‘Nature Always Wins’ is the 7th studio album from indie veterans Maximo Park. As the band usher in the new release, Cameron Wright sits down with Maximo Park frontman Paul Smith to discuss the new sound and new era of the band.
It’s lovely to talk to you rather than conducting an email interview…
I’m used to all these zoom calls now as that’s essentially how we recorded the entire album. I’m talking to you now on the same computer I used to record all my vocals and communicate with the band and Ben Allen throughout this whole process. It’s been great to see an album that was pushed through these limitations start climbing up the charts. Who’d have thought that a guy from Billingham would end up in a chart battle against a band like Mogwai? It’s been great to hear through zoom and social media about how the album has been received. It is a pity people haven’t been able to get in the shops and pick up a vinyl version just yet but having everyone access it online has been great.
It’s interesting that you mention coming from Billingham. I’m from the area myself and listening to the album, you’re able to pick out very precise references to the town…
Oh, absolutely. The album is filled with those references to the prefabs or the industry. The album is a very personal look at the past, with those memories of visiting nana or walking through the town. I do try and infuse my own life into the songs; I feel like I owe it to music to ensure everything I make means something. I’d stop making music if our output ever became boring because everyday life is inspiring and amazing – I wouldn’t want to be short-changing it. I do pour myself into my lyrics to the extent that sometimes it may feel on the nose or obvious – but sometimes the obvious needs to be reiterated. Our last album was very explicit as we tackled issues of gaslighting and conspiracy. It felt right to address issues head-on and directly but with this album, I’ve tried to avoid clichés. A track like ‘Child of the Flatlands’ is much more poetic and ambiguous. ‘Why Must A Building Burn’ is essentially a snapshot of life as I write about themes which affect us all; I think touching on shared experiences helps create transcendent and great music. When I think back, I remember hanging out at Northumbria University, walking up the stairs and thinking to myself ‘Bryan Ferry will have walked up these exact stairs.’ It’s amazing when you’re able to put yourself in the specific shoes of the lyricist.
Speaking of Bryan Ferry, as you look back lyrically, it often feels like the instrumentation is looking back too…
Oh, completely. Everyone in the band is a child of the ‘80s. The sounds that emerged during each of our youths have imprinted on our musical DNA. The album has influences from bands like Talk Talk to Branching Out and building on the ideas of REM and Pavement. We’ve always prided ourselves on having a widespread of influences in our music, from the more lyrically-driven and personal numbers that pull from Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, to our more punk-infused tracks that even have elements of Led Zeppelin. When we first managed to get Ben Allen involved, who has worked with everyone from CeeLo Green to Animal Collective, I took him to a curry house in Newcastle and we discussed all sorts of music; we spent forever discussing our favourite Smashing Pumpkin records.
How was it working with Ben Allen?
He was great to work with: He is incredibly disciplined and was a needed change after Lukas, our keyboardist, left the band. Through his production, he gave the band a much more fantastical and magical feel. He was brilliant, even though it was all done over the internet. Our guitarist, Duncan, would draft the music and Ben would add his flare. I’m really proud of the new album and I am excited to get back on the road, feeling like a troubadour. Our fans are amazing and I can’t wait to give them the performance they need.
To purchase the new album, head to maximopark.com.
Mogwai at #1 was epic!