Anorak Crumble: The Proctors - Interview with Gavin Priest

Good news ! Our good friends from The Proctors are going to release a new album via the american label Sunday Records ! We remember enjoying their fantastic concerts for the Madrid and Limoges Popfest. We remember their kindness. We remember all their marvelous songs. It's always a pleasure to have news from Gavin. Let's talk with him about The Proctors !

グッド・ニュース！The ProctorsがアメリカのSunday Recordsからニユー・アルバムをリリースするそうです！MadridやLimogesポップフェスで素晴らしい演奏をして楽しませてくれました、今でも素敵な楽曲を覚えています。いつだってGavinからのニュースは嬉しい！それでは、語って頂きましょう！

Anorak Crumble : How did you all meet ? Why and when did you decide to form The Proctors ?

どのようにしてThe Proctorsを結成したのですか？いつ / 何故このバンドをやろうと決めたのですか？

Gavin Priest : In 1993 my sister Christina and I wrote a few songs and decided to have a go at recording them under the name “The Prodigals” asked my friend Adrian who played drums to help us out with the session. Actually these songs have never been heard I still have the cassette so you may have an exclusive with that ! After that we went back into the studio a few months later and changed the name to The Proctors. We asked Steven from The Cudgels to join on bass then so it was more of a proper “band”.

僕の姉妹Christinaと僕で何曲か書いて、“The Prodigals”というバンド名で、セッションを手伝ってくれたドラムのAdrianとレコーディングしようと決めたんだ。まだカセットで持ってるけどリリースされなかったので、君へのエクスクルーシブだよ！その後、何ヵ月かスタジオへ戻ってThe Proctorsと名前を変えた。The CudgelsのStevenにベースで参加してくれとお願いした。それで"プロパー・バンド"となった。

Anorak Crumble : Please tell us about your former band The Cudgels.

あなたの前身バンドThe Cudgelsについて教えて下さい。

Gavin Priest : First of all that was Andrew, Tracey, Adrian and myself on guitar. They were mainly Andrew's songs. They already had some great sounding recordings before self and Adrian joined. Stephen was Andrew's brother and left the band so I initially joined on bass, but ended up playing a lot of guitar in the studio. On the flexi discs of “Big Pink” and “Red Nosed Man”, we also did a great version of “What do I get” by the Buzzcocks. Then Steven rejoined the band, and we released the “Joybang !” 7” Single on Sunday Records and “God’s Children” album on vinyl on WAAAAH ! Records. We also appeared on the famous “WAAAAH” CD with the likes of The Field Mice and They Go Boom...

最初は、Andrew, Tracey, Adrianと僕はギターだった。メインはAndrewの曲だった。僕やAdrianが作る前から既にグレイトな音を持っていた。StephenはAndrewの兄弟でバンドを去った。なので僕がベースをやったけど、スタジオで大部分のギターをやった。フレキシ“Big Pink”と“Red Nosed Man”や、The Buzzcocksの“what do I get “も。Stevenが再加入し“Joybang!” の7インチをSunday Recordsからリリースし、 “God’s Children”アルバムはWAAAAH! RecordsからLPで。有名な“WAAAAH” CDでThe Field MiceやThey Go Boom...らと参加した。

Anorak Crumble : The Proctors released two albums “Pinstripes and Englishmen” (1995 / Sunday Records) and “Everlasting Light” (2013 / Shelflife Records). Please tell us about them ? Are there any concepts or unique episodes ? Why did you sign with Sunday Records and Shelflife Records ?

The Proctorsは2枚のアルバム "Pinstripes and Englishmen" (1995 / Sunday Records) と"Everlasting Light" (2013 / Shelflife Records)をリリースしました。これらのアルバムについて教えてもらえますか？コンセプトやユニークなエピソードはありますか？何故Sunday RecordsやShelflife Recordsと契約したのですか？

Gavin Priest : Well, both albums are different due to there being a long space of time between them both I suppose. “Pinstripes” had more involvement from my sister, and was recorded by Pete Williams of Dexy’s Midnight Runners as he worked in the studio for a while. It’s quite a lo-fi album, and although we weren’t virtuoso musicians there is a waltz on there ! Called “The other side of the river” definitely inspired by The Pogues I okay some tin whistle on it ! my sisters lyrics, and about Rent boys in London. “Everlasting Light” it’s all my songs, I’m pretty nostalgic., “Into the sun”, it’s a song about my late mother. The lyrics come from a lady who met my brother soon after, and said she could “see” her walking in a field, picking flowers. I play all the instruments on that album apart from drums. Of course we had the wonderful Mr Terry Bickers from one of my favourite bands the House of Love come and visit us and play some guitar on a few tracks. I’ve spoken to him a few times recently, as he wanted to use a Proctors track on his own website. We have stayed in touch and he has agreed to play some more guitar on the next album for us !

両者のアルバムは違う時期にリリースされ、次のリリースまで時間がかかってしまった。“Pinstripes and Englishmen” は、僕の姉妹が関わっていて、Dexy’s Midnight RunnersのPete Williamsがスタジオに居る時レコーディングした。とてもlo-fiなアルバムだった、僕達は名手のミュージシャンじゃなかった。ワルツもあって、“the other side of the river”はThe Poguesからの影響を受けた曲。僕の姉妹が歌詞を書いた。“Everlasting Light”の全ては僕の曲。ノスタルジックで“into the Sun “は後の母の曲。僕の兄弟と出会ったレディについての歌詞…野原を歩いたり、花を摘んだり。僕がドラム以外の全ての楽器を演奏した。The House of LoveのMr Terry Bickersが僕達の所へ来て、何曲かギターを弾いてくれた。最近彼と何度か話したんだけど、The Proctorsのトラックを彼のwebsiteで使いたいって。まだ連絡を取り合っていて、次のニュー・アルバムのためにギターを弾いてくれると言ってくれた！

Anorak Crumble : The new album "Summer lane 1993 - 1997" will be out on Sunday Records in this summer 2020. Please tell us about it. Are there new songs included in this album ?

ニュー・アルバム"Summer lane 1993 - 1997"は今年2020年の夏にSunday Recordsからリリースされる予定ですね。これについて教えて下さい。新曲は入っているのですか？

Gavin Priest : They will be half old recordings, that have been previously released on Sunday Records, and some that we recorded at that time that have never been heard. We have re-recorded a couple of the demos I originally sent to Albert. I’ve tried to record them so that they sound similar to what we did originally so pretty lo-fi.

半分はSunday Recordsから発売された / 未発表の古いレコーディングした楽曲。オリジナルをAlbertへ送ったデモの何曲かを再録している。オリジナルは凄くlo-fiだったので、また録音しようと思ったんだ。

Anorak Crumble : When did you start to listen to indie pop music ?

いつ頃からインディ・ポップを聴き始めましたか？

Gavin Priest : Pretty much after I joined the Cudgels ! I’d always loved the sound of jangly guitar “A New England” Kirsty Macoll version, Smiths, Pretenders. I was familiar with The Sea Urchins from Birmingham. I remember once going to their gig and my car got clamped ! I’d just learned to drive. My girlfriend knew them and James the singer borrowed me the money to get the clamp released ! We used to listen to a lot of Sarah Records stuff then, I fell in love with The Field Mice “Snowball”.

The Cudgels結成以来、聴いています。“A New England” Kirsty Macollのバージョンの、ジャングリー・ギターが大好き、SmithsやPretendersも。バーミンガムのThe Sea Urchinsもね。僕の車で彼らのギグを観に行った時、車がクランプしちゃったんだよ！ちょうど運転し始めた時だった。僕のガールフレンドが彼らのこと知ってて、シンガーのJamesが車の修理代を貸してくれた。Sarah Recordsも沢山聴いたし、The Field Mice “Snowball”も大好きだ。

Anorak Crumble : What band/artists are you influenced by ? What bands/artists do you listen to at the moment ?

どのようなバンド / アーティストに影響を受けていますか？どのようなバンド / アーティストを聴いていますか？

Gavin Priest : Proctors main influences I would say are : The House of Love, Galaxie 500, The Sea Urchins, The Sweetest Ache, The Waltones, The Bodines, The Smiths, The Wedding Present, Television Personalities... I am quite stuck in my ways and like to listen to the old stuff ! The most modern stuff I like is probably Micah P Hinson, John Grant and some Ezra Furman.

The Proctorsが主に影響を受けているのは、House of Love, Galaxie 500, Sea Urchins, Sweetest Ache, Waltones, Bodines, Smiths, Wedding Present, Television Personalitiesで、古いやつを聴くのが好きだ。最近のは、Micah P Hinson, John Grant, Ezra Furmanなど。

Anorak Crumble : How is your life in England ? Are there any good record labels, clubs, etc ?

イギリスでの生活はどんな感じですか？良いレーベルやクラブはありますか？

Gavin Priest : Life is good ! At the moment of course we are in lockdown. But I would definitely recommend “Blast Off” at Wolverhampton Civic Hall. I was the DJ there for many years !

とても良いよ！現在ロックダウンしてるけど、Wolverhamptonの市民会館での“Blast Off”はおすすめです。そこで何年もDJやってたんだよ。

Anorak Crumble : Any future plans with The Proctors ?

The Proctorsの今後の予定を教えて下さい。

Gavin Priest : Yes we are recording a new album as we speak. I do most of the recording and production from home. It will be put out on vinyl in due course on one of the USA labels.

ニュー・アルバムのレコーディング中です。殆どは家で行いました。或るアメリカのレーベルからLPも出す予定。

Anorak Crumble : Please have a message for fans of The Proctors !

The Proctorsのファンへメッセージをお願いします。

Gavin Priest : A big thank you for supporting us ! I’ve even had a few people get in touch to say that “Everlasting light” is their favourite album ever ! I’ve put so much work into that, and perhaps too much work. And just to say that the lyrics are all about something real. Instead of just making up rhymes ! I’m very keen that if you read them they should read as poetry. I hope that doesn’t sound too pretentious 🤣

僕達をサポートしてくれてありがとう。何人かコンタクト取っているけど“everlasting light “はお気に入りアルバムだって！頑張って作ったんだよ、歌詞は本当のことを書いている。詩も読んでくれたら良いな。大袈裟に聴こえなければよいけど(笑)。