Following on from our review of their stunning debut album Under The Waves and their gig supporting Electric Soft Parade at Leeds Cockpit, James Blundell posed some questions to Lorien on matters ranging from influences to starnge occurences in sunbed salons.
1. Geographically the three of you are from very different locations. How did you first get together and where are you based now?
Einar; we met at a bus stop called london. we're now based on an open topped bus and the wind's blowing our heads off.
2. Your press release tells us you were approached for management by the legendary STEVO (of SOME BIZARRE Records fame) How did this happen and what did you make of him?
Einar; Stevo always keeps his ear to the ground. after all a heard of elephants may be approaching. some a&r guy tipped him off i think. he's a bit scary at first but if you tickle his tummy he rolls over like a great big pussycat.
3. "Under The Waves" has an unusually delicate and mature sound for both a debut album and (broadly) a rock group. How did you arrive at this kind of sound and do you rate any of your contemporaries particularly?
Einar; the three of us have very different sets of influences so the outcome was not anything we could have planned, which was exciting. We don't have much common ground with regards to other bands but we can currently agree on Sparklehorse, so Iguess that's progress.
4.The song arrangements are quite diverse. Who is the main song writer and do you bring finished songs in to work on or jam the songs in rehearsals?
Carlo; they go through a variety of processes. fabio mostly brings in the songs, but me and einar both dabble. each song to it's own really.
5. You worked with MIKE HEDGES (U2/CURE/MANICS) on the album. Did you go to his studio in France to record and did he suggest you bring in strings for songs like "Planet New Earth" and "Cherry Wood Eyes"?
Einar; no and no. mike unfortunately relocated to london just before we started working with him, which was a bit inconsiderate. ce n'est pas bon chance. the strings were already done as well. mike liked them though in fact he wanted to do a few more.
6.LORIEN are very good at what I would describe as "uplifting
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melancholy". Are you naturally melancholic or opimistic?
Fabio; optimism is a challenge I try to rise to. The songs can seem apparently sad on the surface but I think there's always an optimism underneath.
7. In "All Time" you sing of "reading from the book of dreams, fairytales" and the band's name comes from Tolkien. Are myth and magic important elements of LORIEN'S collective psyche?
Fabio; not myth and magic particularly. we try to create a fantasy which is some kind of mirror of reality. describing the real in an unreal way.
8. A number of the songs on "Under The Waves" have a very still,dreamy quality about them. I can hear a lineage to the occasional (loosely) rock influence like, say, TALK TALK, but not many others. What outside influences (other than rock) figure in LORIEN'S make up?
Carlo; I like Massive Attack, Portishead, that kind of thing. is Pink Floyd rock? sometimes Brian Eno can really 'rock' if you know what I mean.
9. "Human Beings" is probably my favourite track on the album. It's unbelievably tender. Without wanting to put you on the spot about yourspecific lyrics, does the song refer to a new-born baby? Lines like: "All I want to do is just embrace this fat young boy?" I admit I could be miles out here.
Fabio; yeah, it could be a new born baby. though it could also be a sixty five year new old born baby.
10. Finally, a question specifically for drummer Carlo. Your press release describes you as a former "Golden Sunbed" delivery boy. Is this true? I ask because my Mother once worked for a similar firm and came home with the most crazy stories about the customers. What's your most bizarre story about the business, Carlo?
Carlo; 8;30. 2 bissexual women. can't say any more for legal reasons.
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