Lullabye Arkestra's Stompy Sorta Couples Rock

09/04/09 1:50pm

by Keith Carman (CHARTattack)

Toronto-based outfit Lullabye Arkestra make a lot of noise for two slender, unassuming people.

Comprised of bassist Kat Taylor-Small and drummer Justin Small, their furious union of rock 'n' roll's undulating groove, doom metal's droning pulse and punk's abrasive onslaught is incomparable. Threats/Worship, their latest effort, is thick and beastly, yet decidedly catchy, and has resulted in a move from former label Constellation Records to Vice Records.

Threats/Worship is a vast departure from their 2006 Ampgrave debut, Threats/Worship finds Lullabye Arkestra embracing the constraints — and freedoms — that being in a two-piece creates. The album pares down their attack from influxes of overdubs to fashion what's a no-frills attack, and punches away at multiple genres, bridging gaps and smashing walls.

The married duo took a few moments out of their intensifying schedule to discuss the shift to Vice, Threats/Worship's sound and the reality of creating music with your soulmate.

CHARTattack: How did you end up connecting with Vice Records?
Taylor-Small: A friend of mine works there. We've been friends since high school. When we finished the record, we found out Constellation wasn't going to put it out and I figured that my friend would have a better knowledge of labels around that might be interested in releasing it so I passed it to her.

I didn't think it would fit in with their roster, so we were quite surprised when they came back and said that they love it and wanted to release it. We totally didn't expect that they'd be into it.

I remember Justin saying Constellation wasn't going to put it out, so it must be rewarding to know you had support so readily.
Small: It wasn't that easy. The record's been done for a good six months. We're really proud of the record, so we're happy that it found a home regardless of who put it out. Vice is really behind it and working hard, so it's a double bonus for us.

How does this album different from your past album, Ampgrave?
Small: When Ampgrave finally came out, it finally came out. It took forever to get out and so much had changed with us at that point. This record, well, the bed tracks were done in two days. The whole process was much smoother.

There's a big shift in style between albums. Because Ampgrave includes songs you'd written right after forming, do you feel it's an inaccurate representation of Lullabye Arkestra?
Taylor-Small: With Ampgrave, it was a retrospective for us because we'd been a band for five years before we even recorded it. We were pulling songs we'd written at the beginning of the band and some we were writing as we were recording, so it didn't have the consistent feel we wanted, but we felt we had to record those songs and get them out so we could move on to something more tangible and current.

Being a couple making music together: advantages, disadvantages keeping in mind you're sitting beside each other?
Taylor-Small: It's really easy to get shit together. If we have an afternoon off together, we can rehearse. There aren't a million phone calls and co-ordinating schedules that has to happen. It's very simple to make things happen.

Small: You don't have to pick up anyone for groupie sex. It's pretty easy. There aren't any disadvantages, except to other people who sit around while we natter at each other.

Taylor-Small: Maybe having a third person to help solve arguments. When we disagree, someone has to give and it's usually the person who yells the loudest. That's not being a couple, though. That's being in any band.

We also make sure band arguments don't carry over into our relationship. Once rehearsal is over, it stays there. To the converse, though, we can discuss band stuff and get it done on personal time without needing the input of others. It's quite efficient in this band. Every tour is also a rock 'n' roll holiday.

Do you get compared to other couples two-pieces, like Jucifer?
Small: Because I'm in the band, I don't know if seeing us live or hearing the record would affect someone's opinion. I can't gauge that. I don't mind. It's not a type of music. Someone called it "couple rock" once, but I wouldn't classify that as a genre of music. Jucifer play rock 'n' roll, they're husband and wife. That's about as far as the connection goes.

Taylor-Small: Sonic Youth — although that band isn't a duo — have a couple. There's a long history of bands with couples playing together. And there's a long history of duos playing stripped-down, loud, stompy rock 'n' roll. It shouldn't affect people's opinion of the band if they know we're a married couple versus if they don't.