Interview: Thought Forms

We caught up with alternative rock heroes Thought Forms to discuss their brilliant new album, forthcoming European tour, and how a member of Portishead became a full time member of the band.

Alternative rock fans should already know Thought Forms, and those who don’t certainly will soon. The Wiltshire group have been Bristol scene heroes for years, and their beautifully realised third album will surely confirm their status among the leading UK guitar-manglers. How did they meet?

“I knew who Deej was,” says Charlie, the band’s co-guitarist and lead singer. “He worked at Blockbuster in Melksham…he was into great music and made cool experimental films”. They met when Charlie’s friend Emily placed a ‘guitarist wanted’ post on a music forum, and Deej turned up. “That first jam was amazing”, she says, “It changed my life in a massive way to find someone I could be creative with.” 

After a while, founding members Emily and Anthony left to be replaced by 13-year old drummer Guy. “The first time we played All Tomorrow’s Parties he had to leave on Sunday for school the next day because he was doing his GCSEs,” Charlie recalls. “Playing with Guy gave us a strong backbone and he really filled the areas that we were missing”, says Deej. “The main thing I remember is how we just had fun together and really loved each other like family.”

Just two months later the trio played a gig at The Cube, and Invada Records signed them on the spot. “Fat Paul was DJing in the bar that night”, says Charlie. “He came up to us after the gig and said “‘Ere, I run a record label with the bloke from Portishead – fancy putting out an album?” A few weeks later we went to check out their studio…Julian Cope was there, in the kitchen. It was very surreal.” They’ve worked with Invada ever since, releasing a self-titled LP in 2009 and a follow-up, Ghost Mountain, that was easily among our favourites of 2013.

Their newly released third album is called Songs About Drowning, a title that serves as a handy metaphor for Thought Forms’ unique appeal. To extract the maximum pleasure from their music you must allow yourself to be submerged; to submit to their powerful current. That said, the tsunami of guitars that dominates their first two albums is employed more sparingly this time, leaving space for bass, synths, Guy’s wonderfully expansive drums, and even – on the magnificent AEAEA – a tumbling piano and stirring horns. As a progression from the previous records it’s both a carefully considered sidestep and a great leap forward. “We’ve learnt to hold back a bit more when it’s needed”, says Guy, “and in doing so, we’ve created a more complex and richer form of songwriting and recording.”

The album marks the playing debut of their new band member, Portishead bassist Jim Barr. “When we worked with him as producer on Ghost Mountain,” says Charlie, “we noticed he was great at adding little touches and subtleties. Jim’s pretty much the best bass player you could hope to have the opportunity to work with.” His impact is all over the new record. “I think Jim being in the band has made us think more carefully about tone and sound, and how we structure certain things,” says Guy. “It’s been great to bounce ideas off someone new, and I think it’s improved our sound a lot.” He brought friends with him too, the horns on AEAEA being performed Jim’s Get The Blessing bandmates, Pete Judge and Jake McMurchie.

The album’s biggest revelation is Charlie’s emergence as a lead singer. Buried in the mix on previous releases, her voice turns out to be richer and stronger than long term fans could have imagined. “I don’t think I was as confident with my voice when we were writing those…it was only after doing those big tours with Portishead and having to sing every night to thousands of people that I sort of learned how to do it a bit better”, she says. “It was fun doing it the way we did on the past records”, says Deej, “but it was a shame to hide the beautiful words Charlie has written so we decided to make them stand out more. I feel Charlie has poured her heart into this album and her words glue everything together.” Songs About Drowning even comes with a lyrics sheet – an indication of the band’s increasing confidence and clarity of purpose. “Lyrically, the number of words on the page have steadily increased with each release”, says Charlie, “I guess it’s become steadily more narrative…less imagery, more story.”

Right now Thought Forms are in the middle of their most sustained period of gigging to date: a handful of UK dates with Bob Mould leading into a lengthy European tour with 65daysofstatic: “We‘re breaking out of our traditional touring environment and sharing a bus with another band for 33 days,” says Deej.” They sound thrilled, especially Guy. “As a band I adored growing up, I feel honoured and amazed that I’m going on tour with 65daysofstatic. It’s all quite surreal for me”. Coinciding with the album release, the tour couldn’t have come at a better time. “It feels like it was meant to be”, says Charlie. “It’s going to be tough physically, but I think it will be a lot of fun. We’re really, really lucky to have this opportunity.” 

Songs About Drowning is out now. Buy it on vinyl and CD from www.thought-forms.co.uk or download from iTunes. Thought Forms play Marble Factory with 65DaysofStatic on November 15. Get tickets here.