Much-vaunted British guitar stalwarts MY VITRIOL return in July 2002 with a remixed version of their debut album, "Finelines", now coupled with a bonus CD entitled "Between The Lines", including B-sides, cover versions and rarities. All told, it's a pretty seductive package and its' release gives TIM PEACOCK the opportunity to catch up with bassist CAROLYN BANNISTER to chat about gigging, soundtracks and all points in between.
I begin my conversation with Carolyn by asking what MY VITRIOL have been doing since their last UK release - over 12 months back as we speak...
"Well, we've certainly not been idle!" she responds. "We've been doing quite a lot actually, like gigging in the US for the first time. We've not stopped working, really. Plus, we've been working on new material - like the "Moodswings" single. We're hoping it won't be too long before a fresh MY VITRIOL album's ready."
Ah yes, "Moodswings": MY VITRIOL'S fine, supercharged new single on Infectious. A finely-wrought synthesis of prime NIRVANA, with healthy dashes of HUSKER DU and some inspired, shoegaze-y guitar torrents, anyone? Musically it's very schizophrenic, isn't it, with the tempo changes and that driving chorus?
"I'm not sure it's directly about schizophrenia," Carolyn considers.
"You'd have to ask Som (Wijay-Wardener - Sri Lankan born MY VITRIOL guitarist/ vocalist/ songwriter) about his lyrics. The words are very much his domain and he usually doesn't want to explain his lyrics."
"Mind you," she continues, "Moodswings" was quite spontaneous, written pretty much together in the studio and banged down as quickly as possible to retain the feel. That could also explain the schizophrenic aspect!"
"Moodswings" is backed on single by the strident "Gentle Art Of Choking," from the "Finelines" album. You people sure have a way with titles. How serious is this one?
"Well, again it's hard to say," Carolyn replies, enigmatically.
"I would certainly say the title's flippant, though!" she laughs. "Besides, we've always wanted to release it as a single, so this was a good opportunity to re-introduce it to the public."
By the time you'll read this, MY VITRIOL - who also feature guitarist SETH TAYLOR and drummer RAVI KESAVARAM - will have completed their current UK tour (with support from whisperinandhollerin faves WILT and HALO) and will be contemplating further dates in the USA. Cards on the table, Carolyn: how important have US heroes NIRVANA, HUSKER DU etc been to MY VITRIOL in terms of sound and songwriting?
"They're bands we'd really relate to, sure," concedes Carolyn.
"'Nevemind' came out when we were all about 13...and it was incredible, a real event. To be fair, all of us have common influences and the likes of these bands would be among them. There again, there are discrepancies, too...Ravi's a huge SEPULTURA fan, for instance. So we might surprise you!"
MY VITRIOL'S overall sound, though, would seem likely to take off in the US, I would have thought...
"Well, we've not done that many gigs yet," she says.
"Going to the USA's very much going back to basics for us with the venues. Over there we've been playing clubs in LA, San Francisco and New York roughly the size of my living room."
"There again, we did the South By South West Festival in Austin (Texas)," she recalls, after a pause.
"Weirdly, we shared a bill with OXIDE AND NEUTRINO (Sarf London gangsta rap duo, actually fairly crap - Ed) and I really felt for them."
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Really. Why? The idea of them being bottled off by rednecks kind of appeals to me..
"Ha ha! Well, let's just say they didn't go down too well," replies Carolyn diplomatically.
" I don't think Texans exactly understand Gangsta Rap. It was, er, brave to book them to play that kind of event."
Meanwhile, MY VITRIOL seem to be destined to remain a band who polarise opinion in the media themselves. This writer's come across a fairly evenly-divided number of reviews/ features that either totally glorify or vilify the band. For her part, Carolyn seems remarkably level-headed about this.
"We certainly don't expect to be loved for what we do," she admits.
"Whatever anyone says won't change the way we make our music. We enjoy the good reviews and either deal with the bad ones or just ignore them."
Tell us more about some of the cover versions from the "Between The Lines" disc, Carolyn, like the ambitious (but largely successful) attempt at MADONNA'S "Oh Father"?
"We chose "Oh Father" because it was a song we all really liked and admired," Carolyn explains.
"We didn't want to choose just obscure underground stuff and when we were making important decisions - confessing down the pub like you do - this one kept coming up. We loved the melody and while it was a tough one to work up it was definitely worth it in the end."
Absolutely. You could also say the same for MY VITRIOL'S cover of GUIDE BY VOICES "Game Of Pricks,"too. They're unbelievably prolific, aren't they?
"Oh yeah, I can't believe the way they work," agrees Carolyn.
"We dedicate so much time to all of our songs, we couldn't do what Robert Pollard does...loads of records every year. Mind you, we're writing a lot of songs at the moment, so maybe his influence is rubbing off on us!"
"The double album will close a chapter for us, though," she continues.
"It's a nice package for the fans this way and it means we can now start afresh."
Finally, then, Carolyn, aside from conquering the States and taking on the world with your next album, are there any other areas MY VITRIOL would like to move into?
"Good question. Well, I can think of one thing and that's soundtracks. I love things by people as diverse as MICHAEL NYMAN and TRENT REZNOR from NINE INCH NAILS. I don't know if this is just a pipedream, though. Who knows what the future will bring?"
What indeed. Until then, make sure to get on the bus with "Finelines"/"Between The Lines". It's yet another indication of the improving state of British guitar rock.
Remember where you read it first.
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