Collapsing Cities are taking their beat overseas, writes Scott Kara
KEY POINTS:
Rather than talk about his band Collapsing Cities, Steve Mathieson prefers to quiz you about what you've been listening to lately.
Aphex Twin. "He's a genius, that guy," he beams in agreement.
Then there was the Split Enz concert the other night and I tell him that the people who were dancing to Dirty Creature got told to sit down.
"Oh, what?" He doesn't get this. You see, Collapsing Cities, who play the Kings Arms on April 11, make rock 'n' roll you can dance to.
"I just reckon girls wanna dance and guys see girls dancing and they wanna do it too. Franz Ferdinand said in an interview we make music for girls to dance to and I thought, 'That's genius and totally honest'."
For someone who likes to dance, he's one of those shy types who don't look at you when they're talking to you. If you didn't know better, he's shy to the point of shifty. He's not being rude, he's just a little awkward.
And he might be shy but if the band's debut album Elixir Always is anything to go by he has no problem with saying what he thinks. His voice moves from droll to vicious on the ruthless All Your Friends Are Rats when he sings, "I think all your friends are rats, they smile through their teeth, they belong in the sewers because they talk down to others".
He reckons he's cynical, but on record this comes across more like a band with a devilish sense of humour.
So there's songs about party pills ("Most people I know have tried party pills and everyone knows that it's awful. You may as well do something else"), relationships ("I really do think we can get along even though we're an astrology disaster" he sings on Seriously), and being a "man of leisure" so you can "stay at home, read a book and sleep in".
He admits he likes making up stories, so he's never told his boss that he hates him at the Christmas party, as he recounts in Fear Of.
"I mean some of that story did actually happen. You know, Christmas parties ... there's always scandal and someone always cheats on their wife or something, or you find out your boss is a druggy," he laughs.
"But it's more about me working at this place and selling wine over the phone, I did it for three years and that song is just a depleted, hungover ode to that and playing in bands and kind of waiting for your big break."
The band formed two years ago with Mathieson and guitarist James Brennan as founders ("He's 22, quite a bit younger. He's a really good guitarist. One of the best around.") and the line-up is completed by the fiery rhythm section of drummer Tim van Dammen and bass player Jono Lee.
Their sound has hints of New Zealand bands like Gaskrankinstation-era Headless Chickens and the relentless groove of Snapper. There's also an angular post-punk influence and a noisy pop sensibility like the Mint Chicks.
"We want to make rock music that's accessible, that's not elitist, but still modern sounding so it's got appeal - so get a bit of both worlds."
After their New Zealand tour this month, they are heading to Britain to play some shows starting with the Great Escape Festival in Brighton.
"It's now or never and if it doesn't work out then I'll be looking to get a career and doing music more part-time. But we've got a really good opportunity in London."
They've hooked up with Nathan McGough, who now runs SuperVision Management, who look after Franz Ferdinand and the Kaiser Chiefs.
LOWDOWN
Who: Collapsing Cities
Line-up: Steve Mathieson (vocals, guitar, keyboards); James Brennan (guitars, keyboards); Tim Van Dammen (drums); Jono Lee (bass)
Debut album: Elixir Always
Where & when: Kings Arms, April 11
