We tipped Glaswegian Sextet Admiral Fallow at the start of the year. Their wonderful sound exists somewhere between the gaps of previous Scottish acts. But their songs are utterly unique, delicate folky instrumentation reveals itself like a flower in spring, each carefully executed line built layer by layer each player or flute, guitar, shivering percussive cymbals and strings that arch and release. Each player ushering in a new motif and removing themselves delightfully to give the song space to breath. But its singer/lyricist Louis Abbott, a proud Scot whose accent is familiar and comforting yet filled with a melancholia (contrasted with the Northumbrian tones of Sarah Hayes) that sows these songs with hard worn tales of growing up as a under achiever and being pushed away at every turn, a theme that is both personal and yet universal and sung in intricate poetic detail, moving from the minute tiny details of the everyday, toward utterly wide screen rushes of emotional reward.
Admiral Fallow’s album ‘Boots met my face’ got a low key release last year, got its full UK release in March ! Gorgeous tracks like ‘Dead Against Smoking’, ‘These Barren Years’ and ‘Delivered’ and the more upbeat ‘Squealing Pigs’ are examples of their expert song writing and the redemptive power of their music, that skirts the edges of folk pop revival and ushers in a tenderness, sense of place and hope through struggle, that is life affirming, literate, anthemic and heart warming.
Having just been robbed of a Mercury nomination for their wonderful debut album ‘Boots Met My Face’ (In our estimation, it’s one of the debut albums of 2011). we decided it was high time we caught up with the collective’s lead vocalist and songwriter Louis Abbot for the lowdown on Admiral Fallow…
Hi Admiral Fallow how are you?
Pretty good thanks.
Where does the name Admiral Fallow come from I have images of captains ploughing fields?
It was a name Sarah came up with when we decided to change our name before the debut album was released. I don’t think it meant much to begin with but seems to have some weight now we have sat with it a while.
How did Admiral Fallow form as a collective was it gradual?Did things fall into place for this current like up when Sarah joined?
Most of us met through our studies in Glasgow. We played as a duo, then three and so on until we reached the five that are our core. We also have had a revolving roster of guitarists through the years. I’d always wanted to start a project with a female voice involved and Sarah was the perfect candidate.
Your gorgeous debut album ‘Boots Met My Face’ perfectly balances the wistful and life affirming quality of childhood memories. Did you keep a diary as a kid and did these songs just emerge naturally?
I didn’t keep a diary but i remember it well. I had a very good childhood all in all but i find it hard to write in a fictional way and so writing about my own experiences growing up seemed a good place to start.
What else inspires you records?Writers?Films???
I try to listen to as much new music as possible while still following the progress of bands/artists i have followed for years. Recommendations from band mates/friends are always pretty good as they know what turns me on musically. I also listen to BBC 6Music a lot. Strangely, while I love films, I’ve never taken any direct inspiration from the stories or narratives. I do love soundtracks though and i guess the orchestral nature of our band gives us the idea of a ‘score’ in some of our songs.
Dead Against Smoking is gorgeous what was the inspiratioin behind this song? A relationship? A moment in time?
It’s about the blossoming of a loving relationship which will always be an important part of my life. It was written in France and is probably the earliest AF song.
Guitars, drums, clarinet, flute, stand up double bass and multiple other pieces of orchestration, what other instruments would you like to try or add to your sonic arsenal?
I would like to think we’d never use anything for the sake of it. At the time of recording ‘boots..’ we had friends who play beautiful strings and great brass players (we’re still friends!) so it made sense to get them involved. They really made the ‘big sound’ happen for us. We’re also keen to always push ourselves into areas where we’re maybe not as comfortable playing wise. Pretty much everyone in the band plays more than one instrument so it’s interesting to explore the sounds we create when we change it up a bit.
Louis, you talk about wanting to write about your real life growing, do you find that easier and more cathartic to document than creating fictional lyrics?
As I touched on in a previous question I have a lot of respect for the Nick Cave’s and Tom Waits’ of the world who can write about anything and make it incredible. I’ve never found that easy. As for my songs, they were never meant to be particularly cathartic but there seems to be something with Scottish writers that ties us in to that style.
If ‘Boots Met My face’ documents your lives growing up will the next album continue to document your life?
So far it’s a mix between the next chapter of our lives and completely unrelated stories – which is new ground for me. I also did a bit of writing with musical friends of mine which has been very helpful for me. I feel that I still have a whole lot to learn about the art of writing a good song. I’ve barely scratched the surface of what i want to know.
Although the songs have a melancholic feel, there appears to be a communal quality to alot of the chorus’ how intentional was this and do you find that music can lift your spirits and those of others?For example the singalong chorus on Squealing Pigs (“That sinking feeling of being alone/Its the way it makes you screech and pull the skin off your bones/ I can’t help but think will you still know me in a year?”)
A big chorus is always fun if everyone gets involved. Squealing Pigs is also a relatively old song of ours and we had the gang vocal thing on it from the get go.
How do you feel when people come up to you telling you that they identify with your songs?
I don’t know if anyone ever has! But even watching people sing the words back at shows makes us feel great. I heard someone on the internet the other day having covered a song of ours. That was weird but quite nice. I’ve learned hundreds of songs over the years and it does have a significant impression on you to sing someone else’s songs. So to now be on the other side of that is nice.
Do you have any more songs lined up for this album or are you keen to press on writing new material?
The second album is being written now! We’re super keen to get working on it all. ‘Boots’ is almost four years old for us now (gigging the songs for years included) so no. 2 is a whole new challenge for us.
At least from the outside the Scottish music scene seems very furtile at the moment, do you have any favourite local bands? You toured with Frightened Rabbit last year how was that and who would you like to support in a ideal world?
I’ve got a lot of time for Three Blind Wolves and Over The Wall (both from Glasgow). We’ve been fortunate enough in our short years to open for fine bands like Guillemots, King Creosote and Belle and Sebastian. As big fans of Midlake and Elbow it’d be a treat to open for them. Maybe Springsteen would be a step too far.
Pick five albums for a desert Island discs?Go on?!
At this moment in time:
Jeff Buckley – Grace
King Creosote – KC RULES OK
Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run
Elbow – Leaders Of The Free World
The Divine Comedy – Regeneration
It changes weekly but these are five off the top of my head that i’d happily go back to time and time again. I know them all pretty much inside out.
Any new acts we should look out for?
Rachel Sermanni is an incredibly talented songwriter from Carrbridge, near Inverness. For such a young writer her songs are very mature and musically interesting as well as lyrically sound. Definitely one to watch this next year or so though i reckon she’s got a long career ahead of her.
How was SXSW for you guys?
Tremendous. What a country. We got to play some nice shows in NYC, North Carolina and Boston. Texas was something else though. The shows were very well attended and the food and atmosphere of that bubble that is Austin were indescribable. It was a really special time for us.
I note you’ve performed a slew of festival appearances this year which ones have you enjoyed playing so far?
We’re just back from The Deer Shed Festival near Thirsk, North Yorkshire which was a great wee family affair. Glastonbury was obviously a big thing for us. It’s history and the fact it was our first time (with the exception of Joe on bass) made it pretty special. We’re looking forward to a headline slot at Belladrum after a great show there last year.
According to the bookies you were in the running for a Mercury nomination!?!
We were 25/1 at one point. We never really believed we’d be shortlisted but i’m very happy to see King Creosote + Jon Hopkins beautiful record ‘Diamond Mine’ up for the prize. Maybe one year eh….
Future plans?
We’re due to record album no.2 later this year and all being well we should release it sometime early next year. It’s a bit of a worry but an exciting time for us. We should also be touring again either late this year or early next year.
Anything you’d like to add!?
I guess just thanks to the people who are supporting us and have from our birth as a band. I hope people enjoy our new music and continue to send us nice messages about what we’re doing.
Cheers for answering my questions and thank you for one of the best debut albums of the year!!
Thanks!
Louis Abbott
Admiral Fallow
