Joshua James

Continuing our run of interviews with bands who made our top ten albums list for 2007, we collared the near legendary James Lavelle to talk about the highs and lows of Unkle, his illustrious collaborations, the decline of his label Mo Wax, and crap interview questions. Er…

AD: “War Stories” has further cemented my belief that Unkle are impossible to categorise, because all of your albums are poles apart from each other. How come?

JL: Because you’re always growing and learning your own abilities, both technically and artistically, so you just go with the flow. Then of course there are always loads of influences around you, whether they’re personal, cinematic or musical. When we put out “Psyence Fiction”, I was mostly listening to hip-hop, and that was more of a sample based culture – a kind of “niche” thing – but recently I’ve been more influenced by guitar driven material.

AD: Is it a different approach when you do the film soundtracks?

JL: Yes, because you have more of a literal state of what’s going on. You’re reacting to what you’re seeing on the screen, rather than reacting to your own emotional feeling from within your own little world.

AD: And I know you went out to Joshua Tree to record the album, so how much did that stark desert landscape inspire what came out on the finished product?

JL: Quite a lot. It was a very productive time out there. It’s a surreal place where there’s lots of space, so you can get into this whole state of mind and work on everything twenty four seven. On one level it’s a very spiritual, holy place, and on another, it’s the “crystal meth central” of America!

AD: So, once you were out there, you had all these distinguished names to work with, and I wondered, with these collaborations, is there a specific game plan? I mean, do you write the whole thing for them and give them specific instructions, or are they given free reign to do whatever they please?

JL: Not specific instructions as such, but I’ll give them a very rough looking idea of what direction we want to be setting off in. I’ve already got a picture of who I want to do what, and it’s like I already have the puzzle, but I just need to fit the pieces in. So, of course, you play to everyone’s capabilities, and a lot of it depends on what you’ve achieved by that point – sometimes you’ll have a load of weightier tracks, so you need something lighter and attempt to fit all the pieces together by using the artist that most fits that particular track.

AD: Who did you enjoy working with the most on “War Stories”?

JL: I would have to say (Chris) Goss, because we had a great working environment and there’s a really good bridge between us. I like the balance; whereas before, all the records we made felt quite testosterone led, this time around it was a lot more of a mellow process…

AD: That’s quite ironic, because it’s probably your “hardest” album…

JL: Ha, yeah that’s true, but it was a lot more relaxed. The writing process was far more productive, probably because we’re all better now and we’ve all grown a lot. I don’t really want to single anybody out though, because everyone brings something unique and special to each recording.

AD: It was certainly unique and special when you brought Brian Eno and Jarvis Cocker together on “Never Never Land”…

JL: Oh, that was an amazing experience. And they were both so accommodating as well, if a little eccentric. Considering the level of success that Eno has had, he was so gentle and aware of everyone – from the studio engineer right down to the tea boy – that it was a very humbling and inspirational event.

AD: So, what would you put into “Room 101” if you went on the show?

JL: I don’t even know what that is.

AD: Oh, it’s a show where you choose several things that annoy you which may or may not be sent to “Room 101”…

JL: Oh right. Well, obviously war and corporisation then. And feeling tired. I also hate it when people interview me and ask me questions they could easily look up on the Internet. I mean, do some research!

AD: Er…I hope you’re not referring to me…

JL: Ha Ha. No I wasn’t actually. Sorry.

AD: You know what I hate? Interview questions where they just say “dogs or cats?” or “fish or chips?”…

JL: You’d better watch yourself then, because your last question was nearly verging on that.

AD: Er…good point. Then let me sheepishly go back to the album then – you worked with Josh Homme again, and I noticed it’s only being released as a download and 7” single. The lack of a physical CD implies to me that chart positions are something of an irrelevance to you…

JL: Yeah, well we never seem to do very well on that level, and seeing as I’m financing the whole thing myself (NB – James has set up his own label, Surrender All, in order to put this out) it’s not really worthwhile to put it out on CD as well. It’s a sad state of affairs but that’s the way it is.

AD: Going back to the first Unkle album, the brilliant “Psyence Fiction”, it got something of a panning from certain quarters of the music press. Did any of the negative reaction affect you much, and did it influence your need to constantly change direction?

JL: Well yes, I would say it massively affected us. It was a strange time, seeing all this negative press coming out of something we thought was extremely positive. I think the fact that several of those reviewers have fallen by the wayside while the record itself has survived the test of time tells its own story. It was too little too late though, because the negativity we got around that time pretty much signalled the end for Mo Wax.

AD: In stark contrast, you produced DJ Shadow’s “Endtroducing”, which was – and still is – roundly lauded as a landmark album. You must be quite proud of that one, surely?

JL: Oh, totally. That whole period was probably the best time of my career…or my life even. But you know, just being able to do what I do – making music, putting out records and running successful club nights makes it all worthwhile, regardless of what kind of critical feedback I get.

AD: So what does the future have in store?

JL: I’ll be touring and trying to get ideas for the new album. The main thing is that I want to have a quicker turnaround this time. I mean, you probably don’t realise this but “War Stories” has been in my life for three years now and I really want to move on. Hopefully I can get something done within a year this time!


And that’s where we left it. If his new album turns out to be anywhere as good as “War Stories”, James will have another winner on his hands, and I’m getting a damn good feeling it will be.

The tremendous “War Stories” was released in 2007 and should be easy to find in all good record stores. If they haven’t got it, tell them Atomicduster says they’re shit.

Interview by; Tone E

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