Musicians — London
Photo: Al Overdrive
Name, where are you from?
Teeth Of The Sea, London
Describe your style in three words?
Sam: Widescreen, Liminal, Zesty.
Mike: I’d Rather Jack
.
Jimmy: Right bloody racket.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Mike: It'd have to be Wolf Eyes at The Electrowerkz. After witnessing a particularly synapse destroying set we staggered out into a moonlit Angel and were so inspired we formed Teeth Of The Sea right there in the street. There was much beer induced hugging.
Sam: Leonard Cohen O2 Arena September 2013. A real hero of mine and delighted to get to see him before he died. He didn't disappoint and the whole evening had a phenomenal emotional charge to it
Jimmy: Avail at Southampton Joiners, 1995. Just the most electrifying atmosphere of any night out ever. There’s nothing like a room full of people going absolutely batshit crazy with huge grins on their faces.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Sam: Funkadelic circa 1971-75 and The Birthday Party. Would be a kerrrazy scene.
Jimmy: MC5 in 1969 and Aphex Twin in 1993
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
Sam: I don't know how much these things have influenced our music but I've always had an interest in lots of subcultures - Mod, 70s New York Loft scene, British Avant-Garde Jazz, NWOBHM, No Wave, Goth, US Hardcore, Rave, Grime. Anytime that young people get together, create their own world with its own codes of music, dress, behaviour and ethics is an inspiring and empowering thing.
Jimmy: “Heavy metal, heavy metal, heavy metal. Just like your brain, Den.”
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Jimmy: I think Kenneth Tynan would have been a laugh, or George Melly.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Mike: Milhoes De Festa in Barcelos, Portugal was pretty special. Gazing from the stage at 1500 (pretty mashed) faces at 3am with the stars twinkling above is quite a sight.
Sam: Kazimier in Liverpool (RIP). Incredible layout, genuinely one-off magical feel to the place.
Jimmy; Newcastle Tyne Theatre was pretty surreal, just because the last time I’d been there I was 10 years old watching a production of Turandot.
Your greatest hero or heroine in music?
Sam: Either/or of David Bowie/Miles Davis. Consistent reinvention, never resting on laurels, willingness to upset their own fanbase, muddying the waters between high and low art. "The job is never finished".
Mike: Aphex Twin. Proof that you can get away with doing ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING, music-related or otherwise, and have a massive grin on your face whilst doing it.
Jimmy: Tom G. Warrior from Hellhammer/Celtic Frost/Triptykon - just for being uncompromising at every turn and paying no mind to anything or anyone around him. Even when he took a wrong turn he did so spectacularly.
Teeth Of The Sea's latest album 'Wraith' was released on 22nd February (2019). The album seems the maximalist cinematic three-piece outfit continue to ignore the constraints of traditional genres bringing together elements of rock, metal, punk electronics, and contemporary classical into their own unique form. 'Wraith' expands on the direction of their previous LP 'Highly Deadly Black Tarantula' and employs the production wizardry of Erol Alkan on opening track 'I'd Rather Jack'.
The first track you played on repeat?
Mike: Big Business - 'Another Fourth Of July...Ruined'.
Tour bus favourite - we must have listened to it 100 times, all furiously beating our legs to the kick drum.
Sam: Pet Shop Boys - 'It's A Sin'
Jimmy: First track I played to death by anyone: Plastic Bertrand - 'Ca Plane Pour Moi' (age 4)
A song that defines the teenage you?
Sam: Pixies - 'I've Been Tired'
Mike: Prince - 'Dirty Mind' *cough*…
Jimmy: Metallica 'Creeping Death'
One record you would keep forever?
Sam: One? Impossible. Throwing a dart at an infinite possible number I'm just going to say Annette Peacock - 'I'm The One'
Mike: LP5 by Autechre is a perfect record. It bridges the gap between their earlier, more melodic sound and the bicycle wheels and crisp packets abstraction of their more recent material. Ain't nobody better than Autechre.
Jimmy: The Stooges 'Fun House' is my favourite record. Not an original choice, but it just hits on a vicious primal level that will never age.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
Sam: “I am angry I am ill and I’m as ugly as sin”
Magazine - 'A Song From Under The Floorboards'.
Mike: "We Are The Robots"
Kraftwerk - 'The Robots'.
Jimmy: "Astronauts, the new conquistadors"
Ian Brown - 'My Star'
A song you wished you had written?
Mike: 'Stereo Music For Yamaha Disklavier Prototype, Electric Guitar And Computer' by Keith Fullerton Whitman actually has the ability to stop time whilst you listen to it. It's THAT beautiful and spellbinding and gorgeous and bewitching and every other adjective you can think of.
Sam: Kate Bush - 'Suspended In Gaffa'.
Jimmy: Brian Eno - 'Everything Merges With The Night'. Without wanting to sound pretentious I don’t really think in terms of who’s written what, the music I like and make is all just part of some strange continuum I have no control over but am happy to be a part of.
Best song to turn up loud?
Sam: The Bug - 'Skeng'. Enough bass to knock out a horse, we had a fantastic moment on the last night of our last album tour with us all losing it to this in Salford's Islington Mill venue.
Mike: 'Past Majesty' by Demdike Stare will take you outside, claim you spilt its pint, and then RUIN YOU. And you'll love it.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Sam: 'Flowers' by Sweet Female Attitude. Total tune.
Mike: 'Like I Love You' by Justin Timberlake. Absolute choon and guaranteed to get any party started.
Jimmy: Paul Young 'Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)'. The arrangement, the fretless bass - it’s a really classy vocal performance, and there’s something strangely heartfelt and touching about the whole thing. I’m not being remotely ironic.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
Sam: The Three Degrees - 'Jump The Gun' (extended version) - a massively underrated Moroder driven disco masterpiece.
Mike: 'My Washing Machine' by Sikk. Certified, solid gold B.A.N.G.E.R.
Jimmy: Macho 'I’m A Man' - seventeen minutes and 43 seconds of licentious barnstorming perfection.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
Sam: Lou Reed - 'Street Hassle'. A perfect slice of New York sleaze-noir-tragedy to take you out into the ugly dawn.
Mike: 'Stars In Your Eyes - Special Disco Remix' by Herbie Hancock. Right, you've got 11 minutes. Make the most of it.
Jimmy: 'It’s Nice To Get Up In The Morning (But It’s Nicer To Stay In Bed)' by Harry Lauder is a good way to clear a venue I find.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Sam: Filles De Illighadad, Valve, Bas Jan, Tropical Fuck Storm, Gabe Gurnsey.
Mike: Lanark Artefax is killing it with every release. Nailing that classic Braindance sound but kicking it into the future. Lush.
Jimmy: Guttersnipe are the best new band in the UK at the moment. Completely unclassifiable, relentlessly alien sounding, viciously confrontational, more punk rock than any punk rock. It’s kind of noise rock kind of black metal, kind of free-jazz, kind of power electronics, but simultaneously none of those things. We need more bands as f*ck-you as Guttersnipe.
Photo: Al Overdrive
Name, where are you from?
Teeth Of The Sea, London
Describe your style in three words?
Sam: Widescreen, Liminal, Zesty.
Mike: I’d Rather Jack
.
Jimmy: Right bloody racket.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Mike: It'd have to be Wolf Eyes at The Electrowerkz. After witnessing a particularly synapse destroying set we staggered out into a moonlit Angel and were so inspired we formed Teeth Of The Sea right there in the street. There was much beer induced hugging.
Sam: Leonard Cohen O2 Arena September 2013. A real hero of mine and delighted to get to see him before he died. He didn't disappoint and the whole evening had a phenomenal emotional charge to it
Jimmy: Avail at Southampton Joiners, 1995. Just the most electrifying atmosphere of any night out ever. There’s nothing like a room full of people going absolutely batshit crazy with huge grins on their faces.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Sam: Funkadelic circa 1971-75 and The Birthday Party. Would be a kerrrazy scene.
Jimmy: MC5 in 1969 and Aphex Twin in 1993
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
Sam: I don't know how much these things have influenced our music but I've always had an interest in lots of subcultures - Mod, 70s New York Loft scene, British Avant-Garde Jazz, NWOBHM, No Wave, Goth, US Hardcore, Rave, Grime. Anytime that young people get together, create their own world with its own codes of music, dress, behaviour and ethics is an inspiring and empowering thing.
Jimmy: “Heavy metal, heavy metal, heavy metal. Just like your brain, Den.”
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Jimmy: I think Kenneth Tynan would have been a laugh, or George Melly.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Mike: Milhoes De Festa in Barcelos, Portugal was pretty special. Gazing from the stage at 1500 (pretty mashed) faces at 3am with the stars twinkling above is quite a sight.
Sam: Kazimier in Liverpool (RIP). Incredible layout, genuinely one-off magical feel to the place.
Jimmy; Newcastle Tyne Theatre was pretty surreal, just because the last time I’d been there I was 10 years old watching a production of Turandot.
Your greatest hero or heroine in music?
Sam: Either/or of David Bowie/Miles Davis. Consistent reinvention, never resting on laurels, willingness to upset their own fanbase, muddying the waters between high and low art. "The job is never finished".
Mike: Aphex Twin. Proof that you can get away with doing ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING, music-related or otherwise, and have a massive grin on your face whilst doing it.
Jimmy: Tom G. Warrior from Hellhammer/Celtic Frost/Triptykon - just for being uncompromising at every turn and paying no mind to anything or anyone around him. Even when he took a wrong turn he did so spectacularly.
Teeth Of The Sea's latest album 'Wraith' was released on 22nd February (2019). The album seems the maximalist cinematic three-piece outfit continue to ignore the constraints of traditional genres bringing together elements of rock, metal, punk electronics, and contemporary classical into their own unique form. 'Wraith' expands on the direction of their previous LP 'Highly Deadly Black Tarantula' and employs the production wizardry of Erol Alkan on opening track 'I'd Rather Jack'.
The first track you played on repeat?
Mike: Big Business - 'Another Fourth Of July...Ruined'.
Tour bus favourite - we must have listened to it 100 times, all furiously beating our legs to the kick drum.
Sam: Pet Shop Boys - 'It's A Sin'
Jimmy: First track I played to death by anyone: Plastic Bertrand - 'Ca Plane Pour Moi' (age 4)
A song that defines the teenage you?
Sam: Pixies - 'I've Been Tired'
Mike: Prince - 'Dirty Mind' *cough*…
Jimmy: Metallica 'Creeping Death'
One record you would keep forever?
Sam: One? Impossible. Throwing a dart at an infinite possible number I'm just going to say Annette Peacock - 'I'm The One'
Mike: LP5 by Autechre is a perfect record. It bridges the gap between their earlier, more melodic sound and the bicycle wheels and crisp packets abstraction of their more recent material. Ain't nobody better than Autechre.
Jimmy: The Stooges 'Fun House' is my favourite record. Not an original choice, but it just hits on a vicious primal level that will never age.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
Sam: “I am angry I am ill and I’m as ugly as sin”
Magazine - 'A Song From Under The Floorboards'.
Mike: "We Are The Robots"
Kraftwerk - 'The Robots'.
Jimmy: "Astronauts, the new conquistadors"
Ian Brown - 'My Star'
A song you wished you had written?
Mike: 'Stereo Music For Yamaha Disklavier Prototype, Electric Guitar And Computer' by Keith Fullerton Whitman actually has the ability to stop time whilst you listen to it. It's THAT beautiful and spellbinding and gorgeous and bewitching and every other adjective you can think of.
Sam: Kate Bush - 'Suspended In Gaffa'.
Jimmy: Brian Eno - 'Everything Merges With The Night'. Without wanting to sound pretentious I don’t really think in terms of who’s written what, the music I like and make is all just part of some strange continuum I have no control over but am happy to be a part of.
Best song to turn up loud?
Sam: The Bug - 'Skeng'. Enough bass to knock out a horse, we had a fantastic moment on the last night of our last album tour with us all losing it to this in Salford's Islington Mill venue.
Mike: 'Past Majesty' by Demdike Stare will take you outside, claim you spilt its pint, and then RUIN YOU. And you'll love it.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Sam: 'Flowers' by Sweet Female Attitude. Total tune.
Mike: 'Like I Love You' by Justin Timberlake. Absolute choon and guaranteed to get any party started.
Jimmy: Paul Young 'Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)'. The arrangement, the fretless bass - it’s a really classy vocal performance, and there’s something strangely heartfelt and touching about the whole thing. I’m not being remotely ironic.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
Sam: The Three Degrees - 'Jump The Gun' (extended version) - a massively underrated Moroder driven disco masterpiece.
Mike: 'My Washing Machine' by Sikk. Certified, solid gold B.A.N.G.E.R.
Jimmy: Macho 'I’m A Man' - seventeen minutes and 43 seconds of licentious barnstorming perfection.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
Sam: Lou Reed - 'Street Hassle'. A perfect slice of New York sleaze-noir-tragedy to take you out into the ugly dawn.
Mike: 'Stars In Your Eyes - Special Disco Remix' by Herbie Hancock. Right, you've got 11 minutes. Make the most of it.
Jimmy: 'It’s Nice To Get Up In The Morning (But It’s Nicer To Stay In Bed)' by Harry Lauder is a good way to clear a venue I find.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Sam: Filles De Illighadad, Valve, Bas Jan, Tropical Fuck Storm, Gabe Gurnsey.
Mike: Lanark Artefax is killing it with every release. Nailing that classic Braindance sound but kicking it into the future. Lush.
Jimmy: Guttersnipe are the best new band in the UK at the moment. Completely unclassifiable, relentlessly alien sounding, viciously confrontational, more punk rock than any punk rock. It’s kind of noise rock kind of black metal, kind of free-jazz, kind of power electronics, but simultaneously none of those things. We need more bands as f*ck-you as Guttersnipe.
Teeth of the Sea - Hiraeth
Teeth of the Sea - I'd Rather, Jack (Radio Edit)