Metal.de - Germany

Questions to THE PINEAPPLE THIEF

Hi folks, first of all congratulations to your new Album “Tightly Unwound”! I’m sure other Mags have also given a quite positive feedback, how content are you with your work and the feedback alltogether?

Thanks – the reviews I have seen have all been very positive which is nice.  But it’s also reminded me about the dangers of reading reviews.  I’ve seen a lot of contradictions; quite a major music magazine over here in the UK raved about ‘Different World’ as being the highlight of the album (it’s my personal favourite too) but the next one I saw described it as ‘overlong’ and meandering.  Who do I believe?  None of them is the only safe bet.   I’ve no idea where TPT sits in the musical genres but I’ve seen it described as ‘crossover’ (as well as nu-prog, post-rock, post-prog).  By definition it’s going to split the listening public.  As for how content I am with it?  Very pleased, but I still feel I’ve got a better album in me.  I bet any artist would say that.

The Album is, as far as I can tell, a concept Album about a relationship, the beginning and the end of it – I don’t have the lyrics here so maybe you can tell us a little more about it?

It’s certainly a concept album, but in an abstract way.  It raises an interesting point about an artist trying to convey ‘something’.  I’ve always kept things fairly abstract, leaving a ‘level of intrigue’ (as one reviewer put it).  My songs are always about ‘relationships’, whether with people, the cosmos or with my stupid mind.  Tightly Unwound was dominated by the emotions I was overwhelmed with at the time but I don’t usually go into details.  It can often spoil it for people who take a totally different meaning from the songs.  Sorry if that’s not a good answer…

There’s also a musical development in the whole Album. Especially the voice kind of “grows” from the beginning to the end. Was this a planned stylistic device or is it just a coincidence?

Yeah, funny I never noticed that.  A coincidence maybe?  But then, who knows what happens at a sub-conscious level.  I always write songs with the bigger picture in mind as I’m an album man.  I’d like to think that the sum of TU is greater than it’s parts.

The Album is kind of a mixture of “light” Rock and very complex stuff merging to this distinct “Progressive Rock” style. Are there a lot of “first takes” or do you work on every detail to make it sound perfect?

I do get into the detail, but don’t get anywhere near as bogged down in the performance as I used to.  I know when something is right and I’ve learnt to leave it well alone once it’s there.  Looking back at the TU sessions, it was a mixture.  Some things came together immediately but you might be surprised at the kind of things that caused me trouble.  Simple strumming melodies that never found the right ‘groove’ could take ages.  Often, I would come back late at night after a few beers and it would come out first take.  And other parts, like the ‘solo’ end of ‘Sinners’ came out first take (I remember it well because it was 5 o’clock in the morning).  There’s no explanation.  I listen to a lot of songs by other artists and think to myself ‘the notes are in the right place but it sounds all wrong’.  That’s where a producer earns his money.

How many personal feelings and stories do the lyrics contain?

Loads.  Everything I write is based on personal experience.  I have no idea how I could get motivated to write otherwise.  I think that’s why I have to keep the lyrics fairly abstract or I would be sharing the depths of my soul too clearly with the world.

Most readers here don’t know you too well, can you introduce you and your Band a little to the german/european audience?

A brief history of the thief: formed 1999 as a solo studio project signed to a small progressive rock label in the UK called Cyclops. 3 albums later in 2002, I found myself with a fan base so got a live band together and started gigging.  After 6 albums (2007) we got big enough to move on from Cyclops and joined Kscope (a much bigger ‘post progressive’ UK label).  Basically, we’ve been hiding away in the underworld for 8 years quietly building up a fan base and developing my song writing and sound.  There were times when I asked myself the question; ‘why am I bothering’?  But I realised the lack of ‘success’ (how ever that is defined) was never a threat to my output.  I will always create music even if the only person who will ever hear it is my cat.

Now the inevitable question: how much did PORCUPINE TREE influence you? There are several parallels between them and you, starting with the name and closing with the music itself.

Ha, I was waiting for that one! I can honestly say, not at all!  The first time I actually heard PT was last year when some fans sent me some albums.  But there is a reason I can say this…  Ever since I first started releasing music with my first band ‘Vulgar Unicorn’ (back in 1996) the first reviews were comparing us with Porcupine Tree. This just never went away.   So I made a conscious effort to steer clear of them through fear of actually being influenced by them!  But why oh why I then chose a name so close to PT I will never know.  ‘The Pineapple Thief’ came from a film called ‘Eve’s Bayou’, I think I’d drunk too much wine at the time.  By the time I realised the trouble it would cause, I’d already released the first album.  I do regret that.  As for the music, I can only presume we have similar influences, trying to fuse the best of the 70s (not the excessive, solo laden prog) with the best of modern rock.  I’ve caught up with the back cat of Porcupine Tree now and can see why people make comparisons (although not with the recent output) but within the genre, I think we’re miles apart.  I do owe a lot to Steve Wilson though, as he hooked me up with Kscope in the first place!

How much of an ”intellectual” Band is THE PINEAPPLE THIEF? What kind of people do you think are your main audience?

Good question.  If you look at our forum there are all kinds of crazy people from all walks of life and social demographic.  One thing they all have in common though; they are music lovers.  I would say we’re not the band for the casual listener.  As for ‘intellectual’?  I dunno, I’ve heard people describe us as ‘thinking man’s rock’.  I just think we need a few listens to fully ‘get it’.  I saw one fan say ‘I thought it was rubbish first listen, but now I think it’s the best thing you’ve ever done!’.    Some people never get there, but the ones that do seem to hang around.

How much contact do you have to your Fans?

As much as I can.  I keep a blog on my site, read the forum and answer all emails.  At gigs, we always like to hang around and chat to fans.   I do listen to them but generally keep a distance if it’s about the direction of the music.  It more about what kind of t-shirt we’re going to print next!

It’s obvious that the 70es had also a great impact on you – has all this stuff accompanied you from your youth to now?

Well, I grew up through the 80s.  I HATED the sound of the 80s so me and my mates turned to the 70s.  I must confess everyone thought we were a bit weird swapping camel, floyd, yes, king crimson and led zep albums at school.  We should have been into Madonna and Duran Duran!  When grunge came along things picked up and we switched back onto the contemporary scene.  Yeah, I still rate the way things were done in the 70s.  Listen to the old Floyd and Zep albums and they still sound great.  Listen to an early U2 album and it sounds dreadful.

Now there are a lot of people who claim “Prog Rock is dead, everything is just repeating, there’s nothing but copying the sound of the 70es!” What do you say to such statements?

I’d say they have a point.  I know it’s just a label, but for me, ‘prog’ defines the excesses of the 70s movement and the dire ‘neo prog’ movement of the 80s.  So, I hope it IS dead.  But if we’re talking about ‘progressive’ rock then I strongly disagree with the above statement.  Just because I like to use ‘organic’ instruments like guitars, acoustic drums, pianos, rhodes, hammonds, mellotrons etc, doesn’t mean I’m just repeating the 1970s.  I just like to keep it natural.  I’m definitely influenced just as much by the contemporary scene as I am by the 70s.

What does “Prog Rock” or better, the Music you play, whatever you call it, mean to you? Is it “just” music or is it some kind of lifestyle?

Hmm, no one has ever put it like that before!  It’s a lifestyle, without doubt.  After my family and friends, my music forms the most important part of my life.  There’s that saying about men always thinking about sex – well, I just think about music.  It’s a total obsession.

Do you personally listen to music from other genres?

Yes.  All kinds of things really.  Modern classical, stuff like Messiaen (a bit heavy going I must say), some easier stuff like Beck, Queens of the Stoneage, Kings of Leon.  The big uk ‘modern prog’ acts like Muse, Elbow, Oceansize and Radiohead.  I’m really getting into Katatonia at the moment.  I guess they are almost label mates now (they are signed to Peaceville, a division of Snapper like Kscope).  They are a brilliant band.

Are there any gigs planned in Germany, Austria or Switzerland in the next time?

No, but we are desperate to get out there.  We’re playing Poland in a few weeks and after that we’re off to Norway so we’re slowly venturing into Europe.  We’re hoping to do a proper tour of Europe in 2009.

I thank you for your time to answer my questions, are there any last words you want to say to the readers?

Thank goodness for music lovers!  Keeping people like us in business…

Johannes Schmuck | metal.de