BEHIND THE MUSIC: Maxïmo Park

Searching for meaning or affirmation must surely be something that comes with the territory after 20 years as a band. Eight albums in, it seems right that Maxïmo Park’s latest release, Stream of Life, released on 27^th September, somewhat takes stock; and from a listener’s perspective we find them as vital and exciting as ever.

Here, the band give us an insight into some of their favourite tracks from the new album, and the meanings behind them. Catch them in their ever-stupendous live glory at an album launch show at Northumbria University Reds Bar on Sunday 22^nd September, plus Newcastle’s Boiler Shop on Saturday 26^th & Sunday 27^th October.

Words: Paul Smith, Duncan Lloyd & Tom English

PAUL SMITH

I Knew That You’d Say That

I wanted to write a song that had a contemplative, bass-driven verse and a punky chorus. In the end, it ended up being more of a ‘power pop’ number. I sometimes find myself analysing my own motives and behaviour in a bit of a loop, and then being advised to stop it by my nearest and dearest! I thought it would be funny to add the title phrase because everyone can relate to that feeling of almost predicting what someone else is about to say, but being beaten to the punch.

Stream Of Life

Stream Of Life was written in an Edinburgh Airbnb, as a kind of Cars tune but ended up having a lush Mazzy Star/Sundays feel in the verses, thanks to our producer Ben Allen. It’s about finding balance in life despite the continual challenges to our core values in a consumer society(!), and was inspired by the introspective narratives of author Clarice Lispector.

TOM ENGLISH

Favourite Songs

Paul, Duncan and I went out to Atlanta in February to record most of the album with Ben Allen, but this is one of two we did beforehand, at Polestar Studios in Byker, with Aussie/Canadian producer Burke Reid and in-house engineer, Alex Blamire. The studio had a major upgrade last year and it was great we could do some of the record there. It also meant we could work with our two wonderful live musicians, Jemma Freese and Andrew Lowther.

Your Own Worst Enemy

Occasionally Duncan will record me playing along to something on headphones and use the beat to make a new demo. With this song, it was an old DJing favourite of ours, Rock Steady by Aretha Franklin. I love how out of context it now is! You could call it cheating, but I like to think of it more as ‘groove recycling’…

DUNCAN LLOYD

Armchair View 

This is the first song we had for the new album. Musically speaking, I wanted to go somewhere we haven’t, writing it by fingerpicking the notes on an acoustic, then layering and building hypnotic phrases in the spaces. I sent it over to Paul and he put the lyrics together as that’s often how we write. If I had to pick a musical outlier on this album, it would be this song.

Dormant ‘Til Explosion

I wrote this, and most of the music for the record, in a strange rush. Ben said this song was his favourite, it just kept unfolding. I enjoyed working closely on the album production with him, shaping sounds together. Like with most songs, he graciously learned my bass and keys lines to play along and capture us live. Vanessa Briscoe Hay (singer from legendary Athens, GA band Pylon) miraculously joined us too, the result is unusual and wildly fresh.