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By: Richard Collins
Ghold are a spacey, grunt doom duo based in London. They just released the incredible Of Ruin on Ritual Productions (read our review here) and are just about to head out on a UK tour with Oozing Wound. They had a quick chat with our man Richard Collins so we could find out a bit more about them, because we fucking love them… READ IT!
(((o))): How are you doing Ghold?
Ghold: Feeling warm n’ toasted, thanks.
(((o))): You guys seemingly came from nowhere, the first time I saw you was at the Underworld with Ufomammut, which is massive. Can you give us a bit of background on the band? How did you meet? What was your first gig?
Ghold: We met pinching the preverbal buttocks of err musical debauchery, at a school for those multi-dimensionally inclined. Our first gig was at (supposedly) Amy Winehouse’s favourite pub in Camden, which happened when Alex met a guy called Bob, Bob wasn’t there that day, but there were a lot of confused diners chewing their cheeks in disgust wondering what was happening, and when it was going to end.
(((o))): Did you always want to be a two-piece or were you looking to expand the band originally?
Ghold: We didn’t set out to be a two-piece, but practically we wanted to get on with it and play shows, and we were the only two people we knew at the time into what we’re into. We wanted and still want to make music in an expansive way, but jointly clicked with our shared ideas- neither one of us leads the band, it leads itself. Other members, whether for sessions or potential alliances should/would naturally assume the same form.
(((o))): Where did you record Of Ruin? How was the process different to your previous recordings?
Ghold: London School of Sound with Dan Miller and Austin Milne- worlds collided when we first met them and we got on very well. Dan allowed us a lot of time for what we wanted – to experiment and have freedom and space with our studio time, the gruesome twosome of Miller/Milne also pushed and helped instigate some of the stranger audio-processing techniques we exploited on the album… The process, like all Ghold records, was fluid.
(((o))): How did it come about that Ritual Productions would release it?
Ghold: We met 11Paranoias at one of Cacophonous Sarcophagus’ shows in Bristol. They digged it, we digged it, and by the time we were done we were half way to China, and woke up on Rituals’ doorstep.
(((o))): I can’t understand a fucking word of it, what kinda things do you sing about?
Ghold: A lot of it is spun out love and hate songs or social commentary. We’ve kept it abstract so far, using psychoanalytical points of view, which can open many doors in one sitting… the rest of it is the inane nonsequitural babble you find in everyday life.
(((o))): Do you both have a similar musical background? Are you into the same stuff?
Ghold: Similar but not the same, we share some inspirations and interests, but have made music separately from one another for years before and wouldn’t want to do anything else… that is the primary experience we share. That and being open minded about different audible forms, functions and behaviours. Never close your ears.
(((o))): Who is the best band you have ever shared the stage with?
Ghold: We have been very fortunate to share the stage with some incredible acts and some of whom we are big fans of, so forgive us but we can only speak in terms of highlights…Our favourite show to date was with Stephen O’Malley at The Old Coroner’s Court, Bristol. But it was a bizarre affair and we were very fortunate to have audiovisual artist James Alec Hardy collaborating for us with that show, everyone brought something different, the space was incredible, the crowd were amazing. The night melted as one.
(((o))): Name three bands who Ghold think fucking rock…
Ghold:
(((o))): If Ghold an animal, what would it be?
Ghold: A snake wearing wolf’s clothing.
(((o))): Apart from the new album, what are your plans for this year?
Ghold: Another new album, lots of touring, special top secret plans that won’t be so secret in a month or so, a split with Dead Existence, festivals, and re-releasing a re-mix/re-master of our first album, Judas Ghoat with the ‘h’ dropped.
Catch Ghold on their upcoming UK tour with Oozing Wound:
