Post by 3 on Nov 13, 2006 11:59:04 GMT 1
A life less ordinary.
Is a life lived through literature, music and art truly a life lived? Is it enough to pore over liner notes, scribble in the margins and quote movie monologues verbatim? Yes, yes it is. Because although the six-string bulletins of The Rakes, Arctic Monkeys et al suggest there still remains little option but to “dance and drink and screw, because there’s nothing else to do”, what about those who yearn for more than a Wetherspoon’s pub?
With offhand references to Cabaret Voltaire, Edie Sedgwick and The Apartment, The Long Blondes’ debut, Someone To Drive You Home, is a love letter to a dreamt-up age, part 30s Hollywood, 60s kitchen sink realism and 90s Britpop – anywhere but here and now. Says guitarist Dorian: “There’s no myth anymore now. You can click on someone’s MySpace and find out everything about them.” Kate: “I don’t ever want to meet my icons. I like the distance.”
They share their glamour-in-the-gutter ambition with their Sheffield forebears, Pulp, ABC and Human League. “I think they had something in common with us in that they wanted something more than they were given in life,” says Dorian. “It’s about striving to get out of your immediate environment. That’s why we started the band in the first place.”
As you might expect from five pop connoisseurs, they sorely miss TOTP, or “We did until we saw TOTP2,” says Kate. “A big light bulb came on. Because you can play beneath that logo straight after a clip of Hot Chocolate.” So, if you’ve ever dreamt of fleeing a quiet market town for the big city (Separated By Motorways), bemoaned the drudgery of your life (Giddy Stratospheres) or made ill-advised relationship decisions (Once And Never Again), let The Long Blondes be your guide.
James Cowdery 02 November 06
The Long Blondes – Someone To Drive You Home, released 06 November 06 on Rough Trade.