Guy Bailey gives the latest on Thirsty, who’s latest album ‘Albatross’ is out now…

1. How pleased are you with the reception that Thirsty has continued to receive as a band?

We are all delighted. From the very beginning, when we really had no idea how Tour music would be received, the reception has always been overwhelmingly positive from critics and listeners. Of course, it’s a very hackneyed cliche that the second album often proves to be a big challenge.

But we felt very positive about the second album all the way through the making of it.
And the advance reviews that we have received for Albatross have, if anything, been even more positive than the reviews we received for the first album (Thirsty)

2. ‘Albatross’ picks up where your first album left off, could you guide us through the new album?

Sure – the second album continues the creative process that we used on the first album. Irina first writes the lyrics and then I set them to music. The the main difference in the approach to this album was that, whilst the first album Thirsty had a focus on retelling stories from real life (Donnie to Sonny, God Bless America, Flawless and Sniper are all based on historic events), this one (Albatross) features songs based upon characters and situations from fiction – from some of Irina’s favorite novels and poems.

The opening song ’The Albatross’ is based on a section of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s famous poem ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’; ‘Chaos’ is inspired by a character which we think Bunyan accidentally left out of the dream world in his ’Pilgrims Progress’. ‘Orlando’ explores the idea that the titular sex-changing character and his/her creator, Virginia Woolf, became one and the same person. ‘Cosmic Aphrodite’ originates in Solaris, the science fiction fantasy written by Lem and famously filmed by Tarkovsky etc etc.

3. The band has a great collection of catchy 3 minute songs. How easy is it to keep to that pattern?

Its surprisingly easy most of the time. I have always tried to write songs which follow a fairly strict model based on the premiss that “brevity is the soul of good rock music”.
Ever since I was a teenager, Most of the records which inspired me have always followed this model. And I firmly believe that it is a great discipline to be able to write and say all that you want to say in under three minutes

4. What is the plan for live shows in support of the album?

We are very keen to do some shows as soon as we can – but it is challenging. Not least because we are all committed in other ways and so there is always someone unavailable. For example, this autumn, Simon has been on the road with Squeeze non stop.

5. Given the length of times between the first two albums, are you already planning album number 3?

Without a doubt. The first two albums were loads of fun to do and we are already kicking a few new ideas into shape for sketches for the next record. That said, we don’t want to pressurize ourselves into getting it all done within six months and coming up with inferior product. We want to make the best record we can – and it will take as long as it will take

6. How did the recent show with Tyla go and any plans to play again and/or record together?

Need you ask. It was a total blast. Tyla is always one to do his own thing – especially on the writing and recording front. So there are no firm plans at the moment to follow up. But you never know.

7. How do you think Stoke’s season will pan out? Will it start to improve from here on in?

Well it could not get much worse could it! Actually we are getting much better – almost beat the Baggies (West Brom) – a point away at Man Utd and then playing Sunderland off the pitch on Saturday are all moves onwards and upwards. Also Joe Allen is a fantastic signing!

Questions by Nikk Gunns with our News & Reviews Editor Jason Ritchie adding in the Stoke City question

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

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