Ah, Mouse Eat Mouse. itm? stalwarts, they’ve been through many lineup changes, with one steadying factor, frontman and principal songwriter / storyteller CD Shade.
With a new album, ‘Toxic Tails’ on the go, we allowed MeM ‘virgin’ Betty Mayonnaise to conduct a ‘Ten With Betty’. Touchpaper lit and questions submitted, we awaited Mr Shade’s response…,
“Betty, your line of questioning has a familiar tone. Is it deja vu or did you once write the teenagers pop column for the Bunty magazine? If this is true then I’m not surprised that as an ex DC Thompson employee you would be influenced by their reactionary nonsense. This is exemplified by your notion about Is This Music’s being isolationists for promoting new/old Scottish music. Do you consider the Welsh, Irish or English or even the French as being isolationist when they promote, which they do continually, their own music. Sadly, Betty you seem to have locked yourself into some post imperial unionist cringe cupboard.”
Nonetheless, we reproduce the rest of Mouse Eat Mouse’s response in full…
1. Mouse eat Mouse, who are you, what are you?
You tell us.
2. Why do you do what you do?
I believe we all have a responsibility to understand how our lives are run and that’s called politics. We needlessly live in a world of hierarchies. I can hear you cry out Betty that we need them in order to run the world. That’s what they would like us to believe. They have corrupted human thought and society. They are also unnecessary and the proof of this is the world’s largest trades union the CNT. This syndicalist organisation is based in Spain and have affiliated Unions all over the world. Look them up to see how non hierarchical syndicalism works in practice.
3. The vocals have a Scotch brogue about them – can you describe the accent, geographically?
What the fuck is a Scotch brogue? Explain a London brogue. A boiled egg covered in mince? My French accent is Parisian by the way.
4. Have you seen the show “O is for hoolet” by Ishbel McFarlane. If so, what did you think? If not, you really should!
I used to get my fish suppers in Milnathort. Ishbel will know where that is. Yes she is byous (Scots for outstandingly fine.)
5. MeM have ploughed a rather singular furrow over the past ten years or so in Scotchland. Have you had any help from promoters or record companies? Have you wanted any?
The Hackpen Label released our first album Mair Licht which won an innovation award from the Cambridge Folk Festival magazine FATEA .
Bizarrely the album was also nominated for a Mercury Award. It was all a little surreal when our management, run by a guy called Mikey Grant, took over Hackpen. Almost immediately they both went out of business. I’m still trying to track down Mikey as we want our license back for the Mair Licht album.
These days we release all our work on Bandcamp. Over the last few years we have enjoyed a manager-less, label free existence. We would consider going with a small hands off label. Could it be possible that there is a manager out there who would have the courage to deal with us? A promoter, we could all do with a bit of promotion. In the meantime as long as our work seeps out into the ether we are satisfied, as the song goes time is on our side, yes it is.
6. What are some of your musical influences or do you have any?
Presently Matt Lehane who writes and records all our music.
In the past Kate, Big John, Wee John and Colin with whom I recorded Mair Licht all have gone on to do their own work. I wish them all well and I will always be grateful to them.
7. What is the worst gig you have ever played, and the best?
Our best gig is always the next one. Every gig is a buzz in some way. I’ve worked as a stage actor, stand up, playwright and director and have learned it’s all down to your personal mindset. (My favourite kind of writing and performance is with MEM.)
8. What can we expect from MeM in 2016- there is new material, is there not?
The working title for our next album is MacMyth.
9. And live dates, can you confirm anything, please come to Glasgow, how about The Glad Cafe for example?
The Glad is a possibility.
10. Do you have a “real” job – if so, what?
I personally haven’t a clue as to what a real job is?
Matt is a multi instrumentalist and a qualified sound recordist. Over the years I’ve worked with many musicians; Matt is the most accomplished.
His job on the side is as a Senior A&E Surgeon.
Toxic Tales is out now. The band have no concrete plans to play live, but if they do, Ms Mayonnaise will be there…
More at www.facebook.com/MouseEatMouse