Echoes Of The Future 24 – tatterattles

Spring sunshine, the smell of fresh cut grass, sitting drinking cider in pub gardens, waves gently lapping on the the beach; all of these things are what tatterattels sound like. We were so beguiled by their self-titled EP that came out last month that we wanted to know more, so we caught up with Ben and got him to tell us all about himself.

(((o))): How long has the band been together and how did you all meet?

tatterattles is a solo effort, not because the others aren’t pulling their weight, but because they don’t exist. so that’s not their fault.

I used to perform with a pillow with a face drawn on just to have some company, but then I started to resent him as he was everyone’s favorite member.

I’ve been whining on record for about 5 years.

(((o))): Where did you get your name from & what does it mean?

The plan was to have something that would evolve beyond me, me and me so I chose to give it a name. Unfortunately I’m almost completely socially inept, so tatterattles never made it beyond one member, besides Danson (the aforementioned pillow with a face).

Also tatterattles is supposed to be the cheerier side of my musics, so I wanted something that suggested a lo-fi sound; pots and pans, toys and glockenspiel etc. There’s also lexical references i.e Tatterdemalion (shabby urchin- a ragamuffin), Rataplan (drumming sound) but mostly it’s just Tatter and Rattles stuck together with the same stuff they used to make Jedward.

(((o))): Describe your sound for us & who would you say were your biggest musical influences?

I generally refer to it as ‘wafty beard-pop’. It’s not going to change the world, but some people might like it. I don’t think it’ll make anyone angry at least.

I’d say the biggies were Adem, Andrew Bird, Beirut, Bonnie Prince Billy, Chapi Chapo, Iron & Wine, Joanna Newsom, Peter Broderick, Seabear, Sufjan Stevens.

There’s also a couple of local heroes who keep me going/make me want to quit called Daniel Addison and Natalie Evans.

(((o))): And what about non-musical influences?

Short stories, especially by Richard Brautigan, Revenge of the Lawn is a constant inspiration.

I do lots of drawing, collage and assemblage works too, which sometimes helps a lot. Then sometimes my brain melts, when there’s so many half written songs and half finished artworks.

My girlfriend.

(((o))): Music can be a fickle mistress, what is your biggest high & low as a band so far?

Biggest high. I’m far too self-deprecating to allow this.

Biggest low. First gig. I didn’t do another for 2 years.

(((o))): What one fact about the band do you most want to share with the world?

I keep a jar of my belly button fluff. Just in case.

(((o))): The old model of record demo-do gigs-get signed-make millions is pretty broken these days, what’s your plan to deal with this?

Tea and biscuits.

(((o))): We journalists like to use easy labels to describe bands, what’s the worst thing you’ve seen yourselves described as?

“Heartbreaker”. As far as I’m aware I haven’t upset anyone.

(((o))): We’re loving what you do but who’s floating your boat right now?

Mostly people from cold places: Team Me, Regina, Canon Blue, Arvo Part, Peter Broderick. There’s a healthy mix in there of joy and misery.

I was going to listen to the new Andrew Bird with headphones on whilst answering these questions, but I see the cat has destroyed them.

(((o))): What’s up next for you?

I suppose I’ll have to do some gigs. There’s a lot I need to record over the summer for tatterattles but also I’d like to get around to doing all those collaborations and side projects.

I’m really looking forward to writing/recording with the band I’m in (Magnets) this summer. magnetsband.bandcamp.com

Tags: Echoes Of The Future, tatterattles