Mistaken Identity

MAKE no mistake, for Errors, noise is everything. “Our secret is to have lots of volume and a really good drummer,” says keys and guitar man Simon Ward.

“The more volume, the better. I feel a lot more involved when it’s loud. You need to feel that inner rumble in the chest.

“And it means you don’t get people talking... which we don’t want, because, I’m afraid, it’s not a social event!”

He is joking. Or maybe not. It’s hard to tell with this enigmatic, post-electro three-piece.

Glaswegian Simon is quiet, understated and modest – choosing his words carefully. There is none of the bombastic rock star about this technological wizard, whose band are proving a sensation everywhere from MTV to Channel 5 – where their brooding acid-soaked anthem Mr Milk has been heavily plundered as atmospheric trailer music.

“We also have lots of lights,” says Simon. “We probably look quite technical from the audience’s point of view – with lots of pressing of buttons and twisting of knobs. But if we can get people dancing, it turns into a good evening.”

Simon and bandmates Stephen Livingstone (guitars, keys and programming) and James Hamilton (drums) are currently soaking up the plaudits following the release of their hook-laden new album Have Some Faith in Magic, which saw them moving in a more melodic direction from the harder-edged electronica of previous offerings It’s Not Something But it is Like Whatever and last year’s brilliantly-titled Come Down With Me. And even the band are starting to describe it as pop.

It’s a warmer, more organic sound, which while still true to its ‘Krautrock’-influenced roots, also features vocals for the first time. It’s a sound which shows a band in a state of flux, and it is going down a treat.

“Things are fine,” says Simon with typical understatement.

“We have been busy with lots of shows, and are now doing one-offs in places like Istanbul – which was great. You never know what gigs are going to be like, but they seemed to get it more there than some people closer to home.

“It’s also got the highest number of music shops of any city I know.”

Despite being signed to the Rock Action label run by fellow Clydeside electro-noise-lovers Mogwai (a heavy influence and touring mates), Simon professes to being an outsider.

“We don’t feel like we are part of a scene or cluster of bands that sound like us,” he says. “We are loners in the world of music.

“I wouldn’t want to pigeonhole us either. We have changed a lot and we will carry on evolving. We’ve started using vocals a lot more. Maybe we are starting to cross the line.

“Some people have suggested this is a pop record, and I would say it’s a step closer to pop. Maybe it’s the inclusion of vocals, and when people hear that they associate it with something easier to listen to.”

Are they worried that by changing they might leave fans behind?

“It’s always a problem, but you can’t keep making the same record over and over,” he says. “You have to try new things and I think people are willing to take that on.

“You might leave a few people behind, but you’ll also pick a few more up.”

Simon is also reticent when describing the band’s social life – which, I suggest, must be pretty lively; they’ve opened for Underworld, after all, and toured America with the mighty Mogwai.

“I guess there are a lot of stories, but things are very often forgotten with drink,” he says coyly.

“It doesn’t get very rock ’n’ roll in our band, though we did once get locked into a venue in Manchester. The tour manager tried to break the door down and had to call the fire brigade.”

Being rescued from locked rooms aside, it seems Errors have more in common with German electro-rockers like Kraftwerk and Neu! than their hard-partying contemporaries.

“Krautrock is a heavy influence and we are all big fans,” he says. “But we are not the kind of guys who stand behind computers. There’s a lot more of a live element to our music – even though it’s electronic. You can see what’s happening and connect."

So, with their passion for volume, are they afraid of hearing loss?

“I haven’t noticed any problems yet,” he says. “But that would be pretty tragic.

“However, the biggest risk of deafness is probably through sleeping in the same room as our tour manager. His snoring is terrible!”

* Errors play The Jericho Tavern, Walton Street, Oxford, on Tuesday. Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £8 from seetickets.com Have Some Faith in Magic is out now. New single Tusk is out on May 14.