The phone rings and it is Nick Littlemore calling from London. He has just finished a glass of red wine and seems comfortable. It is nearly midnight in the UK. I hold the latest PNAU album titled ‘Again.’, crusty eyed and 8:30am in my living room wearing moccasins.
I catch my breath due to ‘uber’ excitement and blurt something about seeing PNAU in concert and being a fan. And to talk about the newest tunes from an album with an evil looking red thing on the cover. What is it? “A booby man” says Littlemore. “It’s an original creation by a friend of ours, Stephanie Anderson.”
Infusing thought and feeling into their album, PNAU have recorded the album to vinyl then back to digital, “to give it a crackly record sort of thing.” The album is an insight into musicians who celebrate the very essence that gives vinyl its charm – a crackle and hiss and a booby man. The album is titled Again because it’s another album. How simple.
Littlemore explains it has been awhile since he and Peter Mayes “sat down and did a body of work.” But like old friends, the stars align when they become PNAU, particularly in concert. The symmetry of interaction is musically mathematical, when to tweak, or when to mute. He describes their partnership as “a meeting of creativity…that energy…that magnetism.” Littlemore is passionate about PNAU and their ‘body of work.’ You can tell by his tone of voice.
London is cold now. “The best night to go out is a Monday night in London…a walk down the Thames or catch a movie.” Littlemore always carries a dicta phone with him. Capturing sounds. Like a photographer would with a camera. He laughs. “Sometimes, we assemble strange things like buckets…the adventures on field recordings are experimental.” I can’t help but imagine colorful buckets along the Thames. It would make such a wonderful sound and art installation.
I smile and congratulate Littlemore in advance for PNAU’s 2004 Aria award for ‘Best Dance Music Album’ category. “Yeah right” he says despondently. “So which track do you think we’ll release as a single?” “In the Valley,” I say. It reminds me of being at a rave with thousands of people. The electro song has a wonderful dance feel. “Really?” laughs Littlemore. “No. Not releasing that one.” The interviewer becomes the interviewed. ‘Freshkills’ and ‘Again’ will be the first 12 inch releases. The film clip for Freshkills has booby monsters running around. “It’s gonna be absolutely insane,” describes Littlemore. 
A passion for film and cinematic images comes through when we speak about the track ‘Super Giants’ featuring Rob Harris from Jamroquai on guitar. I tell him I picture myself flying over water in slow motion when hearing the song. “Yeah…lot’s of oranges and yellows,” replies Littlemore. “I’d put it on if I was emotional…it encompasses a lot of things that I feel.” He mentions crying and bleeding and growing up. A tortured and brilliant creative soul can be rather attractive.
I ask what his favorite party trick is. “Erm…maybe storming out,” he replies with charisma and attitude. Not to be confused with the run of the mill ‘norming’ out people who achieve nothing special. A ‘storming’ moody musician is intriguing.
He’s pretty happy. Tomorrow he’s moving in with Darren Emerson of Underworld and doing another month straight producing tracks. “It’s been really positive,” says Littlemore. “He’s been touring a lot. Tours every weekend sort of thing…went to Moscow with him…been to Rome…fashion season.” Littlemore explains how instrumental Emerson has been with organising Sly Robbie and Howie B to work with PNAU on their latest album. He admires the ‘Underworlder’ describing him as a “lovely person…so rare to find. Anywhere in the world.”
Any plans for PNAU to tour in the next couple of months? “Yeah,” says Littlemore. “Coming back in mid November to do Homebake in December. New Years…don’t know where that is? They don’t really tell me much.”
Just one more question for a man whose tussled hair and look of mad concentration first attracted me to PNAU at the Big Day Out, Melbourne, 2003. If you had one million dollars to spend in 24 hours, what would you do with it? “I’d hire ten thousand musicians and get them all to play the D note. Cos’ I’m moody and all.”
Again is Pnau’s latest album and is in record stores now. Click HERE to read ITM’s review.
