Features

The Empty Vessels, Dexy - The Whirled Cup Vs The World Cup Part 1.

Bill Cummings 21/06/2006

This summer see's the release of "The Whirled Cup" the Music Tourist Board's exciting new compilation featuring the likes of the Needles, Dexy, The Empty Vessels, Korova, The Venus Kicks and many more. Here's the info:
Soundtracks of once upon another time, from a cup brimming with a whirled mix of talent.

The Whirled Cup is the first Music Tourist Board compilation and features soundtracks from Rocklands, a virtual Republic of Rock that exists in South London on Planet Earth and worldwide, via Cyberspace - where there is no geography - on Planet Water.

Since it's conception by a gang of music fanatics (regulars at Pop Of The Tops club) less than three years ago, Music Tourist Board has spawned a family tree of 'playing class' people in and with bands creating a definitive music movement that mixes imagination with affordable access to technology.

The first "compilation" sent out was after the first meeting, a CDR invitation to check out bands like Art Brut, New Rhodes, Special Needs, Twisted Charm, Bloc Party, My Red Cell, Chris T-T and more at a month of events (Oct 003) at their meeting place, New Cross Paradise Bar.

The rest is still history in the making, this decade.

In the mean time, The Whirled Cup is a fresh invitation to check out newer wave tunes that are woven into the otherworldly story started on Planet Water's parallel dimension. It will be available as an affordable download (twenty great songs from a mix of known an unknown artists) and limited CD (further information and track listing to follow). The Whirled Club released on P.O.L.E. Club (POLECD001) this Summer.

That first month of events became the documentary and band profiles 'Rocklands - Live In New Cross' (004) by Digital Sneakers which was screened at The ICA, Curzon West End and the first Artful event in 005. An updated film, Rocklands 2, is being premiered at the South Bank's National Film Theatre on July 9th. Some of it was filmed at Artful, which takes place again October 1st to 31st this year. Mostly in London's rocking "Sarf by Sarf East".

The Whirled Cup is compiled by Music Tourist Board - a non umbrella organisation which includes all the bands that participate. It's aim: for Music to wage peace and planet by any fun and lovely means necessary. Inspirations include the every day people of Cuba, the Practise Random Kindness And Senseless Acts Of Beauty campaign of the 80s and a lovely man called Dickie The Beast (friend of MTB's Unemployable Welsh Scum DJs) passing round a can of beer, and saying, SHARE THE JOY.
More info:
musictouristboard
http://rocklands.1.forumer.com
http://www.myspace.com/artfulmtb

As part of a series of interviews with artists who have contributed tracks to this very special compilation we Talk to Matt from the Empty Vessels and Dexy formerly of Corporation Blend but now a fledging solo artist.

The Whirled Cup Vs The World Cup.

The Whirled Cup. . . EMPTY VESSELS

Who are you, and what ís the name of your band?
I'm Matt Finucane. Band called Empty Vessels.

What inspires you musically? What inspires your Lyrics?
A spectrum from reggae to Krautrock, including Jazzy Jeff, Betty Boo and Lou "Mr Fun" Reed. Lyrically: frustration, derision, hatred. A good healthy mix.

Why did you want to be part of the Whirled cup CD project?
Because it was no bullshit, straight down the line. I'm sick of hearing about bleached-out frauds bleating on about "authenticity" - here it is.

Which song of yours is on the album? Tell me a little about it.
"You Know" literally started out as a tune whistled in the shower - the vocalist was drunk and considering a heavy conversation he'd had the night before with an old friend. He burst into song to relieve his confusion, then grabbed a guitar when he was all dry. ”

How important do you feel compilations are in spreading the word about new bands?
I honestly don't know. It's just nice to have a song out there.

Do you you think band support organisations like Music Tourist Board are important? (and if so, why)
“Yes. Without these kind of organisations to
a) do the hard work
b) provide encouragement &
c) an environment - a hot-house, but hospitable - for new bands, there would BE no music industry, and so on.
Oyster, grit, pearl...”

The World Cup. . . Is something I just don't understand.
If you were a footballer what position would you play? Sniper.

What's your favourite world cup memory? Narrowly escaping a beating
from some pissed football fans in Oxford a few years back by hiding
under a parked car. I felt dead cunning.

Which team are you supporting in the real world cup? None;
you'd need to ask the rest of the band. Do those cans of "World Cup"
Kronenbourg count? Kronenbourg FC

http://www.emptyvessels.net

DEXY

Who are you?
Hello, my name's Dexy.

What inspires you musically? What inspires your Lyrics?
I let whatever wants to come out come out when I write and try and make sense of it later. Most of the time it sums things up better than if I'd have consciously sat down and written a song with a subject in mind.

Why did you want to be part of the Whirled cup CD project?
There's some really cool stuff on there so it gave me the extra incentive to go and record something I was really happy with. It'll be the first track I've 'officially' released so I'm quite excited.

Which song of yours is on the album? Tell me a little about it.
It's a song called A Puncture. I recorded it in a couple of hours with Dave Dominney, I played all of the instruments except the drums which Dave played. It was really fun. The song is about being disappointed with the actions of others but then realising I'm not really any different myself.

How important do you feel compilations are in spreading the word
about new bands?

They can be great ways of finding out about new artists, if the fanbase of each act on the record buys it and sits down and listens to every track on there, they're bound to find at least something else they'll like.

Do you you think band support organisations like Music Tourist
Board are important? (and if so, why)

Definitely yeah. Music Tourist Board puts a lot of hard work into
helping so many musicians,bands,DJs, artists etc and it's never for glory, if they see or hear someone creating something they consider special, they'll do whatever possible to help them on their way. I've found a lot of new music and made a lot of new friends just from going to the POLE Club or Pop Of The Tops. There should be more organisations like MTB around.

The World Cup. . .
If you were a footballer what position would you play?
I'm a goalkeeper me. Played in goal for Dorset and wanted to be a footballer for quite a while. Then I heard Parklife and figured I'd rather play guitar and drink. Plus being a musician meant I didn't have to do cross-country running. I still play 5-a-side when i get the time though.

What's your favourite world cup memory?
Well Italia 90 was pretty cool...I remember collecting the stickers and having one of those little red and white coca-cola skill balls that I kicked around with my friends until it fell apart...Toto Scillachi and Roger Milla's dancing by the corner flag...

Which team are you supporting in the real world cup?
Well my family's English, German and Polish so I'm following all three. Obviously I'm rooting for England the most, think they've got a good chance (better if Terry was captain, but let's not get onto that now). Poland are pretty much out already due to their total inability to work out how to score goals. I think Germany could go far this year, they've got a great team.

Many thanks for answering these questions.

Thank you for asking them.
Dx

www.myspace.com/dexyspace
Stay tuned for the next part of GIITTV's The Whirled Cup Vs The World Cup.