RECORDING with legendary Nirvana engineer Steve Albini is no more than a pipe dream for most bands, so it says a lot for WOMPS that they are the first Scottish band to do so since Mogwai.
Formed by songwriter Ewan Grant (known locally as Algernon Doll) and drummer Owen Wicksted, the two-piece (or live three-piece) have been tearing up Scottish venues for only a year but the duo’s boisterous sound is yielding a positive response in the US.
“We have an American fanbase already,” says Grant. “I guess being Scottish in places like New York and Chicago definitely helps you stand out, but we treat it like a second home. Our sound goes down very well over there. Albini encouraged us to keep things raw – that’s what they love over there. He wouldn’t let us overdub anything. I think some bands would hate hearing themselves ‘live’ on record, but it’s made us a better band.”
WOMPS’ decision to work with a celebrated producer may pay dividends in the long term. Their unfettered approach has already won praise from the likes of BBC Radio’s Vic Galloway, who Grant describes as “this generation’s John Peel”.
Early singles like Live a Little Less showcase a band that are adept at crafting catchy hooks, even within a lo-fi indie framework. Even though the band have been attached to the 90s grunge revival that has sparked in Glasgow over the past few years, Grant is determined that they remain forward-thinking in their outlook.
He says: “Everything is about learning and we constantly push ourselves to explore new things. Even though I’m from a more punk background and Owen grew up on indie, we’ve never really fit in a single scene here and that’s a good thing.”
As for a full length LP from the band, Grant promises that the record is due around April. He says: “It’ll be just like seeing us live. If you don’t like that, you won’t like the record.”
The band play Dundee’s Book Yer Ane Fest at the end of the month before rounding off the year at Nice ‘N’ Sleazy’s on December 18.
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