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Artist Interviews
Q&A: Future Of The Left
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 27 June 2012
Formed by former Mclusky frontman Andy Falkous and drummer Jack Egglestone with ex-Jarcrew frontman Kelson Mathiasin in 2005, Future Of The Left released their debut album, ‘Curses’, in 2007, followed by the critically acclaimed follow-up ‘Travels With Myself And Another’ in 2009.
In 2010, Mathiasin announced his departure from the band, and later the same year, expanded to a four-piece with the addition of Million Dead bassist Julia Ruzicka and guitarist Jimmy Watkins. There was further change last year when they moved from 4AD to sign with Xtra Mile. The new record deal was christened with the release of the ‘Polymers Are Forever’ EP, the title track of which also features on their third album, ‘The Plot Against Common Sense’, which was released earlier this month.
CMU’s Andy Malt spoke to Andy Falkous to find out more about the album, the Olympics, and the percentage by which his life has changed over the last three years.
AM: There was almost exactly three years between ‘Travels With Myself And Another’ and ‘The Plot Against Common Sense’. How have things changed for you in that time?
AF: Three years older, about 4.7% different. A new collection of songs. I’m still fermenting lyrics on long runs and through the relative tedium of day jobs. Though I’m loving playing and writing more than ever, happily. Still cleaning up after the cat. New jeans. Y’know. The usual-ish.
AM: This is your first album with Julia Ruzicka and Jimmy Watkins. What effect has their addition had on the band?
AF: Julia and Jimmy joined within six months of each other and have brought music, talent and love to the whole process. Effective integration took a while, but we’re there and plus at the moment. Also, administratively, we’re more organised, which sounds dry, but when everyone knows when rehearsals are, it really does help.
AM: When did you begin writing ‘The Plot Against Common Sense’?
AF: Two years ago, although we didn’t really start hitting our stride until the beginning of 2011. Recording began last June and spanned sixteen days over a five month period.
AM: Amongst the subjects covered in the lyrics on the new album are the Olympics, the movie industry and the riots. Which topic has been the most cathartic to write about and is there anything you’ve not taken aim at yet that you want to in the future?
AF: There are jokes, issues and conversational set-pieces that fly around between us, but I make a conscious effort not to just crowbar topical concerns into the lyrics – if they turn up, as if by magic, in the melee of the practice room, then it’s fine, but nobody is setting agendas otherwise.
Writing about the Olympics was great fun, my favourite shower of shit. No future topics are planned as yet, but I’m sure they’re fermenting somewhere in my black soul.
AM: It’s now twelve years since the release of the first Mclusky album. What has the music industry taught you since then?
AF: That ‘difficult to work with’ means ‘doesn’t say yes to any old shit we throw at them’.
AM: What advice would you give to any new band starting out today?
AF: Shut up and play. Play, play, play. More playing. If you want to make money dress like an asexual daytime vampire and suck so hard it’s like you’re doing it for a bet. Or, just play.
AM: Will there be more editions of your podcast?
AF: Time and ideas permitting yes. I have some really bad accents I want to throw around, and Jim is an insane person, so it’s almost an inevitability. Sorry in advance.
