The Fiery Furnaces get a roasting

Having produced a gem of a debut album ‘Gallowbirds Bark’, that’s more difficult to define than the reason why Shed Seven have only just split up now and not ten years ago, the Chicago born siblings of The Fiery Furnaces: Matt & Eleanor take time out from touring with Hot Hot Heat, to give Gigwise a chance to blow away the cloud of mystery that surrounds them.

Eleanor greets me with a welcoming and effortless smile, a few moments later a bedraggled Matt makes his entrance and his laid back easy going demeanour makes me feel like I could ask them almost anything.

It’s easy to figure out where they get their band name from as I open the conversation with my foot in my mouth. Fiery is the look you get when you suggest to Eleanor that VV Kills is a possible comparison for her, and the furnaces are where you are sure to end up if you pursue that line of reasoning. Not wanting to play the age old name-calling game, she subtly says “I don’t think it’s good to compare me to VV Kills. I won’t try to be something other than who I am�.

I raise the inevitable topic of sibling squabbling and how disputes are resolved, it appears that Eleanor takes most of that responsibility on, revealing, “we argue a lot - Matt puts his foot down, but also backs down, if that makes sense?� emitting a sly smile. Matt reckons he welcomes feedback and acknowledges that “if she’s not happy with what I am doing then she won’t do a good job. If I’m convinced it’s the right thing though I have to tell her�. But when it comes to the music he sees no role for compromise because “you get something no-one likes�, preferring to start again from scratch or to keep it the same.

Although easy going in person Eleanor really comes alive onstage and those who have seen her will know it is not an act. Matt takes the opportunity to compliment his sister as she leaves briefly to answer her phone: “Eleanor is a very confident and together person� adding he is “very happy for Eleanor to do most of the singing�. I ask him about his own laid back almost folk style that is utilised on a few tracks on the album like ‘Inca Rag/Name Game’ he merely smiles wryly, before saying that his vocals were “good for variety� given his sister’s no nonsense, authoritative bluesy style.
 
I suggest that it’s hard to pin down the sound of The Fiery Furnaces, my comment raises contented smiles from the two protagonists. Eleanor refers to an article in Time Out magazine that listed “about twenty five bands and said we sound like none of them.� Her brother points out that pigeon holing does have its advantages and is “inevitable. Pigeon holing Rock music allows you to follow rules and then break them�. Then taking the opportunity to explain about his musical influences he says “When I was a lad you had to like a certain set of bands and I hated that… I always liked The Who ‘cos they were different live than on an album.� Does this apply to them? The question evokes an enthusiastic response from the young sister of the group; “We have to have another performance, a new format, as it’s a full on rock show.�

I try to investigate the personalities of the siblings by enquiring what song, book, poem or TV character sums them up the best or that they relate to most? Matt was quick to answer citing a quote from Seinfield’s ‘George Costanza’, who was talking about going for a job: “These are real men with jobs� Matt pauses to laugh before adding “I like obnoxious snobs�. His sister takes longer to reply and is deep in thought for a moment or two, sensing a possible awkward moment I offer to move on.

Regarding their future plans the duo answer with renewed vigour that they are looking forward to releasing a “more poppy than the album version of Tropical Iceland�. Eleanor speaks enthusiastically of their first video “it’s going to be a pop-up animated and half live� offering, which sounds very intriguing. They point out that the new single will also contain the much lauded number ‘I Lost My Dog But Now He Is found’ it’s not a sad lost dog story as its writer Matt informs me, but about finding religious enlightenment. He adds “I like it when people misconstrue our songs� that is what makes music individual in his eyes.

With the sound check looming it’s time to wrap things up with an enquiry as to what or who makes them angry? “I am always angry� asserts Matt, his sister admitting she can be immature “when I think something is going one way and it doesn’t… I'm more anal than Matt, Mojo said Matt was the anal one, but it’s me.�

Debut album Gallowbird’s Bark is out now on Rough Trade records (www.roughtraderecords.com). The Fiery Furnaces play a headline gig at The Metro Club, London on Monday 10/11/03, see www.wayahead.com for ticket details.