One of ITM’s finest Drumrunner had a fine time reviewing London Elektricity’s latest album Syncopated City, developing some spectacular theories about the inspiration and meaning behind the tracks (check it out HERE in all its glory). She recently had the chance to test them out on the man himself, and it seems the legendary drum n’ bass high-roller Tony Colman, CEO of the Hospital Records crew, agrees with her seemingly outlandish claim that James Bond films and Syncopated City are inextricably linked. Oh, and it’s apparently all about alien invasions too. Go figure

Make up your own mind as to what Syncopated City is all about, as ITM’s Drumrunner goes head-to-head with Tony Colman, the creative genius behind London Elektricity.

Mr Colman, I’ve just been listening to the Hospital Podcast, with Danny Byrd interviewing you about Syncopated City. Nice work taking out the BT Digital Music Awards for Best Podcast 3rd year running!

Yeah it’s nice, it’s funny. I think the sort of people that subscribe to the Hospital Podcast, the proper drum n’ bass lovers, they’re actually prepared to click and vote. They really care about their music, they’re very passionate about it. I think that’s why we keep winning. I don’t think there’s any other reason than that drum n’ bass has such a loyal following.

There’s also the fact that it’s a really good podcast! You also said that the track All Hell Is Breaking Loose is about “a bunch of ex-lounge musicians who’ve all taken something and they’re ripping it up on the last gig of their life”.

Yeah. I always say that if Prince made a drum n’ bass track, it could sound a bit like All Hell is Breaking Loose. It’s kinda got that funky kind of feel. But my wife hates it.

Your favourite track on the album? Or are they all favourites?

They’re not all favourites, I’ve got a few. Probably a higher percentage on this than on the previous albums that I’ve made. I’m really pleased with Bare Religion, Just One Second and with All Hell is Breaking Loose because it’s just a real laugh.. Just old dudes on their last legs living it up.

When I first heard it, I thought of James Bond. Not Daniel Craig though, I’m thinking old-skool.

Sean Connery!

Yes, totally!

But not Roger Moore.

Definitely not!

Is there a music grab in that track, ripped straight out of a James Bond film?

No. No there’s not. It’s kind of ‘esque’. Bondesque. But I can categorically state that I have not sampled a James Bond film.

You’re touring around the UK and Europe at the moment doing DJ sets. Do you miss playing live with the London Elektricity outfit you toured with a few years ago?

[Laughs] Ummmm… I don’t miss it, I don’t miss it at all. Actually we toured live for about 2 and a half years, and I think that for the last 3 or 4 months we were technically at our best and we were properly on fire. That’s the time to quit. Otherwise you’re doing it for other reasons. You’re just doing it for the money or the exposure. But we toured for the love of it.

I’ve got so many amazing memories. I do a lot of gigs with MC Wrec who was my main MC for the live band. It was wicked when we were on tour because we had such a laugh with the band. But, do I miss driving 5000km in 8 days with a load of moaning musicians in the back of the van? No! Drum n’ bass shouldn’t be played live anyway. I always knew that. It’s something you just don’t do, you don’t go there because drum n’ bass is full of music that belongs in the bedroom… [pauses as he realises what he said] I don’t mean that, I mean it’s made in the bedroom! It shouldn’t be played live. But we managed to make it work and it was amazing.

You’ve worked with different vocalists on the album. Swedish singer Elsa Hedberg, and your long time collaborator Liane Carroll. And apparently you wrote a track for Hugh Caldwell from the Stranglers?

That was Outnumbered. It’s on the album but I’m singing it. I wrote that for Hugh Caldwell, and he loved it, he wanted to do it. But he was working on his own album and my deadline was too soon, so he couldn’t make the session. So Tom and Chris [Tony’s business partners in Hospital Records] said that I should do it. So for better or for worse, I sang it!

And Outnumbered is a track about being massacred by aliens?

Yeah it kind of works on two levels. It’s about the planet being invaded by aliens. The song is from the moment just before your death when they’re about to wipe you out. Or it’s about being mugged in South East London. Both experiences are quite similar, I would imagine!

When you’re in the studio, do you find it hard to keep your old production partner Chris out of the mix?

[laughs] No!

I heard that there’s another track that Tom and Chris wouldn’t let you put on the album, because you used your own voice on it!

Well, it wasn’t just because I was singing on it. That track upset everybody! Even though I happen to think it’s much better than any tunes on the album. They wouldn’t let me put it on the album. We had a bit of a fight over that one! But I’m going to release it somehow. Maybe start a new label for it [laughs]. It’s my secret weapon.

Your Hospital Podcast subscribers down here were pretty gutted to hear you say that you’re not coming to Australia again because it’s too far to travel, unless your family goes with you. So if we convince promoters to sort that bit, will you come?

Yeah absolutely. I’ve had some of my best gigs ever in Australia, like the Belvoir Amphitheatre in Perth, the Chinese Laundry in Sydney, absolutely amazing gigs. So I’m gutted. I really really really really really want to come back and play in Australia. But my little boy’s nearly two and I really miss him so I won’t spend even a week away from my little lad.

So all we need is 3 business class airfares plus entourage? Too easy!

[laughs] I’ll be fine with economy. We’ll be over at some point, but it’s not going to be next year.

I’ll personally contribute all my flyer points. That should get them as far as the English Channel!

Ha!

London Elektricity’s ‘Syncopated City’ album is out in Australia through Inertia.