Music / Psychedelia
Interview: Raptor LP Launch
Heavy psych trio Raptor (brothers Kurt Fletcher, Adam Fletcher & Nick Osborne) are launching their debut LP Escapism (pressed on acid green vinyl via Brighton’s Don’t Tell Anyone Records) at Rough Trade on Friday May 17th, 2019 with a couple of other fine bands. Kurt took time to tell us all about the album’s gestation, with Adam chipping in too.
In these days of streaming and downloading why release a physical product?
Vinyl has always had a big influence on us. Our dad has a massive record & CD collection, so from a young age we were exposed to all kinds of music like the Doors, the Stones, Santana and Frank Zappa. Vinyl has always felt current to us, never really in and out of fashion. As a band we don’t really follow trends, we just pursue whatever we like and kind-of do our own thing! The 12” sized artwork, the lyric insert, it becomes a piece of art. The act of putting an album on a turntable really changes the way you listen to a piece of music. It’s the best. Streaming is good for on the go and vinyl is good to chill with and enjoy.
Where did you record the LP?
We recorded the LP at Bink Bonk in Bristol with the amazing Mat Sampson. It’s where Turbowolf & Kasabian recorded their first albums. I heard of the place through a university lecturer, so we went over to see Mat and got on like a house on fire. It’s the Aladdin’s cave of cool! He makes his own spring reverbs, effects pedals and has some seriously inventive ways of recording. There’s a longer list of equipment on the LP insert but some of the kit we used included Pink Floyd’s EMT plate reverb (used on The Wall album), Joan Armatrading’s Roland Chorus-Echo, an ex-Abbey Road microphone that was used on Let It Be and the Beatles rooftop gig, and a Pye microphone compressor (which was the actual unit used for the 1966 Football World Cup Final commentary).
How long did recording take – straight in and straight out or a bit of an epic?
The actual recordings only took about 3 weeks, we worked hard on demos and getting the songs sounding right. When the demos where finished, the job was just to record everything fresh at Mat’s place to achieve that crispy sound of his. The whole record was done in Mat’s live room with drums, bass and guitar tracked at the same time, speakers and all! Everything was one take and we chose to leave mistakes in, almost all our favourite records have them in, it makes the songs sound urgent and human.
What comes first, lyrics or music?
The basis for a song usually starts with a guitar riff or a drum feel – some kind of musical idea. Once we get parts together and a bit of an idea for the structure, we jam ideas out. I am always writing lines down and little lyric phrases, when I get a collection of ideas we piece them together to make a song. We’re always changing up our writing style though! Always trying out different things.
The world is full of bullshit lately, do chaotic times make for better lyrics?
The world has always been the same really, it just gets reported about more these days. We rarely catch the news, so we usually write about things that we find interesting or a feeling / theme that we want to explore. The state of the world does keep us motivated though to make something positive happen.
What’s your favourite part of the recording process…?
We really love every element of it! Putting a song together and working it to come to life in the studio is the most rewarding and fun experience ever. Every day we go into the studio we learn something new about music, which is the dream really. Doing overdubs can be particularly fun, there’s room for experimentation with no pressure! We went mad, the studio floor was covered in cables, pedals and a lot of amps.
…and what’s your least favourite part?
Having to leave the studio sucks. We are always recording though and will be back in the studio by the end of this year. Hopefully recording onto tape this time!
is needed now More than ever
Do you take in fully formed tunes, or go in with sketches and demos and work them up in to fully fledged songs in the studio?
Yeah, on this record we took in completed song ideas. We refined everything to make sure each individual part of each song sounded good. Studio time is precious! (Adam): Satori, one of the tracks from the album was a little different. It’s an instrumental, which is a first for us. The song needed a big, open, ambient psychedelic sound. We had a structure for the song but the drumming and bass tracks were kinda left up to having one good take, which gave me the ability to concentrate on what Kurt was playing and improvise around it on the drums. The structure of the song was based around Kurt’s delayed guitar idea. When I added some keys that I worked out on a Moog and clavinet, it gave the track a real backbone. We recorded 7 takes of Satori in one session and took them home to listen to that night. We were panicking as takes 1 to 6 were a bit shaky, when we got to the last take it was perfect! A big relief ha-ha.
Who’s in charge in the studio?
We’ve got a workaholic approach when it comes to the studio, but we like to keep it chilled and open to ideas and experimentation. Me and Adam know what we want so we take joint control. Adam’s into production and I’m more into song writing so together it works really well. (Adam): I think it’s really cool that we both have different strong points when it comes to writing and recording, we never argue about how the song should sound.
If you wanted someone to get into the LP, which cut would you single out to get them hooked?
Queen Bee, the last track on the album we’d say. It’s a real stomper and uses some heavy flanging, loads of fuzz, a softer psychedelic section and sound effects throughout. It really shows some of the different elements of this record in one song.
Are there any newer songs that you think are really gonna be a blast to play live?
The whole record’s got a real variety of styles in it which is going to be fun experimenting with and extending live. We’re really happy with how the songs sound and really enjoy playing them.
What plans do you have for getting the LP out there…? Any out of town dates on the schedule?
We are working hard behind the scenes and have got a lot of things planned and to be announced. Some shows coming up in Brighton, Bristol, the UK and hopefully Europe!
Finally, talk us through the launch: who is on the bill and what can we expect on the night?
On 17th May, when we put out Escapism, we will be launching the record at Rough Trade record store in Bristol. We are going to be incorporating some projections into the show to add another dimension to the night. The whole thing will be filmed and recorded also! On the bill we’ve got BullyBones, our label mates Stone Cold Fiction and DJ Fiddlestix, who’s going to be spinning some psych and blues vinyl! We’re gonna be playing the whole album live, looking forward to seeing you all there, it’s gonna be a real special night.
Raptor launch Escapism at Rough Trade on Friday May 17th, 2019
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