In the ever-growing scene of sharply dressed musicians writing astute new wave/post-punk it's nice to know there is a band like Maximo Park to keep things stirring. Their debut album, A Certain Trigger, is easily the best of its kind so far this year. Uniting rapid-fire tempo changes, delicious choruses and singer Paul Smith's studiously clever lyrics, the band's music is also breaking ground as the first case of rock'n'roll to bear the Warp Records logo.
Smith is enthusiastic about his band's involvement with the legendary and innovative electronic label. "People at Warp seem to be really excited," he says. "Their tastes aren't confined to one type of music and everyone seems behind what we're doing. That's one of the reasons we signed we knew we weren't just another guitar band on a label, this is something special."
While Warp's signature sound of bleeps, drones and mind-expanding experimentalism found a home with a niche audience, Maximo Park's frenzied accessibility has made them the first Warp band to have a mainstream hit in six years. "After 15 years or so of releasing very avant-garde stuff, I think they really wanted to challenge themselves by releasing other music that they like," Smith admits. "I don't think you'd find a Vincent Gallo or Autechre ringtone sold to people."
Regardless of who's releasing their record, Smith knows his band is more than just the next big thing in an over-saturated market. "There is less of an objective point of view to our music. I think if people listen to the record and enjoy it as they would any other, soon enough they will realise who we are and what sort of a voice we project, and find that it's different to what's being called the art-pop movement' or whatever."
Smith is enthusiastic about his band's involvement with the legendary and innovative electronic label. "People at Warp seem to be really excited," he says. "Their tastes aren't confined to one type of music and everyone seems behind what we're doing. That's one of the reasons we signed we knew we weren't just another guitar band on a label, this is something special."
While Warp's signature sound of bleeps, drones and mind-expanding experimentalism found a home with a niche audience, Maximo Park's frenzied accessibility has made them the first Warp band to have a mainstream hit in six years. "After 15 years or so of releasing very avant-garde stuff, I think they really wanted to challenge themselves by releasing other music that they like," Smith admits. "I don't think you'd find a Vincent Gallo or Autechre ringtone sold to people."
Regardless of who's releasing their record, Smith knows his band is more than just the next big thing in an over-saturated market. "There is less of an objective point of view to our music. I think if people listen to the record and enjoy it as they would any other, soon enough they will realise who we are and what sort of a voice we project, and find that it's different to what's being called the art-pop movement' or whatever."
