Andy Turner

Aim mainman Andy Turner has been making beats for over a decade now, and this spring he takes to the road with a full band in tow. Stranger caught up with him to find out his views on bootlegs, The Kooks and playing Smiths songs at funerals...

Interview by Matt Wilkinson

What are you working on at the moment?

Right now I'm in the studio finishing off a couple of b-sides for my next single that will be out in the spring. After that I'll be getting ready for the tour and when that's out of the way I'll be getting stuck into producing the next Niko LP.

Best bootleg?

It's a toss-up between the Vigotone triple LP release of the original Smile sessions by The Beach Boys (which came on red, yellow and green vinyl) and the Nirvana Into The Black 5 CD box set on Tribute.
Amongst other sessions, gigs and rarities this has their Reading '92 show in full and the last show they ever played in America. This is the only place you'll find that gig. My favourite band by a long, long way.

First ever single you bought?

Aim touring partner Niko

Death Disco by PiL on 7". I never got to hear it though as they'd put the sleeve opening at the bottom and when I got out of the shop and took it out of the paper bag to have a look, the record fell out and smashed on the floor.

Worst lyric of all time?

Well, there's so many it's hard to pick an absolute worst but a recent one which made my jaw drop was by The Feeling which went "I love it when you call, I love it when you call, I love it when you call but you never call at all". Stunningly bad. How the fuck can you even write something that weak?
An honourable mention must go to whoever writes The Kooks' tunes for the one that says something like "Pretty, pretty petticoat".
So bad it's just weird.

Best album cover?

Virgin by Traffic Sound. This is a rare album by one of my favourite bands. They came from Peru and put stuff out on the Mag label in the 70s. The sleeve is just shots of the band but they look totally cool, taken as the sun's setting.

Favourite song of yours to play live?

Our version of the Votel remix of The Girl Who Fell Through The Ice. We play it really heavy, loads of distorted guitars and feedback and messed up synth. I try and leave this 'till late in the set as it's a hard one to follow.

Best Sunday morning music?

My label just signed new artist called Death Of The Neighbourhood whose first release will be a double CD. Disc one has loads of odd little vocal tracks whilst the second disc is all instrumental, very cinematic, like soundtrack music for non-existent films. I listen to this every Sunday morning at 10:15.

Song you'd have played at your funeral?!

'Meat Is Murder' by The Smiths. The 'cows in the slaughter house' intro would be a lovely moment.

Last thing you put on your iPod?

Album that's most disappointed you?

I could say the remade, 'finished' version of Brian Wilson's Smile but that would be pointless so I guess it doesn't count. It's the original 60's sessions that captured the magic. A recent one might be First Impressions Of Earth by The Strokes. It's a good album, there are some great tracks on there but it just doesn't compare to the near perfect first two records they released. Kind of sounds like they were trying to prove something to their critics rather than just doing what they do best.

Favourite current British band/artist?

The Good, The Bad And The Queen. I don't buy that many new releases as there's nothing that really does it for me but it was a pleasure to hand over a tenner for this. It's a beautiful record, I love the vocal melodies, and the instrumentation and production is top. Damon Albarn is easily the best songwriter out there right now.

Best thing about being on the road with the band?

Not being woken up by my cat every morning.

Worst thing about being on the road with the band?

Not seeing my daughter every morning.

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