Following the release of their new album, The Guessing Game, Planet Loud caught up with Lee from psychadelic doom merchants Cathedral to chat about it.
Planet Loud – Now that the new album ‘The Guessing Game’ has been unleashed, how are you feeling about the initial success of it?
Cathedral – Well, we’re very happy with the way it turned out production wise & artistically, so that’s half the battle I guess, feeling confident about it. It seems to have surprised a few people for various reasons but I don’t really think it’s as ‘radical’ an album as a lot of people seem to be suggesting. So far the reviews have been very positive for the main part, which is great for us after all this time, to still be considered a relevant band. So all in all, we’re very happy.
Planet Loud – The album seems to have a more relaxed, playful air about it this time around – was that the case in the studio, or was it a more painful birthing?
Cathedral – Hmm, I just think it was time for us not to hold back and just go for it. Most of the material was written and completed in advance of going into the studio and we were pretty well rehearsed, so to that extent, we were generally relaxed, yes. Having said that, we still kept coming up with more songs whilst in the studio, which got on our producers nerves a bit, I think! It was hard work as much as it was fun and there was a lot more attention to detail in respects of dynamics & production.
Planet Loud – The sound of the band has evolved a long way, and now in ‘The Guessing Game’ there is a real flavour of old 70s prog and psych; has this been a natural move, or more thought-out than that?
Well, there have always been those kind of ‘elements’ in what we do, since our second album I guess. It’s just that this time we felt we had nothing to lose and went for it. You know, for instance the use of Mellotron has been in our recordings since 1993, but it’s always seemed rather token. It’s an instrument that we really like, so in the past it’s been more of a thrill to have one around and play a few notes on it ourselves as much as anything. This time we want it to be more orchestrated, and at times a lead instrument.
The music we play reflects the music we like, so there’s a whole hybrid of sounds that come from us collectively, which is not strictly 60/70s prog & psych. Also, we are aware that it’s 2010 and we want to put as much of our individual selves into the music as anything.
Planet Loud – How happy are you with the reaction from both fans and critics?
Cathedral – As I said earlier, it seems to have surprised some people, for whatever reason, which is fine by me. I would hate it if people generally thought we were just churning out the same old record over and over again for the sake of it. So far, so good really,it seems to be mainly very positive.
Planet Loud – Some of the themes on the album, such as animal rights and anarchy, are quite clear, but what other subjects did you want to tackle on ‘The Guessing Game’?
Cathedral – Overall the album is just a general questioning of existence. The lengths that people will go to to justify their own existence baffles me, whether it through religion, power, greed, ego etc. I don’t know what exists beyond this existence, if anything, all I know is what I see with my own eyes really. It’s that simple.
Planet Loud – Which of the new tracks are you playing live? And will more be unveiled as time goes on?
Cathedral – Funeral of Dreams, Painting in the Dark, Death of an Anarchist, Cat’s, Incense, Candles & Wine and Casket Chasers. We may well add more songs as we go along, yes, as there are a lot to choose from. It’s been interesting having live keyboard on stage; this is the first time for us in 20 years!
Planet Loud – Dave Patchett’s artwork is a key part of the Cathedral “product”, so how does the whole process come to life?
Cathedral – I basically visualise how I see the next album cover looking and go an discuss it with Dave. He interprets my ideas and it all comes from there. I have the initial vision before I’ve even started writing lyrics, so the artwork is usually ready way in advnce of the music being finished.
Planet Loud – Why such a long gap between this album and ‘The Garden Of Unearthly Delights’?
Cathedral – Reassessment as much as anything else. After such a long time together, we needed to spend a little time away from Cathedral to think long and hard about our next step.
Planet Loud – So what’s next for Cathedral?
Cathedral – Touring I guess. We have a few festivals lined up for the summer.
Planet Loud – Is it difficult to go from running Rise Above to then dealing with Nuclear Blast as part of a band?
Cathedral – No, not at all. Nuclear Blast is the label that Cathedral is signed to, so it’s two separate things really.
Planet Loud – One final question, where did the sample at the beginning of ‘Painting In The Dark’ come from?
Cathedral – Ahh, that would be telling. It is, after all, The Guessing Game. Many thanks!
Interview by Dom Hemy
