Backstage with Brown Torpedo

SoGlos.com goes backstage with Danny Ash and Dan Cooper, of the dubiously named Brown Torpedo, an experimental electro outfit fusing elements of trip hop, free jazz and rap...

So, where are you boys from?
I’ve lived in Cheltenham most of my life and studied graphics at the University Of Gloucestershire. Danny came to Cheltenham via Brighton, also to go to uni, and has never left. We met while we were part of a local label called Elbandito Recordings, which put on off-the-wall gigs around Cheltenham. After that went belly-up, we decided to do more of what we wanted – mainly being really, really weird.

Speaking of which, how did you decide on your name...?
To be honest I can’t remember. I’m sure when we thought of it we probably found it utterly hilarious. Now it’s taken on more of a spiritual, New-Age ethic for me, so it catches me off guard sometimes when people bring up the ‘poo’ connotation. I’ll say things like ‘kneel at the feted altar of the brown torpedo’ and people will be thinking about bowel movements. I’d rather think it described a large, fast-moving trout or particular kind of bread roll.

Right. How long have you been established?
We’ve had the project simmering on the back burner for around three years, but have only turned up the heat and started playing live within the last 10 months or so. We are only at the beginning of what will hopefully be an ongoing evolution. I see this as phase two. Phase one was going to the shop to buy the batteries.

Who do you consider to be your main influences?
Musically, the Korg Kaossilators (portable synthesisers) we use as our main instruments, as it’s all pre-set synth noises that we manipulate with our own unique lack of talent. Stylistically, artists like Beck, Tricky and LCD Sound System may have influenced us, as well as classic stuff like Zappa, Beefheart and Can.

Lyrically, Danny and I are big fans of Chris Morris and the scathing cynicism of Stewart Lee. We are also both pretty fascinated by people like David Icke and Alex Jones. They certainly know how to think outside the box.

Do you get compared to any of those artists?
Not really… We always stick out like a sore thumb on gig listings. I guess some of the more theatrical stuff we get up to could be compared to The Mighty Boosh, but I wouldn’t want anyone to think we are trying to be like them. I’d quite like to be compared to bands like Black Dice but we can only dream of ever being as cool as them. Danny steams his vegetables and I own my own lawnmower.

Who goes to your gigs?
We get quite a broad range of people coming out when we play. Folkies like the quieter, more ambient stuff and ravers like the more electro, four-to-the-floor stuff. The general rule of thumb is, if you’ve got a beard, you’ll probably really like Brown Torpedo.

Tell us about your latest material.
Our material is 90 per cent improvised, but we usually record practices, so have quite a generous output. We try to keep our MySpace and Facebook pages fully stocked with the cream of our jams, but we haven’t got anything in the shape of a debut album as yet.

We do have a prose and poetry booklet entitled ‘The Annals Of Brown Torpedo Volume One’ which we give out at shows. That can sort of be seen as our first conscious release. We are also set to appear on the next compilation from Cheltenham/Manchester label Stranger Songs.

What’s your favourite venue you’ve played at in Gloucestershire?
Playing at The Frog and Fiddle is always a joy, as Mike the soundman tells the dirtiest jokes you will ever hear. Really mucky. The Meantime Project Space on Oxford Passage near The Brewery has been really good to us as well, we’ve played there a couple of times with the Stranger Songs crew and everyone’s really friendly and open minded.

Where would you most like to play in the county?
We are looking to play as many gigs as we can at the moment, spreading the Torpedo gospel far and wide, so anywhere would be good. Although we did get horribly lost driving back from a gig in Swindon a few weeks ago, so we’ll need a sat-nav if it’s anywhere away from our usual stamping ground – we quite literally are directionless fools.

Oh dear! What was the last local gig you went to yourselves?
We’ll never get tired of seeing Men Diamler, so anywhere he plays. His new songs are incredible. The gigs being put on by the Cheltenham Underground and Cleverhead Promotions guys are really well organised too, so a good night out is always guaranteed with them, especially when they get Clayton Blizzard down. Thrill Collins deserve a mention simply because they work so hard.

Who would you most like to support?
Playing on the same bill as Clayton Blizzard and Men Diamler is always good fun. Ratface from Bristol is also wicked. They’ve all got a great sense of humour. But we’re quite slutty really, we’ll play with anyone.

What do you do when you’re not making music?
I watch a lot of horror films and eat a lot of takeaway pizza.

Have you ever thrown a TV out of a hotel window?
I’d never throw a TV out of a hotel window, if anything I’d steal it and maybe turn my garage into a games room with an Xbox.

What about groupies – ever had any stalk you?
Only ever came close to having a groupie once, and that was in my old band. We are now engaged to be married.

Recommend one album to our readers you don’t think they will have discovered.
Britney Spears – Blackout. It’s the best Britney album, in the sense that Britney probably didn’t have a lot to do with it. It’s a testament to dead-eyed autotune, in the greatest sense.

What’s your number one ambition?
I want to leave a lot behind, and win every argument I have for at least a decade before I die.

Any claims to fame?
I can bite my toenails.

Fair enough. What advice would you give to local artists trying to make it in the industry?
Not really sure what ‘the industry’ is anymore! But I would say, simply be true to yourselves and work hard but don’t try too hard. Believe in yourself – then if you happen to be amazing, good things will happen.

Where can fans see you perform in the next month or two?
Our next gig is at Vodka Revolutions for the Sugarhill Festival auditions on Sunday 9 May 2010.

Where can SoGlos.com readers expect to see you in a year’s time?
Still gigging, perhaps with some new kit, possibly with a few self-releases flying about. We would like to do more on the spoken word side of things as well, so you might be able to catch us at some open mic poetry nights or something like that. Just keepin’ busy. I’ll have a games room in my garage one day.

Amanda Nicholls
7 May 2010