Interview with David Metcalf of Bodies of Water
Los Angeles quartet Bodies of Water has attracted an abundance of online support, much of late has been aimed at the band’s forthcoming release A Certain Feeling( scheduled to hit stores July 22nd). Preparing for a twenty one date tour that hits both Canada and The United States, singer and guitarist David Metcalf answered some questions ranging from the levity of comparing artists to playing with an expanded lineup for this week’s edition of Five Questions.
Chris DeLine: Last year the band contributed to Stereogum’s R.E.M. tribute with a rendition of “Everybody Hurts.” What have your impressions been of the band’s latest album, Accelerate, and how does it compare to the music of the era you were covering?
David Metcalf: I haven’t heard anything from Accelerate yet, I’ll have to check it out. I read somewhere that R.E.M. has “returned to full speed” with this album, but I can’t say yet if I believe it.
CD: Speaking of comparisons, the band has received a wide-spread likeness to Ennio Morricone. And while I can certainly see the Spaghetti Western influence on a track like “Doves Circle The Sky” I also feel that the song focuses on a layered approach akin to The Polyphonic Spree. What do you make of such comparisons?
DM: I can’t help but feel like any comparisons to Ennio Morricone may be more apt than those to the Polyphonic Spree, if only because I listen to Ennio Morricone’s music and I haven’t heard much of “The Spree.” Does anyone call them “The Spree?” Isn’t that a candy of some sort? There are a few things Morricone’s songs may have in common with ours; modal variety (within and songs), human voices doubling instruments, a wide dynamic palette, escalating melodic lines, etc. These may just as well apply to The Spree – but I don’t really know.
CD: What are the benefits of performing as an expanded act on stage as opposed to maintaining a simple lineup?
DM: It’s interesting to watch a large group of people; when you get tired of what the drummer is doing, you can look at the trumpet player, and then look at who’s singing, and then look at the guitar. It is hard to get everybody together to practice, though, so we are paring down the group a little. It seems like everyone is busier lately, but maybe it is just our friends. I wonder if people actually become busier and busier as they age. Maybe they feel busier because they have less energy. Maybe they just take longer to do things because they aren’t as reckless.
CD: At what point in time did Unicorn of Death run its course as the band’s name, and what made Bodies of Water a suitable replacement?
DM: We only played two shows as Unicorn of Death. We got tired of it very quickly. Amusing band names are more fun to hear than to wear. Bodies of Water seemed like a nice respite from novelty.
CD: As the group becomes more well known and the band continues to find new fans what would you say is the goal that everyone is collectively working towards this year?
DM: I’m not sure. Maybe we should have some kind of band conference where we figure out what we’re actually doing. It seems like there’s an unspoken agreement among us to enjoy ourselves and to do good work. I guess that’s about the best one can hope for.
Bodies of Water “Under The Pines” [MP3]
Bodies of Water “These Are The Eyes” [MP3]
Bodies of Water “Doves Circled The Sky” [MP3]
Bodies of Water “I Guess I’ll Forget the Sound, I Guess, I Guess” [MP3]
Bodies of Water “We Are Co-Existors”
