and an email from the band letting us know that although the album had been selling in small numbers throughout the year sales had just gone crazy and they were one of the top trends on twitter in Manchester, all this without any real reason, just word of mouth or word across the internet in fact. So twelve months after the original Q&A further questions were answered and to be honest better than those from a year ago.

So although this page is now going to read a bit backwards, here’s the ‘new’ questions, below them the biog on the band from November 2010 and then the original interview… wow that’s plenty to get stuck into! By the way we’ve also revisited the album and what we said originally is still true today, a fine listen.

So over a year ago Mutineers (November 2010) released the album ‘Friends, lovers, rivals’ listening to it now how does it sound to you?

I think it sounds great, we went for classic sounds in the studio & a lot of the rhythm section stuff was done live in not too many takes so it doesn't sound too processed or over produced, which I think is a good thing in terms of whether a record sounds dated or not....

Anything you wish you’d done different?

Some of the tracks that ended up on the album are polished up & mastered demos which given a larger budget and more interest at the time we would have worked up a little more or possibly even added a few different tracks...we did pretty much *throw it out there* - I’m not sure if I’d change anything though given hindsight, I think it all adds to the overall charm of the album...

Is there any one track which you are particularly proud of, if so which is it and why?

I like different tracks in different ways so it's hard to pick one...I’d say I’m proud of the way the album sounds as a whole and especially the sequencing of it, it starts out quite up and kicking and then has a sort of mature songwriters section in the middle of it and then builds back up to a crescendo as it progresses...I think this is partly why the album has had this word of mouth thing where people are passing it along to each other and why there is more interest it now than when it was initially released..it's coming from the old fashioned values of making a good album that people can listen to from start to finish, not just having 3 good singles that people will pay 79p each for and then leave it at that....I also like that it's just under 45 minutes long, sort of the perfect length of an album and just short enough to keep peoples attention spans!

Is it fair to say that it didn’t trouble the top ten when it was released but a year later it is now selling better than ever, any ideas why this is?

I guess I’ve sort of explained part of that in the pervious question, but it is a really interesting thing I think....especially as this is a band that has had minimal radio exposure and even less exposure in terms of press..it does make you think how well it would have actually done at the time of release if a larger label with a bigger budget would have picked up on the album....it's a shame that the likes of XFM Manchester haven't got behind it yet....but when it comes to it, people are listening and downloading and recommending it to their friends so I think word of mouth in some ways has a greater effect in the long run....another thing is that the only show mutineers played last year was Friends of mine festival, so I guess there is some sort of mystique connected to our absence!

How useful do you think social media networks are for the modern band? Also do you use sites like Bandcamp and Soundcloud and what do they offer to bands?

We don't have anything on Bandcamp but the original plugging company for the album did put the album up on soundcloud...if anything it just gives you a platform to let people check out how you sound before they decide whether they want to pay £5.99 for the album or not! 

If anyone hasn’t bought the album yet, where can they get it from and why should they part with their hard earned to get it (chance for a bit of self promotion!)….

You can pick it up on itunes and a few other download sites...and if you're a tight bastard, broke student or unemployed you can listen for free on spotify and we still pick up a (very minimal)royalty...

Have you done many gigs in the past twelve months, if so any highlights?

1 gig which was friends of mine festival...and it was great fun to play and then go see bad lieutenant, cribs, lightning seeds etc etc at the same festival!

Is it also fair to say that various members of the band have indulged in ‘side projects’…. If this is correct what other bands have featured members of Mutineers and how do they differ from Mutineers?

We've had a varied "career" between us it's fair to say! Haven, Cardinals, Bauer, Johnny Marr & the healers, Marion...Jack also plays drums on perhaps half of the bad lieutenant album that came out a year or 2 back (ex new order). As for how all these different projects or bands sound, you'll have to go check them out!

What’s the plans now for Mutineers going forward is a second album in the pipeline?

Watch this space.....................

Mutineers - 2010

Normally we write our own quick biog of the band, however this time we've nicked the one clean off Manchester's Mutineers own myspace page as it's spot on…

The band's brief history has been spent building a glowing reputation and loyal fan base mostly by word of mouth, utilising the assets of internet, gigging and - fundamentally - the classic songwriting power of their music, slices of towering anthemic pop to match anything in the international armoury of The Killers or prime REM. The quartet's story starts at the beginning of 2009, when four drinking mates with an already impressive history decided to pool their talents. Vocalist Nicholas James Mallins had previously fronted the hotly tipped Cardinals alongside bassist Iwan Gronow, who had also spent time in the revered ranks of Haven and Johnny Marr's Healers. Recruiting guitarist Michael Reed and former Haven drummer Jack Mitchell to the tight-knit fold, it then took mere months to craft an album of towering anthems, with results which recall the shimmering grandiosity of Echo and the Bunnymen or the aching simplicity of Lloyd Cole, channelling the genius of past greats and forging it into something very much of their own making.  'Friends, Lovers, Rivals' is a deeply personal, engaging album able to deliver sucker punches with beautiful grace. "It's not my infidelity, its just you never suited me" Mallins sings on the album opener quickly countered with: "Beware my lack of social skills, my tired lines they're over used" On the storming album closer and firm fan favourite 'Hyde Road' Mallins continues in this eloquent manner, rare in the modern day pop song "Stone cold reflections of unruly minds" he sings in a tale of urban decadence, with surreal observations: "In a catsuit kamikaze, a bulimic soap star crashed the party" His poetic tongue is often at its sharpest with lines of dry Mancunian wit such as: "If you'd paid more attention during sex education, you would not have stretch marks the length of Piccadilly station" Arguably in his moments of charm are his words most inspiring: "She said 'you can't see me without my make up on' I thought you'd never looked better" The surging track 'Shadow Kisses' stirs up further intrigue with its enigmatic chorus hook: "In Death, Love and Squalor the sordid details were removed, straight from the heart of a suicide girl"  Mallins' vocals have that Neil Young trick of seeming fragile yet actually being possessed of angelic strength consistently delivering lyrics that are equal parts romantic, down to earth and abstract, with magnificent lines at every turn. It comes as no surprise that Mallins wrote the majority of his lyrics whilst passing time working in a Manchester book store and it appears that the city has found another articulate idol. Part Bowie and Lennon in its character, Mutineers possess a frontman whose extraordinary voice is undeniably, unmistakably his own. The big songs come thick and fast, combining exquisite story telling with killer hooks, huge choruses and a stunning mastery of melody. Reed's simple yet epic guitars chime from the heart carried along by Gronow and Mitchell's tightly fused, pounding rhythms. In its later tender moments 'Friends, Lovers, Rivals' is achingly beautiful, often cinematic in scope. Mallins' glorious self reflection is set against subtle, heavenly synths and serene backing vocals showing a band totally at ease, giving their songs the space to breathe. Whilst many of our new hopes look to 1980's electro acts for inspiration, Mutineers refreshingly have more in common with artists such as Aztec Camera, The Cure, Roxy Music and The Lotus Eaters, finding their own path through the musical landscape with a sound that's current, unique and ultimately timeless.  They've served their time as a best kept secret, and the secret is about to be let out. Once you're initiated, The Mutineers will have you believing that you have known and loved their songs for all of your life.

So back to us and we ask the questions and Michael Reed, guitarist of Mutineers does the answers.

Who is Michael Reed & are you from outside the UK?

That's me and I am from the lovely town of Esbjerg in Denmark. Smells of fish.

How come you ended up in Ashton under lyne of all places?

I've lived here for most of my life....my father is English and met my mum whilst on one of his trips through Europe sometime in the late 70s.

So anyway you are in The Mutineers, to those who don't know who are they and what do they sound like?

Mutineers are a pop group that came together in early 2008. I'd rather not try and describe the sound of the band....maybe it'd be easier for people to go download the album and decide for themselves....hint hint.

You play guitar, is that the glamour role in the band?!

I'd say in the main we're all playing a back up role to "the lurcher" nick mallins songs & lyrics. I do however get quite animated onstage from time to time.

The Mutineers have just released their debut album 'Friends, lovers, rivals' firstly how can people get hold of a copy, how happy with it are you and what's your favourite track on the album?

You can grab it on iTunes internationally. That's a hard one but i'll plump for "Shadow Kisses" which I'd say pretty much sums up the attitude of the band both musically and lyrically.

Have you sold many copies and does it bother you it's not the fastest selling album since 'Be here now'?

With it being on an Indie you can't expect a million sales but we're pleased with how it's coming along.....word of mouth is stonger than people may expect, even in late 2010.

What's the reviews been like? Any stinkers!

I think every review has been glowing up to yet which is quite a turn around from the atrocities our previous bands suffered.....

You used to be in a band called Bauer what were they like? In fact the members of The Mutineers used to be other bands, who were they and what does that bring to The Mutineers?

Let's just say "melodic synth pop" - I'd say it brings an equal amount of both experience & cynicism. Having a past has opened doors for us in many ways but has also been a curse in others.

Where can we find The Mutineers website / facebook / myspace page and what's on there? Also do you except anyone onto your personal facebook page?

Go to google.com and type in "mutineers the band" - I'm sure you'll find it all there!

And some people say the internet is a good thing. Some people say the internet is a bad thing….. What do you say?

I'd agree...with both....

You also promote a club night, what it called again and where is it based?

I do a bit of DJ-ing for fun and help out my local music venue. It's good for the soul.

What song would get you up dancing every time & why?

Anything from the Motown label gets my feet feeling twitchy.

What was the last song you listened to and was it any good?

It was some horrible funkychavshit on radio one unfortunately. Needless to say I turned it off. Swiftly.

Can you list your five favourite songs of all time and if so what are they?

That would be a struggle. I'll have to pass on this one.

Where's you favourite place in the world and what does it say about you?

My bed...and it'd say 2 things - am a lazy & that i look quite a bit younger than what I am...due to constant beauty sleep.

On facebook you have Scunthorpe as a like, why? It's a shithole, we know we've been!

Top place.

John, Paul, George or Ringo? Who would you be & why?

Paul or Ringo because I'd be a living millionaire....as opposed to a dead one I guess.

If you had to go to confession tomorrow what would you have to confess to and do you regret doing it!

I am a saint.

In ten words write your own press release (swearing is definitely allowed!)

All the best, kind regards, don't die - stay alive. Bye.

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Originally December, 2010 - Updated December 2011