 11/09/2007 Take yourself back. Back in time to the 1940s. To a packed east-end boozer with a piano and plenty of ale. It was an era when spirits were low and music was live. People sang along to songs around the piano to raise those downtrodden wartime moods. Pots and pans were used for percussion and floors were stomped for beats. It was the time of DIY fun and frolics in a place of misery. Music was an escape from the terror around – and boy was it needed.
What’s the relevance of this you may ask? A lot. You see, The Mules would have been the perfect band for a late night drinking sesh down Bethnal Green circa 1941. Blackout blinds down and sweat dripping off the walls the fivesome would have raised smiles with an A chord. All jiggy this and retro that, but with a modern twist, they sure as hell aren’t mainstream - but they’re fucking interesting. And a little bit odd too. Something many present day groups are scared to be. How many other bands can count their lead singer as the drummer too? Not many. They’re different – plain and simple. A Marmite of music in the truest sense; you’ll either love them, or, you won’t.
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Tall of figure and big of hair, bassist Jim explains, ‘It just came out that way. We didn’t see a point on the musical landscape and say ‘that’s not been done yet,’ it went the way it naturally went because of all the different music we were into.’ Citing favourites from he of less ribs Prince to digi-pioneers Kraftwerk, there’s not one particular point of listening reference for the band – and it shows. Their debut album ‘Save Your Face’ has elements of post-punk, rockabilly, 1930s flapper piano riffs, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band wackiness and Ratpack-style crooning - a camaraderie of styles and sounds if there ever was one. And it works oh-so well.
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However drummer-come-vocalist Ed claims his quirky storytelling lyrical style comes from one main source: country music. The geek-chic frontman states, ‘There’s an ill view that songwriting is a lesser form of poetry – but the words are written to be sung, they’re not written to be read or spoken and they don’t pass off well as that. I like stories with narratives and songs with a character piece in them, country songs are like that. There are loads of country songs that have those sort of really creepy, corny devices but can get away with it. Like Hank Williams songs have very depressing words but you know he’s singing it with a bit of a smile.’ Recent single and first track on the album ‘Polly-O’ follows this rule perfectly. A darkly undertoned murder ballad about a man inappropriately obsessing over a girl and her little sister, it’s catchily-creepy to the max. You know you shouldn’t be singing and clapping along to such a twisted tune, but it takes over. The sign of a very good song indeed.
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But their brilliance didn’t happen overnight. The band came to fruition at Oxford University – a place more renowned for doctors and professors than leftfield musicians – in 2001 around Ed and piano-basher Tim. Along with Jim, guitarist Duncan and no-longer present fiddle player Nico (recently replaced by classically trained violinist Jenny) the five-piece started practicing their wares in a room beneath the college chapel. But music was more than just a hobby for them – it was, and is, their element. And that passion shows. Having self-released the album, The Mules aren’t prepared to be eaten up by the major label music monster. A gutsy decision in an industry that sees more mediocrity than marvel nowadays - they are a grass-roots band through and through.
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But being involved in the underground zone of the music scene is something the band are happy with, and Duncan jokes, ‘I always find it strange when anyone knows who we are – even at our gigs. That’s a strange fan experience in itself – having fans!’ And it’s clear that fame is not a particular ambition for the group. Ed muses, ‘It’s completely beyond our control what happens. We just want to make more records and be able to sustain ourselves. Then what comes from that is out of our hands.’ A fresh view to have in today’s celebrityhungry musical landscape.
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And things bode well for The Mules – with gigs aplenty, and the second album already written, they’ve got more longevity than many of the Liberscenester bands that seem to dry up and die after a few hit singles. That’s because of their uniquely intelligent-fun-factor. There are no songs about boozing and banging – just witty narratives above weird and wonderful musical arrangements. And we like that we do. Just like they did sixty years ago. And this band might just be one of those making music that’ll last longer than a lifetime. |
