Having just released their debut album 'These Were The Earlies', to much critical acclaim (an album which combines everything from electronica, pyschedelia and jazz) we got the chance to catch up with two members of The Earlies - Giles Hatton and John Mark Lapham.

The Earlies debut album, 'These Were The Earlies' is out now on Names Records.

For more information, check out - The Earlies website.

Greetings Early birds, how are you doing?

JML : I'm in Manchester - It's wet.<br />
GH : Fair to midling. The wife's on my case again, but I have just received the Phil Spector box-set through the post, so you know cloud, siver lining and that.

So if you are from Manchester and Texas, how exactly did you meet?

GH : Psychic remote viewing. When we're not doing music we solve crimes and shit.<br />
JML : Lots of milling about, coincidence, and time spent talking about music to be specific.

Was it difficult recording the album if you lived at different ends of the world? How did you go about it exactly?

GH : No, it was easy. It's only hard being together with all those ego-maniacs.<br />
JML : It was actually quite easy considering the geographical situation. Part mail on land, part mail on wires, all love.

How come most of the album tracks have appeared on your past singles?

GH : We're really lazy?<br />
JML : 'These Were The Earlies' says it all, really.

The press have really hyped your album, are you pleased with it yourselves? What's your favourite track?

GH : I love it. Surprisingly, for a cobbled together lazy compilation of previously released material, it sounds remarkably cohesive so I'd have to say I like it all.<br />
JML : The first one that was recently referred to as 'Inconsequential.'

The album has loads of influences and different genres, what has inspired The Earlies sound?

GH : Mutual contempt and a deep fear of having to participate in the real world.<br />
JML : Lots of people who love music - they may hurt people or they may be really nice, they may be ego stallions or they may be reclusives holed up in a lonely place, they may have either lost it or started it in the 80's, but they all at some time had a spark for it, regardless of personal history...

You've just completed your second tour - both had relatively few dates, so are there any plans to do a much larger tour?

GH : Definitely, if the Mrs. will let me come out to play.<br />
JML : We do what we're told generally - but we're definitely up for doing a bit of travelling...

Speaking of live dates, you have about 11 people on stage...how the hell do you all fit on? Do you really just fill the stage to take attention way from you?

GH : I'd never thought of it like that, but how very perceptive of you.<br />
JML : We tried doing it with just one person missing and it was all too evident, without computers it's going to have to be 11.

You seem destined for fame, do you look forward to the attention of does the idea of being a stadium band seem daunting?

JML : We never had any feeling for playing it small or being 'exclusive', this is part of the package.<br />
GH : No, I'm well looking forward to having Shetland ponies on the rider and that, in Manchester they wouldn't even give me a corkscrew. Those fuckers will live to regret that mark my words.

How do you find performing live compared to playing songs in the studio?

GH : We don't play songs in the studio we kind of just make them up as we go along, like them lads who wrote the Matrix, you know, wing it.<br />
JML : It's a different world to be sure, and it's 2 different experiences.. some of us are definitely made for the live experience, and some more content nestled away in a closet making a racket.

Is your guitarist really Jesus or just Frank Zappa? You know the one, beard and long hair...

JML : There's nothing I can say about TomNotTom that hasnt already been said...next<br />
GH : Tom is rock. Enough said.

What's next on the agenda - will you continue with more recordings or will you take a well-deserved break?

JML : We're going to stay busy for the foreseeable future.<br />
GH : Well deserved break, are you taking the piss? It's not like a proper job or anything.

You produced the Micah P. Hinson album, how did this come about? Are you fans / friends or both?

JML : Micah's from my hometown of Abilene, which is where I met Brandon the singer as well. Once I heard Micah's music it had to be, plus what are the chances of finding 2 amazing singers with good taste in Abilene, Texas???<br />
GH : We are both fans and friends with the extra-ordinarily talented Mr Hinson. Hopefully we should be starting on a new record with him very soon.

You also do compilation mixes called 'Secret Broadcasts', if you were going to make one for us, who would you choose and why?

JML : I don't know your taste so it would be hard to personalise a setlist. It would contain a lot of loops, electronic psychedelia and just enough country to break your heart, I reckon...<br />
GH : I'd just record the whole Phil Spector box-set for you, it's all i'm about at the moment

Well...thanks for your time, remember us when you're famous, eh...

JML : Remember us when we're not...<br />
GH : It was a rare and beautiful pleasure, but I don't know about the remembering bit, as I intend to start a very intimate relationship with hard drugs once the cash starts rolling in. Just make sure you remember me when it all goes tits up. I thank you, Giles [it was all my idea] Hatton