Who are you, and what do you do in the band?
Brent Williams. I play guitar and keys in The New Christs. I also blurt ‘ooohs and ahhs’ in the background occasionally. I co-produced our new record, along with David Kettley (guitar, vox) and Rob Younger (Lead Vox). I also recorded most of the overdubs, and co-wrote three of the tunes.
How does your latest LP, Incantations, differ from your previous releases?
Well, in addition to the EPs and singles, this one is the fifth full-length LP by The New Christs. It supersedes the previous New Christs record, which in turn superseded the previous to that, etc.’
Sorry, I do realise this was a serious question, so I will attempt a serious response. I think the core lineup of the band has solidified. Dave, Rob and I along with Jim (Dickson, bass) have been playing in the band together for nine years now. We have a better idea of the organism that we’re writing music for. Conversely, Paul Larsen has only been on the drums since the 2011 European tour really. Each band is to an extent the sum of its parts and so this being the first time that this particular lineup has recorded lends a uniqueness to the sound.
We worked with some great people in making it (namely Jim Moginie, Russell Pilling, Wayne Connolly and Don Bartley). In choosing these people, we do it because we anticipate them making their imprint on the project. They did, and this is reflected in the result. So the record is different mostly due to circumstance, I guess. I think it’s a rock record with splashes of pop, garage, surf, psyche, etc. but the essential element as always is Rob’s idiosyncratic voice and lyrics.
Being together for over three decades is huge in band world. What is your secret to preserving a band for such a long time?
That’s funny, and soaked in irony if I may. I love it! This band has had more members come and go through the revolving door than parliament (not George Clinton’s band, the thing on the hill in Canberra). Rob is the only real constant in that time. Jim Dickson would be next in that line, having been in the band for about 15 or so of those years, but there have been so many different lineups. As I said before though, the core of this current lineup has been solid for eight or nine years now, and I think this is mostly to do with the fact that we each respect each other as musicians and in general as human beings. We’re friends (isn’t that nice?).
THE NEW CHRISTS play Cherry Bar on Saturday August 9, with guests Don Fernando and Grindhouse.
