Interview: Baratro
I feel music should evolve constantly. Stagnation is the enemy of creativity.
Baratro make an uncompromising noise and assault on the senses on their latest album No Comply and it sees the Milan based band on formidable from throughout, something that they have always done since their inception. Gavin Brown caught up with Baratro bassist/vocalist Dave Curran (formerly of Unsane) to talk about No Comply and its creation, how the band’s lineup addition has bolstered their already impressive sound, the guests that appear on the record and Italian food and music.
E&D: Your new album No Comply is out now. Have you been happy with the reaction it has had so far?
Dave: The reaction has pretty great overall. Seeing as we included Matteo into the band and the songwriting process, we knew the dynamics on this record would be different, and we wanted it that way. It’s never a given that people will accept this sort of change, but the general positivity towards the new record was really encouraging.
E&D: How did Baratro start as a band in the first place?
Dave: Baratro started sometime in 2019. I had moved to Italy in 2016 and left Unsane toward the end of 2018. My friend Federico was doing sound at Cox18 in Milan at the time and he and I often discussed starting a project together. Once I no longer had touring obligations, we did just that. We got about 7 songs together and soon started collaborating with Luca Antonozzi (our drummer) who immediately got what we trying to do.
E&D: How did the creation of the album go?
Dave: Before we released No Comply this year, we had asked our friend Matteo Bennici to lay down some cello on the last track for our previous record Sweet Smell of Unrest. The track came out great and his parts transformed the dynamics of the song into something we took to immediately. Soon after we asked him to join the band and he graciously accepted. We got to writing all together and the songs came about quite naturally and easily. In the span of a little less than a year we wrote, arranged, recorded, mixed and mastered No Comply.
E&D: What are the main influences on the sound and outlook on No Comply?
Dave: We all have a pretty varied set of influences individually. I find inspiration in everything from Miles Davis to Slayer to Wu Tang Clan. On this record we never set out to write in any particular style. Rather, we just let ourselves layer things over various ideas put forth by any one of us at any given time. The listener can generally surmise where our various influences creep into the music.
E&D: Can you tell us about the striking image that adorns the cover of No Comply?
Dave: We befriended a crew called the Gaza Skate Team (@gaza_skate_team) shortly after the Israeli genocide had started in 2023. We were really moved by their benevolent activities for their community and especially the kids in their region. They had posted the photo online, and we asked their permission to use it, which they were nice enough to agree too. We continue to communicate with and support them in any way we can.
E&D: With the song ‘Pick A Side’ on the album, how important is it for people to stand up against the hate that is on the rise all across the world?
Dave: Well, I suppose that’s for the individual to decide. We certainly felt standing by idly wasn’t the way to go. This sort of moral cancer spreads, infects and kills if left unchecked; and today more than ever, it seems prevalent to the point of urgency.
E&D: How important is it for you to address the issues you do on the album?
Dave: I would say very important. Music, historically, has had the power to change matters fairly drastically. Not to say we’re making a huge difference at the point we’re at, but again, doing nothing is no way to go in my opinion.
E&D: With the addition of Matteo on cello, the album features a lot of atmospheric orchestration, especially on songs like the albums opening track Dawn and also Insidious and Dusk, do you fell this is a vital part of the music of Baratro now ?
Dave: Definitely. Matteo quickly became an integral part of the band. Our approach to songwriting, I feel, changed for the better since he’s been with us. We’re more conscious of the dynamics for each song, leaving some breathing room in their various parts. The hard parts hit harder with this approach.
E&D: Did you want to make this album as cinematic as possible?
Dave: Not at all. As I mentioned before, we didn’t have any fixed path, sound or concept in mind when we started writing this record. It simply evolved from the layering of our various ideas. I do realize the outcome somewhat turned into that, but there was no forethought to that end. It’s just how it turned out.
E&D: Which cinematic scores and soundtracks are particularly influential to you?
Dave: Certain scores fall into my sphere of influences for sure. Angelo Badalamenti, in particular, was a master at creating atmosphere. There’s a captivating eeriness to his compositions that I dig a lot. I’m also a big fan of Ry Cooder’s soundtrack for Paris, Texas.
E&D: How do you feel your music has grown since your debut record The Sweet Smell Of Unrest?
Dave: Mostly the change in how we write songs as a four piece has defined how the music comes out. I feel music should evolve constantly. Stagnation is the enemy of creativity.
E&D: How was the experience of having Vinnie Signorelli. who you played with in Unsane, playing drums on the track ‘Not All There’?
Dave: Vinnie and I played together for 25 years, so it was as fun as it ever was! He’s a great drummer and a good friend. I’m looking forward to collaborating with him more this year.
E&D: Eugene Robinson also provides vocals on ‘120 on 280’, how was it having him on the album?
Dave: I met Eugene a while back during his Oxbow days. I’ve always admired his talent and enjoy our conversations a lot when we get to hang out. Our drummer Luca had also done some MMA sparing with him over the years. We got to play with his new band Bunuel a few times and when we asked him to do guest vocals on a track he agreed without hesitation. I love what he did with that song, his vocals really defined the mood of the track.
E&D: How was the experience of working with Gipsy Rufina on the album as well?
Dave: Gipsy did an amazing job adding another layer of atmosphere to Keep ‘em Needing. In this case we had sent him the track and he added his cigar box parts over it and re-sent the multi-track back to us as he wasn’t able to get up to Milan for the recording session. Considering we weren’t even in the same room, he really got the mood right and killed it with his part.
E&D: Who would you love to feature on a Baratro song in the future?
Dave: Not sure. The world is our oyster I suppose. Perhaps a kazoo solo?
E&D: Have you had any thoughts about any potential new music?
Dave: Every day. The week after the new record came out, we started writing new material. We’re hoping to get back in the studio sometime in late fall / winter of this year.
E&D: Was Supernatural Cat the perfect record label to release No Comply on?
Dave: It would seem so! I have a lot of respect for those guys. They work their asses off, and they create amazing artwork for their artists. Urlo had come to one of shows a couple of years ago and when we told him we were working a new album he asked us to send over some roughs. We ironed out a simple deal pretty shortly afterwards.
E&D: How is the heavy music scene in Italy at the moment and what bands are impressing you right now?
Dave: There’s a fairly healthy heavy music scene here but it depends on what kind of heavy you’re talking about. I’ve always been a big fan of Uzeda. I also like Zu a lot; we just played a festival with those guys and they were killer.
E&D: How have your recent live shows gone and how has the material from No Comply been going down?
Dave: Since early May we’ve played a bunch of shows with mostly songs from No Comply and they’ve been really fun overall! Seems people are embracing the change of pace on this record.
E&D: What have been your favourite live shows that Baratro have played so far?
Dave: One of our favourites was the Mordor Festival in France during the summer of last year. I have to say our run of shows so far this year have been great as well. I try not to play favourites.
E&D: What are some of your favourite Italian dishes to eat?
Dave: Trofie with pesto from Genova. Fiorentina with roasted potatoes. Sarde in Saor from Venice.
E&D: What have been some of your favourite albums this year so far?
Dave: Both new Converge records and the last Neurosis record.
