Interview with Noel McCalla (Part 2)

Don't panic! Part 1 of this interview appears in the Platform End Archive

By Andy Taylor

This interview first appeared in Platform End No 4 (Spring 1994)

Andy Presumably you knew that Earth Band had quite a big following, and that you would have to stand up and sing in front of a lot of people, did that make you at all nervous at first?

Noel It did at first, yeah. I knew Chris, he had sung on the first solo album he did backing vocals with Stevie Lang and Vicky Brown who he was working with at the time. I knew Chris was a good singer, although I knew I was as good as he was, and like I hoped that would be enough of an acceptance for anyone who came to see us, plus people who came to see the band, all they want is to hear songs as they recognise them. Some say they don't miss Chris, others enjoyed Chris because he played guitar and I don't. Nobody's said it's terrible get someone else! That's the way Earth Band are progressing now.

Andy I missed out the bit you have been warmly accepted by even the most die-hard Earth Band fan, people believe you've breathed new life into the old songs.

Noel It's different isn't it, bring out the same guys, might not be as exciting it's true, adds a sparkle of interest again.

Andy Certainly did for me. For sometime now you have been locked away here recording this famous new album, the legendary new album. As vocalist you play an important part, as everybody does but people tend to notice vocals, how do you see this album working out from your point of view?

Noel It's going slowly, Richard has played a good part, Richard Burgess helped to level out a bit more. You can see conclusions, end of horizon. Now with Richard around its kinda taking pressure off Manfred a bit. He can go away and think about other things. Richard is there learning what Manfred likes, dislikes, how to get the job done well. Given me a bit of optimism, after singing the songs over and over again and thinking, how differently can I sing this? The thing is I would sound different, there's always something to be gained from singing the songs over and over 'cos the voice sounds better on another day or is better for the song but you've got to know when to stop to be able to have someone to say good enough, Richard says good, could be better. It's not so easy for Manfred to do that being too close to it. Now Richard is there he can say that's tidy, that's good, that's fine, everything can be better. (At this, an unnamed bass guitar player starts to take the piss and is quickly disciplined returning to the fat volume, witty one liners for bass players he had been reading).

Steve (Who is not going to give up) He doesn't antagonise as much.

Andy So is it taking shape, have you a feel for what its going to be like?

Noel No not really don't hear the tracks all the time, once we've worked on one we kinda move onto another, so we loose the run of tracks, some are finished.

Steve But I bet they'll be changed.

Noel Once he's got the album in front of him and he knows how many tracks to go on it, he can say right 10 tracks on this, now he can start to juggle them around.

Steve I think the day before it's out it'll change.

Noel Once songs are put side by side we can look at the continuity, because at the moment we are looking at tracks very separately. Once tracks are in some sort of running order, and then we listen to them again and think shit that needs to sound different.

(Helpful Bass player) There's about 30 mixes of each track!

Noel Yeah, there's loads and loads of mixes.

Noel It's getting closer. We are trying not to do too many gigs so we can get it finished. It's now got to the point where the band does need another album. The compilation is doing well, it's helped us do this section of gigs, but we can't keep on doing it. The times right now for the new stuff.

Andy We are constantly being asked - when is the album coming out?

Noel I would like to think by about Spring next year.

Andy And then the big tour?

Noel Well it depends on the strength of the album again, as big as we can make. Definitely an introductory tour so people know we are out and about. Hopefully up and down London and those places, people don't really get to see the band, especially America but you can only do those sorts of gigs if the album does well.

My thanks to Noel for giving up his time to talk to me and to out invited special guest, demon chess ace Steve Kinch.

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