Exit Calm: Cocked, locked and ready to space-rock!

• 31st Mar 2008

Commonly compared with early day Verve and Spiritualized, South Yorkshire four piece Exit Calm (Nicky Smith – vocals, Rob Marshall – guitar, Scott Pemberton – drums and Simon Lindley – bass) and their intense live performances have been stunning audiences since late 2006.

Their debut single ‘Higher learning’ / ‘Awake’ (released back in Feb) sold out in just 2 days, so the wait for their next single (out May/June) is surely gonna be excruciating (I know I can’t wait!).

Attracting fans in the shape of Mani, Nick McCabe and Tom Clarke, it’s no wonder that these guys are more than worthy of close inspection and any opportunity to see them live at any of the dates below should be taken!

Bassist Simon Lindley kindly took some time out to answer a fistful of questions…

AS: WHAT WILL THIS YEAR BRING?
SL: We're working towards putting our album out Sept/Oct so everything’s getting geared towards that. The albums pretty much there, we just need to find the right producer and record label. A single in the next few months and hopefully some tour supports and festivals in between.

AS: WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
SL: Just found a band were all buzzin' about called The Lea Shores, bit Brian Jonestown Massacre meets early Ride, fuckin' top band… We’re playing with them at the 100 Club in London next month.

AS: HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU FEEL VISUALS ARE IN RELATION TO MUSIC?
SL: Depends if you're crap live, Sigur Ros and UNKLE use visuals fuckin' beautifully. They create atmosphere and they're powerful. But Spiritualized don't need 'em 'cause they're so massive live, so we'll never be too dependent on using visuals…just keep the bright lights down.

AS: WHO WOULD BE YOUR DREAM COLLABORATOR?
SL: Pete Cashmore.

AS: WHAT KINDS OF MUSIC DO YOU DISLIKE THE MOST?
SL: I'm sure they're all nice people and it’s just a phase, but these bands that stumble about in ripped vests tripping over everything. It’s negative as fuck…and temporary shit like nu-rave, Klaxons just sound like an indie band, but because they wear fancy dress they're pioneers, I don't get that either.

AS: DO POLITICS HAVE A PLACE IN MUSIC?
SL: Only if you're Bob Geldof. Fuck off Bono.

AS: WHAT REVIVAL WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO WITNESS?
SL: Wouldn't wanna call it a revival, ‘cause revivals are just watered down, shit versions of the original. But I’d like Dark Star, Campag Velocet & The Regular Fries to get back together. 'Cause I love ‘em.

AS: WHERE DO YOU SIT IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS?
SL: The way things are at the minute, we don’t know what the grand scheme of thing is. The way music is heading there’s either gonna be a massive breakdown or an explosion before everybody becomes too mediocre to even mention.
We just keep believing in what were doing and how we do it, ‘cause we think what we do is worthy.

AS: WHERE DO YOU GO WHEN IT ALL GETS TOO MUCH?
SL: The bath.

AS: Cheers for taking time out and all the best for your surely bright future. Oh, on a personal note… thankyou so much for reviving an all too sorely missed space-rock sound.

Check out EC at any of these live dates –

15 Apr 100 club (with THE LEA SHORES)
19 Apr CARLISLE – Brickyard
25 Apr RUGBY – Style Club
26 Apr BIRMINGHAM – The Flapper

For full details please visit link