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Artist Spotlight
The Family Battenberg

Interview by Dean Andersen

Sweet Undertow - Photo credit: Anthony Sabino

Born out of a recording project for a sound recording dissertation, Cardiff-based The Family Battenberg create self-described “spider rock” – a fantastically fuzzy, psychedelic breed of garage rock that draws from 70s glam rock, garage punk and bubblegum pop.

The recording project unintentionally became their first release, Fuzzy Features, and the DIY-ethos continued over their next few releases, with the band releasing a string of singles and their first EP Spider Rock Forever. Producing their own records with singer/guitarist Eliot Jones at the desk meant that the band could lean into the roughness of their own sound and make things sound as “garagey and nasty” as they wanted without being at the mercy of another producer.

We caught up with Eliot to talk about five special records that have influenced him and his lifelong obsession with fuzz, weirdness and making things sound a little bit nasty.

1. What’s one album you think everyone should hear at least once?

Mort Garson’s Plantasia. Might well be the only album I listen to without some semblance of guitars. It’s fun and weird and filled with ear candy, Mort was a legend (I assume).

2. What album changed the way you think about music?

Ty Segall’s Melted. It certainly changed the way I thought about the production side of things, I didn’t realise you were allowed to make things sound so nasty. You just know that they had fun making it and it dropped me into a lifelong obsession with fuzz and preamp saturation.

3. If you could only take one album to a desert island, what would it be?

It’s a tough one, but probably Iggy Pop - The Idiot, it’s my go to record anytime I don’t know what to listen to. There’s something about hearing The Stooges frontman croon over a decidedly dystopian soundtrack that tickles my pickle. That being said I can see myself building an escape raft to RAM by Paul McCartney.

4. What’s your ultimate guilty pleasure album?

High Voltage by AC/DC, it’s the definitive cock rock headbanger record. Most of the lyrics have aged like milk and it reeks of Marshall mega-stacks but you can’t deny that it’s the rulebook for rock and roll electric guitar.

5. What song are you obsessed with right now?

Florida Water Blues by Twisted Teens, it dips between making me feel melancholic, weirdly nostalgic and joyous. The band themselves are super prolific and DIY which is always a plus and not to harp on about production but the drums in that album are toasted and I love it.

You can find The Family Battenberg on Spotify, Bandcamp and Instagram.

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