Like a teen desperate to grow up, then hitting adulthood with nostalgic thoughts of their fun -filled childhood, as Jimmi (the drummer) explains in the following interview, the Pigeon Detectives are dipping back into their less sophisticated earlier sound to come up with something refreshing for their fourth album,We met at sea, set for release on the 29th April.
To begin with, something I always wonder about drummers. Obviously you know all the songs really well, do you ever get the urge to sing along?
No, I just keep a straight pouty face. I think I would look like a douche-bag really, I’ve seen other drummers do it and it just looks really cheesy.
It’s been 6 years since your first album release, looking back on those years, how have they been in comparison to how you expected them to be?
In some ways very different, you can expect, but you can’t prepare for what it’s gonna be about. You don’t expect all the boring travelling, stress and dealing with the industry. But it’s been amazing, talking to amazing people and playing great shows.
So the stress is worth it?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
What are your hopes for your new album?
Just for people to get into it and enjoy it, radio play would be nice. We want to get the music out to as many people as possible and for the music to come alive.
Can you give us an idea of what we can expect from the new album?
The new album is similar to the second in terms of melodies and hooks. We moved on from our early sound and added some maturity for our third album using melodies that are subtle and grown on you over time. The new album has more excitement, like our earlier stuff.
Is it weird going from this new and exciting band to being an older band with a reputation to live up to?
We played some huge huge gigs, now we play more intimate ones. But we’re still hungry for the same thing. You’ll have to listen to the new album to get excited about us again. It’s quite in your face and very refreshing to hear.
What as a band do you still have ambitions to do?
Headline a main stage, play an arena off our own back. Play a stadium.
Do you guys ever go on a proper holiday together?
We spend enough time together, I’m gonna go on holiday with my girlfriend. We’ve known each other for so long now we’re used to each others company. We don’t have to be polite to each other.
Is there a wide range of differences in what each of you choose to listen to?
We have a number of acts we agree on, like Oasis, Blur, The Beatles, Television and The Walkmen. But we have our own tastes too, I’m always on the look out for really new stuff. From rock and roll to atmospheric stuff to electronic and dance.
If you could play only one more song to one more audience what would it be?
‘I Found Out’ cause that song has been with us from the start, it really put us out there and got a lot of people talking about us. Once the first few chords are played everyone gets so excited, it gets a good reaction from the crowd.
Have you actually ever solved any poultry mysteries?
No, no I haven’t. Maybe one day! I’ve never actually liked the name, we put it down for our first gig, because we didn’t have a name. We expected to change it, but never did.
Pre-order the new album, We Met At Sea, here.
Have a listen to their new single ‘I Won’t Come Back’, taken from their new album below…
