Datsuns take it up a gear

Having made their mark on the rock world with their debut album, what will the Datsuns do for an encore? CATHRIN SCHAER reports.

They don't call it the difficult second album for nothing. Consider this: young band from small-town New Zealand, confirmed disciples of low-down, sexy rock'n'roll, break into the international music scene with raw catchy tunes and fantastic live performances.

On the cusp of a garage-rock revival, they're discovered by the big, bad world and they make an awesome album capturing the dirty-sweet and sweaty appeal of their sound.

Music critics, industry executives and the fashion police: all of a sudden everyone wants a piece of the Datsuns. The band spend the next year and a bit touring the world, meeting and greeting rock legends, who all know their names, and being feted by the music industry.

Which means that now, four years later, expectations are high and the many fans they've gained with their blistering live sets are out there salivating for some more vinyl. Money's been invested, headlines most likely pre-written.

For the four Datsuns, making the new album, Outta Sight/Outta Mind, was difficult indeed - but for different reasons altogether.

"When we get together, we're just four guys from Cambridge making music - we never worried too much about outside pressures or how many records we are going to sell," guitarist Christian Datsun is quick to point out, on the phone from London, where the band are temporarily renting a flat together.

"In fact this album was easier than the first recording. I mean, we're a rock'n'roll band, we like to play live, we don't really like just standing around for days in a studio while somebody's fiddling with the mike."

The first album was produced by the band themselves on a tight budget with a 10-day schedule.

This second one, to be released early next month, was recorded over three weeks at Jacobs Studios in Surrey, outside London.

David Bowie, The Cure and S Club 7 have all recorded at Jacobs, a historic Georgian country residence named for the rare breed of sheep traditionally farmed in the area. It has 11 bedrooms, a swimming pool and live-in staff.

And this time The Datsuns had a producer, none other than a genuine rock legend, John Paul Jones, former bassist-keyboardist with Led Zeppelin and producer of such diverse acts as Brian Eno and the Butthole Surfers.

"He had quite a black sense of humour and we're also all quite sarcastic so we got along quite well," says Christian.

"Basically we had a lot more time to think about what we were doing and we were also working with a producer for the first time."

All of which meant that the recording process became easier for the long-haired quartet.

"We actually seemed to become more comfortable with it." Christian sounds almost surprised. "It seemed less difficult.'

Crikey, it all sounds like an excellent rock'n'roll cliche, frightfully Spinal Tap, you know, the louche country mansion, decadent long-hairs in the pool drinking fine wine with their groupies, the wizened rock god guiding them in the studio.

"No, not really," Christian says, laughing, "we spent most of our time working. There was no time for shenanigans.

"Although there was that thing with the fireworks ...

"Well, John Paul Jones brought us about £200 [$587] worth of fireworks and when we lit them, we scared all the neighbours' horses. So we had all these English farmers standing at our front gate abusing us, saying go home and take your bloody rock'n'roll music with you, while John Paul Jones was standing there placating them, like, 'We're really sorry about those boys'. They had absolutely no idea who he was. It was quite funny."

So where, one wonders, was the difficulty in the so-called difficult second album?

Turns out this arose out of the kind of life that the band has had to lead over the past couple of years. Between the first and second albums they've played 300 shows and toured for around 18 months.

"We've just had three months off between shows - the last time we played live was at the Big Day Out in Auckland and that's the most time off we've had in four years.

"And I haven't had a home for three years. Being on the road can screw with your head," he concludes wearily.

Bandmate Dolf has told British journalists that this album is filled with stories.

"And they're stories about life on the road," Christian explains further.

"We didn't really do anything else [but tour] and musically and lyrically, we're shaped by what goes on around us.

"Basically, none of us really had a personal life, but a lot of things happened back home. Bills could be mounting up at home or your relationship could be breaking up, or you couldn't have a relationship because you're always on tour, but you didn't really have to deal with it. And that's where the album's title comes from - you've got a problem, but you don't have to think about it because it's not there in front of you.

"People always ask about what a good time you're having, the sex and the drugs and all those stupid cliches, but there can be a flipside to all that."

Before anyone thinks The Datsuns are whingers, please note that Christian tells all this in a good-humoured way.

Listening to the album, it does seem a little less energetic, more carefully thought out, more serious and with less of that dark humour that must have come from growing up in Cambridge. The band members look a bit different too, especially in their new video - more groomed (look at Dolf's shiny, straight hair, girls!), less dirt and nary a bead of sweat.

And while friendly and unassuming, you can't help but notice that Christian is a polished interviewee - he mentions three times that the Datsuns are "just boys from small-town New Zealand". Obviously that goes down well with the foreign press.

But Christian's quick to defend his group.

"We're still the same," he declares. "We have our own record label, we have complete creative control and we've never believed our own hype. Where we come from has shaped us and I don't think you lose that.

"And we still dress the same," he protests, "it's just that maybe now we can afford to buy new clothes rather than worry about spending 50c down at the op-shop. Anyway, we have to dress up because our mums might watch the video," he laughs.

Speaking of fashion, given the UK music press threw them on the bandwagon with fellow saviours of rock the Strokes and the White Stripes, are they still feeling trendy?

"We'll probably be out of fashion soon. But we don't mind. We spent so many years being ignored in New Zealand that we're hardened to that sort of thing. We just play music for ourselves and the people that like our stuff."

* The Datsuns' Outta Sight/Outta Mind is released on June 7.