The ‘Spray Q&A: Mother And The Addicts

There are bands we hate. Then there are bands we like. Then there are bands we love. Mother And The Addicts are firmly in the last category.

Led by - obviously - Mother, their songs attack the listener in a speed-of-light whirl of glitter, garage punk, deranged soul, herky-jerky white funk and Bryan Ferry impersonations. But better.

We caught up with Mother through the magic of the Internet to discuss incest, viking invasions, Byzantinium and tongue fur…

Who are you, and where are you?
I am Mother and I am currently atop a large tenement in the west end of Glasgow .

Tell us about your new album.
It is a self-made exploration into
the caverns of my soul, available from all good record stores on the
22nd of August 2005. It is called Take The Lovers Home Tonight.

Topics
discussed include: falling out with someone you loved, wanting to be
‘extra friendly’ to people singled out in discos, needing to be held in
the arms of another human being and stroked in a tender fashion, the
priesthood, using other people’s bathrooms as a refuge from a stressful
moment, primary school, my legs.

Why should people buy your stuff?
We are a small independent
concern proffering quality goods at a competitive price. No big
business has interrupted the creative process, and in turn our partners
lie hungry.

We’re considering becoming addicts What would you suggest we getting addicted to & why?
The
study of Byzantinium and the decline of the various ancient branches of
the eastern orthodox church. It will lend a better understanding and
greater insight into the inanity of the current world situation.

Your music has been described as ‘the irresistible sound of Roxy
Music wrestling with Dr Feelgood on a derailed subway train’. Who do
you think would win that fight?
Dr Feelgood would arise as victors -
being rough tough seventies boys comic book types - while Roxy music
would play the part of "The Toffs" in a Walter The Softie art fopp
type versus mount Vesuvius. Dr Feelgood would return home and be given
"the slipper".

You have a song called Fuck Me Mummy I Feel Ugly. Are you hoping to
become the joint figureheads of a new incest movement along with Sharon
and Dennis off Eastenders?
Ah ha. This song is often misinterpreted;
it’s actually a song about personal failure and anger towards being
born. As in "Fuck me I’m ugly, mother how could you have created such a
monster?" I would never align myself to inbreeding with notable
exception to fancy dogs and race horses.

You were recently on tour with Sons And Daughters. Is this because
you were fans of the award-winning Antipodean soap opera of the same
name; and if so, would you consider going on tour with a band called,
say, Shortland Street?
Depends how much they paid me.

You made a special video for the Japanese release of Oh Yeah You Look Quite Nice. What’s it like?
It
involves an animated depiction of the Viking invasion of St Magaret’s
Hope in the Orkney Islands, used as a metaphor to describe the
relationship between male sexual insecurity and casual violence.

Which country has a currency called the Dong?
Ding on the Dong (Nope: it’s Vietnam, fact fans)

You’re signed to Chemikal Underground. Shouldn’t your music be a bit more miserable?
Never,
they tried to make me miserable but I stood my ground. Damn you I said
as I fought them in the office with Arab Strap tugging heavily on my
trousers. Never, never, I’ll eat the bastards.

Preach about something you love (not related to the band) in 100 words.
She
slipped gracefully out of her night dress and spread herself on the
bed. She looked as smooth as butter. I stroked her hair in a sensitive
way and placed my head over hers. I whispered "darling, you’re really
lovely, I think I want to be your hur, hurr, hus, hur". She touched him
with a soft finger. It reminded him of a lost weekend end on the
Suffolk coast, his brain chemistry mingled with her scent.

It’s moments like these I treasure, all soft focus and chiffon. Then
I follow it with a period of heavy breathing and collapse like a worn
out athlete to dream as she throws cold glances at my back.

What’s on the Mother And The Addicts iPod?
On my personal
cassette player I’ve listening to  America’s Burning by Die Trip Computer Die to be followed by Swan Lake by Public Image Ltd.

Favourite movie soundtrack?
The Man Who Fell To Earth. Very eccentric music performed on the Vibraphone, second to that the soundtrack to The Wicker Man.

Motorhead have Cheese And Chive Ruffles on their rider. What’s on yours?
At
the moment it’s very dull, only one boy and a loaf of bread, but as
soon as I have the power to command the wills of promoters I would very
much like to have a masseuse, a couple of dancers and a large buffet.

What are you going to do right now?
Just had a bit of breakfast and I’m now trying to get the fur of my tongue while writing this.

Take The Lovers Home Tonight is released on Monday; you can preorder it here. You can get a taster of the album by downloading the song Fuck Me Mummy, I Feel Ugly for free from the Mother And The Addicts website.

[story by Stuart Heritage]