It’s time to get to know Sons Of Alpha Centauri! We set bassist Nick Hannon 10 questions about his musical likes, tastes and guilty pleasures!
How would you describe your taste in music?
Not too aggressive and anything that feels part of something organic – like how desert music is blended with the warmth of the sun, techno is cold and industrial, funeral doom is dark and grey skies. If I can’t relate to the music or integrate it into my psyche then it’s not my taste I guess.
Who do you consider to be your favourite band and why?
Faith No More. They could play any music and their music is so diverse. You hear ‘King For A Day’ as an example and it goes from ‘Evidence’ to ‘Gentle Art of Making Enemies’ or ‘Ugly in the Morning’ to ‘Caralho Voado’. An album so diverse in the delivery of musical styles yet themed it together into a dedicated concept. What an inspirational band – there are so many bands whose albums all just sound the same, with no dynamics. FNM inspired me to just play what I wanted – if you like a style or genre then play it!
Who is the best live band you’ve ever seen?
What a question man… Faith No More in ‘97 at Brixton Academy or maybe Brant Bjork in 05 at the Camden Underworld. I saw four people pass out from ‘fumes’ at that show – great vibes.
What is the one song that you could listen to forever?
I don’t know man… I once listened to a vinyl that had a locked groove and I didn’t realise for ages. Like seriously ages. It was 35007 ‘Sea of Tranquility’! Classic. So I’m going to say that.
What album, if any, was a turning point in your ‘musical life’ and why?
I think like a lot of 90s kids Nirvana were a gateway band so it was ‘In Utero’. ‘Nevermind‘ was a breakthrough record sure, but with ‘In Utero’ the tone of the distortion, the production and the use of feedback to hear at an influencial age was crucial. I hadn’t hit my teens at this point so it really shaped my musical view. Despite being as big as they were they pushed through with a really intense record. Go hard or go home innit.
In 3 words, what makes a good album or song?
Don’t. Be. Boring.
Who would be your dream 3 festival headliners?
Ok… so let’s say.. Faith No More (playing King for a Day), Nirvana (playing In Utero) and then 35001 ending with ‘Sea of Tranquility’ just going on forever. Haha. Nah, or Tangerine Dream playing their entire Discography.
Who are the best new band you’ve discovered lately that everyone should know about?
MightyFew. They were an Australian band who put out a couple of records back at the turn of the century. They were like the Australian Deftones – if you’re lucky you can find some of their stuff on Discogs. Hang on, that’s not a new band is it? Errr… check out Zun which is Gary Arce from Yawning Man and John Garcia. Awesome cerebral desert psychedelica.
What band or artist is your secret, or not so secret, guilty pleasure?
Oasis. That’s for Marlon. Don’t get me wrong they lost it after the first few records but they started and finished the loudness war in one fell swoop. I don’t know if I’ve got any guilty pleasures man – I’ve still got a listen to all my records. If I didn’t like it I wouldn’t buy it and I don’t turn on a two pence piece like a lot people when it comes to music. The musical world is an ever shrinking environment and there’s no room for elitism.
Thanks for your interest in Sons of Alpha Centauri and for checking us out!
Check out Last Day Of Summer by Sons Of Alpha Centauri and Treasure Cat;
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