The best way to make a record company uncomfortable? — choose a highly litigious band name and then sit back and watch them sweat. Once upon a time there was a Leicester-based three-piece called Dysneyland who existed for a few months and released one independent single “Walking Wounded” before seeing the error of their short-sighted ways, or perhaps the pointed finger of ‘The Man’ who said “no change-y, no release-y” and thus Sisterland was born.
Sisterland herald a swift return to no-frills pomp and pop of grunge, throwing in Kim Deal basslines, head-down/sticks-up drumming, note-picked/power chord guitar, all coated in a shoegaze-y reverb glaze. It’s both dizzying and dazzling, a tried and true sound for a three-piece in a race to clock their tunes in under the 3-minute mark, whether double-timing their way, Hüsker Dü style, through a cover of Red House Painter’s “New Jersey” or spelling out the mellow psyche-pop of “girls like it” (we like it too) track, “Dirty White”.
With their debut single (as Sisterland) “Tomorrow” out today (March 21) as part of the Too Pure Singles Club, we got in contact with the boys to induct them into our own non-exclusively single, “Who The Hell Are…?” club.
01. Who are you?
We are Sisterland and we are Mark Adams, Ian Humes and Bobb Neely. We all used to be in the band Tired Irie so we are all familiar with each other’s style, music taste and shoe size. Sisterland has only been existing for about 8 months.
02. What do you sound like?
A weird amalgamation of No Age, The Jesus & Mary Chain and Neu!
03. What do friends say you sound like?
Like complete rock n’ roll mavericks.
04. Full-time musicians or wage slaves?
The latter unfortunately.
05. Current career highlight?
Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai holding up our single giving a thumbs up.
06. Favourite decade for music?
Late seventies, the Iggy Pop/David Bowie Berlin era.
07. Best mood for songwriting?
When I’m at work, out of reach of any recording devices.
08. The last song you/the band wrote?
One we haven’t played live yet, its called “Used To”.
09. Which 3 musicians would you invite round for dinner?
It would have to be Screamin J Hawkins, Whitney Houston and Garth Brooks (that should get rid of the little redneck shit).
10. Worst gig/venue ever played?
I suppose our worst played gig was our first Leicester gig just before Christmas. We all forgot what we were doing. That’s what you get if you put us on a Sunday night after a Saturday of too much fun dancing on stepladders in bedrooms at 10 on a Sunday morning.
11. Favourite band anecdote?
Talking to ‘industry types’ about falafel.
12. Five favourite albums?
Neil Young – On the Beach
Sonic Youth – Sister
Iggy Pop – The Idiot
Brian Eno – Before and After Science
ESG – A South Bronx Story13. Your biggest rock and roll fantasy?
Going on a bender with L7, GG Allen and Roy Walker. Then gate crashing one of Charlie Sheen’s parties.14. Goals for the next 12 months?
Make a cool video, play venues that are at least 100 years old.
15. First time listeners, where should they start?
“Dirty White” on our Myspace. Girls like that.
