Stereo MCs Back Where They Belong - Tiscali Music News

2001-08-22

Listen to We Belong In This World Together:
Win Media    Real Audio

You can watch the bonkers video at their brand new website:
www.stereomcs.com


Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Brixton high street lays the Stereo MCs studio. It's like a boy's den - a bit messy, with table football and comfy sofas. A stereo blasts hip hop and Rob Birch and Nick Hallam look relaxed. And they would be, they've done over 500 interviews in the last six months - promotion is a walk in the park for them ...

We all know that they've been away for a long time, but the main thing is that they're back and are here to stay. When asked for the umpteempth time where they have been, they admit that they make up a different reason every time. "We just say we've been heroin addicts," Nick says with a wry smile. Adding that no-one will ever know the real reason, he admits that they just got derailed: "This time we're making sure we are focused on the music."

They're casual about their return to a dance-sodden music scene: "It doesn't really feel any different from before to be honest," says Nick, who is today's spokesperson for the band.

They are modest about the foundations they laid down back in the 90s for other dance acts. "We were just doing our thing. It's all a load of bo***cks really. When we first started, nobody was really that interested in us. When Connected came out a lot of journalists snubbed it, but when it became successful, they were like, actually, it's really good. So for us it's like, 'who cares?' You just do what you do and life happens around you." Nick shrugs.

The Stereo MCs seem to have slotted back onto the music scene as if they've never been away. Their sound hasn't strayed too far from Connected - the dirty bass lines are still there, Robs gravely vocals haven't changed, and their live show is as energetic as ever. But what do they think about the music scene, which has changed dramatically since their absence?

"Musical movements seem to get abused very quickly these days. It's sad that scenes like garage and 2-step become so large so quickly, that immediately it will be heard on the next Spice Girls record. It's great when you listen to a pirate radio station and there's some guy chatting over the track. It's so raw and exciting. Maybe they should release more tracks like that. Some of the stuff out now is quite bland sounding."

Like the pioneers that they were, they are into artists who the music press are only just starting to pick up on. Nick says: "It's good that Roots Manuva and Blade are coming out. But that kind of music is so familiar to us. We've known Blade for 12 years and he was making great records back then. Suddenly Radio 1 are going on about how great Blade is and you think to yourself, 'hang on, you've only just got it'. 12 years ago they wouldn't even have said hello to him."

Nick is vocal about his love/hate relationship with the music business: "Sometimes you just hate the whole music business. It's full of people who don't have a clue."

How do you begin to write an album when you've been away for the best part of ten years? Rob Birch, the pale, gaunt-looking vocalist who gives great live performances has sat silently through out the interview. Finally he speaks.

"It wasn't hard once we started to get there. I think we just got too involved in the business. We lost the plot of what it is that makes you tick. Once we got back into the studio we did a lot of remixing and slowly we started to meld together again. We wrote the album in eight months, but we made a conscious effort not to pressure ourselves into doing anything we didn't want to do." And with that said he lapses back into silence.

They've already done 40 gigs and are all set for Creamfields in America. The response has been good, but they've got no plans to make a huge mark on the US. They're happy playing live and making music, but they're more interested in going to places where they haven't played before - like Iceland. They really are focused this time and have even turned down the opportunity to remix a Gorillaz track.

South London, particularly Brixton, has recently been getting a lot of high profile coverage as it has spawned a number of successful artists. Half of Connected was recorded there and Basement Jaxx have been credited with putting Brixton on the map. Nick scoffs at this whole notion: "There's been so much incredible music thats come out of this area for decades, I don't think Basement Jaxx are indicative of the Brixton bass sound."

They're anxious to get the balance right this time, with a mixture of writing new material, along with performing their current record: "We don't want to be touring for a year and a half again." There's been a spate of comebacks recently (Marti Pellow, Lisa Stansfield, Cast, Alisha's Attic) with varying success. They seem to have avoided any major backlash. So what's their advice to artists trying to get back on the music scene? "Don't call it a comeback for a start," snaps Rob. Point taken.

They've made enough money to kick back for the next 20 years and they're in no hurry to make any rash decisions. They're in control and won't be pushed into anything that compromises them or their sound. They're not all serious though. Apparently, the inspiration for their new single We Belong In This World Together is not some hippy dippy message about unity between people, but about the relationship between Rob and his beloved old Mercedes, which the council towed away and crushed. I guess boys will be boys!

We Belong In This World Together is released through Universal/Island on 20 August.


Links
Stereo MCs website
Buy Stereo MCs CDs