Tell us about your new EP ‘New Thrills’.
It’s a 4 track EP that we recorded last October in Cabin Studio in Coventry. There’s some added poignancy for us with this release, because the studio has now closed for good, and we’d been going there in one form or another since 1984, and about 80 percent of all Primitives stuff was recorded there. Anyhow, yes four brand new tunes that we think sit nicely alongside all the top Prims tunes of yore.
New Video by The PRIMITIVES:
What’s your favourite work at this point in time?
I like the first album a lot more than I did at the time and the early singles. We play a lot of that stuff live. I’d say our more recent recordings are probably closer to that period than the later stuff.
Tell us a quick, on the road or studio, anecdote.
When we were recording our 2nd single ‘Really Stupid’ in 1986, our manager at the time was certain he could hear a duck in the mix and that we’d put it there just to annoy him – it was probably just fret buzz on a high bass note or something. Since then every recorded Primitives song has an actual duck quacking somewhere in the mix.
What, or who, inspires you?
I’ve always found out and out hatred of the band incredibly stimulating and I wish there was more of it.
Which song do you wish you wrote?
The Lee Hazlewood song We All Make The Flowers Grow – a great little ditty about snuffing it. Not so great for the royalties though, so maybe Wichita Lineman instead.
What’s next for you?
Couple of dates in the UK and US – then retirement, or maybe we’ll make it to Australia.
What’s your scene?
Jangle fuzz, indie pop, sunshine punk, continental plum and suitcase – take your pick.
THE PRIMITIVES are back. Paul Court, Tig Williams and Tracy Tracy’s band continue to prove that they are in their second youth. After that exceptional album of covers called “Echoes And Rhymes” and their fantastic last album “Spin-O-Rama”, Elefant Records is releasing a magnificent 10” vinyl maxi-single with four new, original songs by the band, that can keep up with any of their greatest hits.
The guitar that starts off “I’ll Trust The Wind” evokes some of the band’s great moments, with a marvellous riff and an incomparable dynamic. Their contagious melodies plus that British touch are evident throughout. “Squeak ‘N’ Squawk” is another bullseye, which echoes once again (and why not) other bands’ such as The Jesus & Mary Chain or Primal Scream’s finest moments, with a straightforward nod towards early classic PRIMITIVES.
“Oh Honey Sweet” opens the B-side with their more pop facet, less distortion and wonderfully light, with Paul’s voice illuminating everything. And to finish, so that we don’t forget about some of the British band’s consistent references, “Same Stuff” closes things on a high note with overtones of garage, surf and blues, and a noisy and solid bass riff. These songs sound as fresh as if they had been composed in the band’s first year of existence. The release will be a 1000-copy limited-edition 10” vinyl.
The Primitives release ‘New Thrills’ on Friday 5th May 2017 on Elefant Records.
The Primitives were formed in the summer of 1984 by PJ Court (born Paul James Court) (vocals, guitar), Steve Dullaghan (born Stephen Anthony Dullaghan) (bass), Peter Tweedie (drums) and Keiron McDermott (vocals). Vocalist McDermott was replaced by Tracy Tracy (born Tracy Louise Cattell). Tig Williams replaced Pete Tweedie on drums in October 1987.
In 1990, the band did a co-headlining tour of the USA with The Sugarcubes as well as a short tour of Japan. They split in 1992 following the commercial failure of their 1991 album, Galore.
Very nice article!