THE PINNEAPLE THIEF - RockTotal.com

-Although you have some cds and reputation, in Spain you are a small band, and attending to your name, the traduction is particular, how was surge the idea of the name of the band?

The name of the band was taken from a small American indie film called ‘Eve’s Bayou’; there is a scene where a little kid steals a pineapple.  I had drunk a bit too much wine and decided to steal it for my band too (that was back in 1999).  In retrospect it has caused us a bit of trouble over the years because people keep getting it muddled with Porcupine Tree – and that’s the last thing I need!

-Looking the front cover, we can see an strange image, whats represent?

It’s supposed to represent the complicated, tangled web we all find ourselves living in.  That’s where the ‘Tightly Wound/Unwound’ idea is coming from.  Everything and everybody in our lives is linked. A small negative or positive reaction can cause a huge effect.

-whats the lyrics about in this album?

Mainly how I have felt personally over the last couple of years.   A mixture of good, bad, love, loss, happiness and sadness.  Pretty much what most of us go through!  I’d like to think that has translated to light and shade on the album.

-You are from England, how is the rock scene in this moment there? The brit pop continue having the success of finally 90`s?

I think the English rock scene is having an identity crisis at the moment (well, the mainstream is).  There are a lot of bands about and thankfully guitar bands are enjoying a resurgence.  But sadly not the kind of guitar music I enjoy…

-How was surge the contact with the new label Kscope?

I was introduced to Kscope by Steve Wilson from Porcupine Tree.   A load of my fans got in contact with him towards the end of 2006 and that prompted Steve to drop me an email.  I’m glad he did as without him, I wouldn’t be on Kscope now and probably wouldn’t be talking to you!

-Why you choose the tittle Tightly Unwound for this cd?

I was trying to convey the concept I spoke about earlier – everything important is so ‘tightly wound’ – sometimes it has very positive effects (such as love, trust and friendship) but equally, if love turns to hate or trust is broken, it’s not good.  Hence, ‘Tightly Unwound’ sums this up nicely in a title.  Having said that, I don’t like having to summarise an album in a title…

-whats your musical influences and what bands do you like?

I grew up in the 80s and 90s listening to a lot of 70s music – Led Zep, Floyd, Supertramp, Yes etc.  Of the larger contemporary bands – Beck, Elbow, Muse, Radiohead. 

-how do you see the rock scene in england? Is the brit pop the most success style?

It’s varied and very regional.  For example, the ‘Bristol’ scene near me has a distinctive ‘sound’.  Think Portishead, Tricky and Ronnie Size.  I think ‘brit pop’ has pretty much gone now.  Unless you class the raft of ‘Cure’ clones as brit pop…

-you have tour plans in this moment?

We’d love to do a proper tour of Europe.  We’re hoping the new album will do well so we can get out to you guys.  I large group of fans are flying over from Spain especially for our next gig in London.  I’d like to save them the trip next time!

-what do you think if i say that your music will be a mix between radiohead and porcupine tree?

Well, I don’t think we sound like those bands but  I DO understand it when people make the comparisons.  I don’t think I can ignore it – if I try to make modern progressive music I’m bound to be compared with those two.

-in this moment, you have any great progressive english band?

The biggest active UK progressive artists are Porcupine Tree and Marillion.  But then Elbow and Radiohead are also progressive, even if they say they aren’t.

-Vulgar unicorm have any musical connection with Pineapple thief?

No, not really.  My musical life started out with VU (it was me and my friend Neil Randall) but Neil has moved on to film now.  We’re still friends though.

-whats your opinion about finished album?

I’m very proud of it and it’s by far my favourite TPT album.  But I still think the next one will be better!

-is there some any new band that you like specially or you can recomend?

Hmmm, let me think.  At the moment I’m listening to a download album by an Icelandic band called ‘Blindfold’.  Intense but melodic.  Right up my street.

-for you, Pineapple is a real band or only a proyect?

It’s definitely a band.  Yeah, it’s very much my baby but without the band, we wouldn’t be where we are now.  Playing live is just as important as the album.