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Thirty Five Whirlpools Below Sound
"timeless" Thomas Bond, Get Out
"infectious blend of hummable melodies, well-crafted lyrics and rock solid pop framework make this band worthy of your attention" Lucky Clark, Sun-Journal
"pens songs steeped in the pop tradition yet with an ironic jagged edge phrasing that will stop you short" Carlton Smith, Vail Daily
Mick Bund spent much of his youth in Windsor, England with his nan, a chef at the local convent who also had a wicked penchant for Motown music. When the house wasnt filled with that harmony-laden Detroit sound, Micks dad had Sunday night music session of the more eclectic kind, introducing Nina Simone, Jimmy McGriff and Burt Bacharach into the mix.
Burt Bacharach is still my favourite songwriter, believe it or not, says Mick. Hes amazing lyrically, which is my passion. I remember being a little scared by Eleanor Rigby, and the way Good Vibrations made me feel when I first heard it. Lyrics are everything to me.
Avoiding the school music curriculum of classical and hymns (not so much about lyrics), Mick saved up to buy a bass, and in 1983, teamed up with Sarah Cracknell to play around London, including a prestigious gig at Hammersmith Palais. When Sarah went on to front St Etienne, Mick joined Felt in 1987. With Felt, he recorded THE PICTORIAL JACKSON REVIEW and SPACE BLUES EP, and toured Europe for several years. He went on to tour with Primal Scream and played with Luke Haines of The Servants, cementing his indie cred in both Europe and the States before taking on the idea of Mexico 70.
Signed to Cherry Records, Mexico 70 released THE DUST HAS COME TO STAY in 1994. Highly regarded by music critics for its exceptional songwriting, only the UK version included the amazing track Worthless featuring Sarah Cracknell and Jez Williams (from the Doves). The radio single Wonderful Lie was featured in the film PCU with David Spade and Jeremy Piven.
Mexico 70 became the underground favourite of Britpop fans in America, so Big Pop Records quickly released a live EP to satisfy US fan demand, and set the band on the road, playing festivals and venues coast-to-coast. This also began a storied and rather usual relationship with The Fags.
As Detroits endeared power pop band (recently signed by Seymour Stein to Sire Records), The Fags have an anything goes attitude toward writing and production, and bass player Tim Patalon was brought in to produce IMPERIAL COMET HOUR for Red Ant. I Want You reached Top 40 in 1997, the band was again touring America, and then Red Ant went bust.
Back in London, Mick regrouped and released his solo ASTRONAUT GRAFFITI through Toucan Cove, playing all instruments and recorded on 8-track. But Mick wanted to track down Tim because we had unfinished business.
In 2005, Tim invited Mick back out to his farm-based Michigan studio. Dropping Mick off, he said, See you later. While people delivered cigarettes and whiskey, Mick didnt see Tim for three days. When he finally showed up, they spent two days bowling. On the third day, Tim had a bonfire, invited his musician friends (from Sponge, Brownsville Station and others) and recording began, as a communal effort. Remembers Mick, When Tim left me for days, I realized I had 20 ideas, not 20 songs. He, with odd subtlety, was forcing me to focus on the material. And I finally finished Hello Hello which was started on that farm ten years earlier!
The result of that untraditional production is 35 WHIRLPOOLS BELOW SOUND, out on Toucan Cove now. Comprised of pop gems reminiscent of Elvis Costello like I Want You and Indian Ink as well as more philosophical songs like Bomb (a reflection of war from the bombs point of view), 35 WHIRLPOOLS connects with trademark jangly, Byrds-like guitar and witty, imaginative lyrics.
On the way to rehearse in England every day, Id touch the tree that Marc Bolan cracked into respect for a great songwriter and performer, who did things beyond convention, says Mick. I like to think this album honors that ethic, and still delivers good, memorable music.
