On The Radar #80 Clowwns

With the release of debut album The Artful Execution Of Macho Bimbo on Bleeding Heart Recordings last month, Clowwns are finally building on an impressive live pedigree.

Guitarist Andrew Claridge talks concept albums and ripping off New Order’s Peter Hook.

“Miles [Heathfield, vocals] and I met back when the world was flat. We played in several bands together in the past before having the idea for Clowwns and discovering that we could write songs together. The majority of the album was written in a couple of alcohol fuelled evenings in London. We married our noise to Damo [Waters, drums] and Etienne [Rodes, bass]’s exceptional bang and boom in Brighton and we've all been very happy ever since.

“We love the skewed intensity of The Birthday Party and The Pixies, the singular aesthetic of The Sex Pistols and The Smiths and the wildly creative songwriting of Kings Of The Wild Frontier-era Adam and the Ants. Lyrically, the songs owe more to Dylan Thomas coupled with the rather alarming goings-on in the darker recesses of Mile's brain, than any pop lyricist.

“Our biggest gig to date was playing to a full house at Concorde 2, supporting The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster. Some of our best shows have been at tiny places like Fitzherberts and Hotel Pelirocco – minimal PA System and maximum intensity. Our earlier shows involved lots of very badly applied make-up and the kind of outfits guaranteed to get you beaten up in West Street on a Saturday night.

“The Artful Execution of Macho Bimbo isn't a concept album although the songs do share some common themes – paranoia, self-loathing, gender politics and megalomania. And trousers. Although one of our most recent songs was written in the time it took to play it, we tend to spend more time crafting the songs now than we did at the outset, mainly out of desire to avoid repeating ourselves and keep exploring new ideas.

“I do think there's a dearth of great, visceral rock and roll bands around at the moment. When we started writing we were massively in credit at the riff bank but after a while you find yourself having to invest more. I stole that analogy from Peter Hook. They don't get The Argus in Manchester so I think I'll get away with it.

“The debut album's been a labour of love. As thrilled as we are to have finally un-leashed it on the world, we're very eager to get back in the studio to record the next one-we've picked up a small but beautifully formed fanbase who we're very fond of and we think they deserve it.”

Clowwns play The Prince Albert, in Trafalgar Street, Brighton, on Friday, September 25.

Find out more:

www.clowwns.com/

www.facebook.com/clowwns

www.bleedingheartrecordings.com