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    <title>Magnetic North Pole</title>
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    <description><![CDATA[You can download the 'Haunted' EP  here - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CZ0LSEH0



Magnetic North Pole lasted for quite a long time in the late 90's, and had several line-ups. They released a split album on Earworm, and appeared on several compilation CDs and 7"s. 

***************************************************

Some interviews from when the band existed - 




Interview with Stuart Gillies and Alex Botten.

Interviewer: "What's up?"

Alex Botten: "Up is the opposite of down...don't they teach anything at university anymore?!?"

Interviewer: "Identify yourselves..."

Alex Botten: "Alex - guitar and voice, Stuart - guitar and voice, Claire - bass and voice (absent) and John - drums and steadying father figure type stuff (also absent)"

Interviewer: "In April you said you would be having a new album out soon on Paperhearts - what's happening about that?"

Alex Botten: " Well, it was supposed to be done by the beginning of June and we fully intended for it to be, we really did but other things kind of got in the way. We had a lot more shows than we had expected and a load of festival things came up that we weren't expecting to do so we got kind of side tracked into doing other stuff. Luckily Krissy who runs that label is very patient and has given us as much time as we like...which is good cos we haven't really started yet!"
Stuart Gillies: "I'm sure we must be one of the busiest unsigned bands sometimes. The band is a huge part of our lives just now and it's hard to fit everything we'd like to do in. We really should get our fingers out and get it recorded. Especially for Krissy's sake."
Alex Botten: "Having said that we have started demo-ing it...I guess we should have it done by the beginning of October."

Interviewer: "Is it ready?"

Alex Botten: "No!"

Interviewer: "You recently contributed to the Eric's Trip tribute album - how did you end up doing that? It must have been a bit of a dream come true, especially for Alex..."

Alex Botten: "Well, Duncan from Pentothal told me about it in the first place and I emailed Krissy and she was into us doing it. So we got together at our friend Peter's house and recorded a version of the song 'Girlfriend'...it was actually the first recording of the new line up after Miquette and Ronnie left. Doing it was pretty cool from my point of view cos the Trip are my favourite band ever and it's nice to know that the exmembers all have copies of the Tribute! Mind you, Julie and Chris both already had some Magnetic North Pole stuff. In fact we are doing a split single with Chris's band Moonsocket in the not too distant future which should be cool..."

Interviewer: "You appeared at this year's T in the Park - how did you end up doing that? What was it like?"

Alex Botten: "T was cool I guess, we didn't really enter the competition to do it so we were somewhat surprised to be asked to play the T Break heat in Perth, especially as we had been really slagging the whole thing off on the Jock Rock notice board. When we got there we totally didn't expect to get anywhere as we weren't sucking up to the judges like some of the other bands were..."
Stuart Gillies: "We felt pretty distant from everyone else in the heat so we left the venue and went for a pizza, coming back in time to play and then we left straight after. I thought we'd maybe gone a bit to far during the show cos one of the microphone stands got a bitty battered and the sound guy raced on stage during Caterpillar and was shouting 'You'll never play for us again!' He had had quite an easy night up until then cos most of the other bands were really safe and bas Oasis or OCS soundalike bands. The we came on playing guitars with fans, railings and mic stands extremely loudly so I think he was afraid we would break stuff. The only thing that got really broken that night was my favourite guitar which has never recovered since. I thought it was invincible as well!"
Alex Botten: "I thought it was a pile of shite...I'm glad you broke it."

Interviewer: "What happened to the North Pole Sound Lab recordings label Alex used to run?"

Alex Botten: "It ran out of money and was too ambitious in the first place...I just really stopped enjoying it. Stereo Solution is much better cos I can do what I want when I want and I don't have people hassling me."

Interviewer: "How are the rest of the side-projects going - Findo Gask, John's other bands"

Alex Botten: "Well, Bikeshed which is my main thing hasn't really done much for about a year...I did a gig as Superbikeshed with Peter and Ewan from Servo last year but there has been nothing since. It's even been more than a year since the last cassette 'The Adventures Of A Spiny Mouse'...maybe even two years. I keep meaning to do another cos I don't want to just stop at 5 cassettes/70+ songs. I just don't have time right now. I am also in a couple of other bands at the moment, The Moths which is me and ex bass player Ronnie, Fragile which is me and Peter Moug from Yul-Peter both bands are very lazy and never do anything! I have also played with Fraser from Laeto in a drum'n'guitar band called Les Garcons Excrement. I was also involved in My Italics which was myself and Perry from Avrocar...we did a CD single earlier in the year."
Stuart Gillies: "I did a solo show as Findo Gask and people seemed to like it until I started screaming down the mic. That lost them..."
Alex Botten: "It sounded dreadful, and he was doing so well until then!"
Stuart Gillies: "When I get a wee band together we will be called Maybe General."
Alex Botten: "John plays drums for Gerils who sound like the Fall and Sonic Youth fighting with Albert Ayler. He also does a kind of solo thing with samples and stuff...his tapes are really good. He also does a lot of drawing and print making."

Interviewer: "Aren't you involved in the Unscene festival as well?"

Alex Botten: "Yeah, that started in Birmingham a few years ago and I have kept it going up here. This year it's being arranged by Fraser from Laeto as I just couldn't be arsed with it any longer...it was getting to be too much like hard work! I will probably take it over again next year though."
Stuart Gillies: "I have taken Alex's blueprint and started a night called Meet The Underground where 6 bands play on one night. I only charge Â£1 on the door and the second one is on in November."

Interviewer: "You've got an extremely impressive website, haven't you - wasn't it designed by one of your fans?"

Alex Botten: "Big Bad Bryn! Bryn is a friend who became a fan and then remade our website when the old one started to look a bit tired...he is very good at that kind of thing and people should ask him to do sites for them! Bands can email him from here."
(webmonkee edit) " These people speak with great wisdom. Believe it mortals! And less of the 'Big' Botten..."

Interviewer: "You mention a lot of other bands you like on your website - Pentothal, Halon 1301, Spraydog, Evie..."

Alex Botten: "We have become friends with a lot of bands! Though you wouldn't think it to look at some of our guest book postings on the web!"

Interviewer: "Why did you get 'December 95' translated into French?"

Alex Botten: "That came out of a discussion I was having with my French Canadian friend Dominique Ferraton where she offered to translate a song for me...I thought it was a cool idea so we chose 'December 95' Dominique is a fan of the band anyway so it was cool to get her doing that. She has writing credits on a few songs now cos I have taken parts of dreams she has had and used them...she's the nearest we come to a fifth member."
Stuart Gillies: "Or Fraser from Laeto who has played drums with us a couple of times..."
Alex Botten: "Yeah, but he doesn't have any creative input."

Interviewer: "Do you have a very close relationship with your fans?"

Alex Botten: "I don't know if we have any fans!"
Stuart Gillies: "We tend to have a close relationship with the fans we do have. We are very approachable (not Alex after shows though!) and generally if people like us we have a chat with them. There are a few people now who have come to see us and I have ended up emailing them regularly after meeting them at our gigs. It's good to meet people who are on the same wavelength as yourself."
Alex Botten: "I hate talking to people after we play...and a lot more people are coming up to talk to us nowadays so it's a bit crappy. Stuart loves it though..."

Interviewer: "You seem to have some very strong overseas links, especially in Canada, don't you?"

Alex Botten: "The Canadian thing is pretty cool cos there is a webzine called Muskrat Music and the only non-canadian band on there is us! I think we are seen as being honourary canadians by them!"
Stuart Gillies: "I have lots of family in Etabacoke in Toronto and also Barrie. There is also a band I am friends with in New York called Bleu Azul who sound kind of like Belle and Sebastian. We also have records either out, coming out or missing in action in places like Texas and France..."

Interviewer: "What's happening about the proposed Canada tour?"

Alex Botten: "These tight arses won't go so I am doing some acoustic shows on my own in October..."
Stuart Gillies: "We were all set to go and were really looking forward to it but then Claire and I found a nice house in Dundee so all of our money got taken up with the joys of home building."

Interviewer: "I know you were interviewed by the legendary This Is Not Television - have you got a lot of fanzine support in England?"

Alex Botten: "Not a huge amount, no..."
Stuart Gillies: "There are a couple of Scottish fanzines showing interest in us now. I got an email from Homegrown saying he saw us once and really liked us, so hopefully something will be in that soon. Jockrock is always really supportive as well."

Interviewer: "When are you next venturing down our way?"

Alex Botten: "I really have no idea...it's not likely to happen this year to be honest."
Stuart Gillies: "It would be great to do a week long tour next year but It's hard for us all to get time off work together. I would really like for us to play in Dublin next year. That would be good..."
Alex Botten: "There are vague thoughts about doing a couple of weeks on the Continent next year with Belgian bands Nude and Flexa Lyndo, they are both really good. I don't really ever see us doing great big long tours ever though - we like to be able to sleep in our own beds after a show."

Interviewer: "You've been compared to (among others) Sonic Youth, Velvet Underground, Delgados, Sebadoh, Yo La Tengo - how do you feel about these comparisons?"

Alex Botten: "I guess I should be flattered but I always feel vaguely annoyed! The Delgados are too polite sounding for my tastes and Sonic Youth aren't extreme enough...I don't own any Velvet Underground records..."
Stuart Gillies: "I've never liked the Velvet Underground and my Sonic Youth knowledge is limited at best but I think Sunday is a peach of a tune."
Alex Botten: "Teenage Riot is better though. The Delgadoes are way more polite sounding than us and Yo La Tengo are more...erm...wild...I think we have a lot more in common with bands like Eric's Trip and Orange Glass...and maybe Hawkwind."

Interviewer: "What was it like doing the Session in the Nations on Radio 1 earlier this year?"

Alex Botten: "I guess you'll have to ask a band who played it!!!"
Stuart Gillies: "The recorded version of Nisei was played on Radio One between Primal Scream and Idlewild which was a bit weird..."
Alex Botten: "Peely is supposed to have played 'Caterpillar' and he played a track from my old band Maps Of Jupiter once...we get a lot of airplay on Scottish stations...it's now got to the point where it is no longer a big deal."

Interviewer: "What's the strangest gig you've ever played?"

Stuart Gillies: "Glastonbelly in Carnoustie. We were playing to a bunch of half toothed simpletons..."
Alex Botten: "Yeah, that was pretty odd. There were about 800 people there all watching us and getting drunk. The cool thing was playing as the sun set. I had also never played outdoors before. I thought the gig we did in Hamilton at the Shak was strange. Mind you, playing in Glasgow with Pentothal at the 13th Note when we played at a stupidly high volume made me feel kind of sick."

Interviewer: "What local bands are you listening to at the moment?"

Alex Botten: "Gerils, Nikita...loads actually! Right now I'm listening to Hex Minora who are a rather fine noise outfit from England."
Stuart Gillies: "Bands like Loki, Infernal and more famous bands who used to stay in or around Dundee like Idlewild or Snow Patrol."
Alex Botten: "Rod's Atomic Dustbin and Snowbadoh more like. Idlewild really are shit aren't they?"

Interviewer: "You once mentioned that many people have slagged you off on the Jock Rock and Beatgenerator messageboards - it sounds like the Dundee scene is really bitchy. How do you feel about that and the 'Scottish scene' in general?"

Stuart Gillies: "There are loads of good bands in Scotland but there's also a lot of bad ones. I don't mind bands that are bad so long as they aren't blatantly trying to copy other bands - people like Buddha Crush whose bassplayer has the same hairstyle, bass, playing style and mannerisms as Nicky Wire. The music is just a clunky messy replica of the Manics as well. In fact most Aberdeen bands are poor replicas of other bands. My biggest argument was with Mark Nichol who runs Lithium Records and puts out 60's/70's copyists like the Needles and Quincy. They are shocking. I had a big argument with him a wee while ago."
Alex Botten: "The Dundee scene is actually pretty cool...most of us get on okay now. We kind of have to cos there are so few chances to do anything here...no major bands ever gig here. Some other cities seem to be pretty exclusive to bands from outwith."

Interviewer: "Alex - how does it compare to when you were in Birmingham?"

Alex Botten: "Birmingham had a really good scene with bands like Avrocar, Broadcast, Bloodbath Picnic Heroine, Odeama and Novak....it was difficult to get regular shows though."

Interviewer: "What's your favourite MNP song at the moment?"

Stuart Gillies: "On record I like 'Dundee Rock City', live I like 'Nisei' cos I don't have to change chords much and I get to 'sing'."
Alex Botten: "I like 'Snails' right now as far as recordings go, live I think I like playing 'Dundee Rock City'."

Interviewer: "How do you feel about the whole Napster debate at the moment?"

Stuart Gillies: "I only know a wee bit about it but if anyone bootlegged our music I wouldn't mind. CD's and gigs are ridiculously overpriced these days anyway so if people can skip the middleman - which essentially is what record companies are - then fine. I think the musicians who are earning millions already seem to be the ones complaining most. Personally I like to go into a shop and look through the shelves to buy my music. I can spend hours in a record shop...I'm almost certain that the rest of the band is the same. On the subject of Napster - if a wee band like Lowgold was on there I wouldn't buy from it cos they need help to get established and it isn't fair, but if bigger well known bands who earn thousands were there then I wouldn't mind. I like unauthorised bootlegs of live gigs as well as nearly all the band approved live albums sound like they were done in a studio with no mistakes being made. If a band doesn't realise they are being recorded they are more likely to make mistakes which I like cos it makes a band sound more human. I hate watching a band that you have a record of and they play it so perfectly that it sounds just like the record."
Alex Botten: "Yeah, but people don't buy stuff off Napster so the Lowgold thing is nonsense (sorry Stuart). I guess that I just feel that MP3's are a bit crappy...you can't thumb through a pile of well love MP3's can you?"

Interviewer: "Who would you most like to tour with at the moment?"

Stuart Gillies: "Idlewild or Gerling to see what they are like cos their 'Children of Telepathic Experience' album is really eclectic."
Alex Botten: "I think My Legendary Girlfriend would be good to tour with as they are polite and clean!"

Interviewer: "Can we come to Stuart and Claire's wedding?"

Stuart Gillies: "I wouldn't mind having a gig as the reception. That would be good..."
Alex Botten: "...but doesn't really answer Ruth's question does it Stuart?"

Interviewer: "So what's coming up in the near future?"

Stuart Gillies: "Gigs and records in the next couple of months. A four band split mini album with Loki, Nikita and Rhu. The split 7" and the album."
Alex Botten: "Yeah, the mythical 'As Far As Here The River Is Deep' 7" will come out some day...there are also plans for really limited edition split 7"s with Damer, Moonsocket, Astroblast, The Secret 8 and a couple of other bands. In the new year we are probably doing a split EP with the wonderful Wussy Beat Up The Jocks from Seattle. I would really like for another label to put out an EP for ...anyone out there want to help? Hopefully the future won't see us splitting up too soon..."

Interview with Stuart Gillies for local fanzine.

Interviewer: 1. Hello, please introduce yourself...

Stuart Gillies: "Hi, I am Stuart Gillies and I play guitar and sing a wee bitty in MNP, Alex Botten does voice/guitar, John Weir does drums and Claire Thornton does bass and occasionally sings."

Interviewer: 2. Can you describe the sound of your band Magnetic North Pole, for people who might not have heard them?

Stuart Gillies: "Live we are usually very loud and use a lot of fuzzy distortion pedals. On record however we are guilty of writing some acousticy lo-fi songs that we rarely play live. Our first album leans more towards the acousticy songs but there is a song called 'December 95' on there which is short and fuzzy and is a better flagpole of where we are now. Incidentally 'December 95' is the only song from the album that we still play."

Interviewer: 3. When did you join MNP?

Stuart Gillies: "I joined MNP at the tail end of July. I played my first gig a week after I had joined (to replace Ronnie the bassist who had just left to pursue solo things) in a place called 'The Plough' in Perth. We had only one rehearsal before and went down and played what I think was our best gig so far. Maybe I just remember it better because it was my first gig but I have really good memories of it. The weird thing about it is that my first gig was Miquette's (our ex-guitar player) last so it was like a nice little crossover point between the old MNP and the start of the new one. Claire joined in September so the new look band hasnt been together for all that long. Alex is the only original member left! The feedback we have been receiving lately has been getting better and better with people who had'nt seen us since the line-up change saying we have improved so much. Which is always a nice thing to hear!"

Interviewer: 4. Who are your favourite bands and main influences?

Stuart Gillies: "I can't speak for everyone but my favourite bands are Snow patrol, Belle and Sebastian, Super Furry Animals and Idlewild. Although I dont think you could say we sound like them. I found it quite hard to think of bands there because it's mostly songs by a whole load of different bands I am into as opposed to singular artists. I dont think I would be out of place in saying that Alex's favourite band is Eric's Trip (now defunct canadian lo-fiers), and Claire's is Mansun. John is into all sorts of things from The Folk Implosion, to Rococo Rot and Slint. The band have been compared a lot to Eric's Trip which makes sense seeing as Alex writes most of the songs and other comparisons have been anything from Sonic Youth, Sebadoh and Pavement although to be honest I cant see it half the time. Also Fraser from Laeto thinks we sound like Mudhoney so you can almost picture the type of band we are by those comparisons. The best bet is to catch us live to make up your own mind. Just take earplugs! Although saying that I once got told by someone he thought we sounded like 'Belle and Sebastian just waking up' whatever that means!?!? but I always thought that was a cool comparison. Certainly original. Another one I liked was 'Sonic Youth meets Simon and Garfunkel'!?!? mmm..."

Interviewer: 5. What do you think of the Dundee music scene at the moment?

Stuart Gillies: "The Dundee scene is as good now as it's ever been as far as I can see. Alex has been involved in it for longer than me so he is in a better place to comment on this. However the likes of Laeto and Asuka have records out now and future releases lined up. There are also bands like Nikita, Infernal and The Gerils that are full of promise and other bands who musically I don't like (and shall remain nameless) are building up good fanbases and getting good reviews which is really good for them and bodes well for Dundee. The thing with Dundee bands is that most of the good ones don't actually come from Dundee, they are just based there. A lot of the members of various bands were brought up or live in smaller towns (or even different cities around the country!) around the city where there is nothing to do of a night so you have to make your own entertainment. Members of bands such as Asuka, Peeps Into Fairyland, Laeto, Idlewild and indeed MNP all have members from little towns and villages where there is absolutely nothing to do when it gets dark. In that situation you can go one of two ways. Wander around the streets causing trouble or try and do something creative with yourself. I hated my smalltown boredom but at the end of the day I'm glad I went through it because I probably would'nt be playing guitar and loving doing it if I lived in a place with a lot of distractions. I know that is quite a big generalisation but I hope you know where I'm coming from?"

Interviewer: 6. Tell us about the new compilation CD 'We started with over 100 members'

Stuart Gillies: "The CD was funded by Dundee City Council and there are a thousand copies of it. It costs Â£2.50 and has an eclectic line-up of 16 bands on it so it is good value for money. It was commissioned to promote the music being made by people in and around the city. The best track on it (in my opinion) is a folky number by 'The Duke Of Portland' which is one of the most creative and funny songs I have heard in ages. You pick up different little things from it each time you listen! It also has the likes of Asuka, Hamper, Voigt Kampff and Laeto on it. To be honest I didn't like most of it the first time I heard it but after a couple of listens there are some real growers on it. It also features a song (which I can only imagine) is the only one ever written about Harold Bishop going missing in the sea on Neighbours!!! Genius!!! You can buy it from me if you e-mail me and it should also be on sale in various music shops in dundee and also at gigs played by the bands on it."

Interviewer: 7. Favourite colour of smarties?

Stuart Gillies: "Blue!!!"

Interviewer: 8. What will MNP be doing in the near future?

Stuart Gillies: "Firstly we have a whole load of gigs coming up in the not too distant future. We are playing with (amongst others) The Miracle Pills, The Gerils, Nikita and Loki (who I have joined on a Jeremy Mill/Idlewild basis). We are also doing a show in Motherwell with a band called Vinyl Reverb. We have just provisionally booked Drouthy's for a show on the 16th June with Brendan O'Hares (ex teenage fanclub/mogwai) new band Macrocosmica and The Gerils which should be a special night. We are also doing small 4/5 date tours in Scotland with Spraydog from Newcastle and then again with Lapdog from Bradford. To follow the Lapdog Scottish dates we are going down to play Leeds and Bradford in August sometime. THEN!!! we are off to tour Canada in September!!!
On the recording front we have a split 7" with a Swedish and Canadian band coming out soon (hopefully June). This (unfortunately) will be the last release of any records on N.Pole Soundlab Recordings who are 'following' Creation by closing their doors. We are always recording new songs so hopefully that will spawn an album sometime soon!"

Interviewer: 9. Best gig you've been to?

Stuart Gillies: "Has to be Super Furry Animals at Fat Sams in '98. Amazing is the only word I can use for it!"

Interviewer: 10. Seeing as our fanzine is based around happenings in Dundee - please give us your opinion on those wonderful Dundee clubs 'n' pubs

Stuart Gillies: "Westport Bar - My favourite place to play gigs because the stage is bigger than a matchbox! The staff are very supportive towards local bands but its a shame you have to pay to hire it but I suppose there is no money to be made by letting it out for free. FatSams - I used to be a staple at the Indie nights before the same songs every week got boring. It has a nice skate graffitti feel to it though. Will always be better than next door, even if it isn't full to packing each night. (which is maybe why I like it!). Drouthy Neebors - Drouthy's is the coolest wee pub. Everything about it, the bar people, the decorations. The only bad thing is it's expensive. They also let bands use the downstairs for free and even pay for the PA, which is excellent for the new bands who need a small room as all you really have to worry about is getting a few people through the door and playing well!!! I have 'Drouthy's Disease' just now because we seem to play there every week! But I still like it, even if they are sick of the sight of us!"

Stuart Gillies: "HOW MUCH SHITE CAN I BLETHER!!!??? LOTS!!!???"

Interview with Stuart Gillies for the Evening Telegraph.

Congratulations are in order for Dundee band Magnetic North Pole who are on their way to T in The Park next month to play on the Talent Stage after a powerful performance at the Perth heat of the T-Break competition.

It's the second T-Break success for MNP frontman Alex Botten who won through the Dundee heat with the short live Neurola a couple of years ago. MNP are the only Dundee band playing the Scottish Radio/PRS Unsigned Stage at the festival this year, but ironically the Perth event was hugely successful, with three of the bands playing at the Ice Factory chosen, and none of them from the Fair City. Glasgow band Stapleton and Fifers C I State were the others.

MNP guitarist Stuart Gillies says their inclusion surprised them completely after the chaotic events of the night:

Stuart Gillies: "We thought we were good enough, but we didn't know anybody at the Ice Factory gig so we just decided to go out and blow them away. The adrenalin really got to me because the fret board on my guitar split and I just about wrecked my hands. We really pushed it towards the end."
"We made a brutal noise for twenty minutes, but it was different from everything else that was on. I think we're the only band around in Dundee doing that sort of thing, and it obviously touched something with the judges.
"T In The Park will be great because although we're not expecting anything out of it. It's still a gig outside Dundee and it raises our profile a bit"

Stuart says since he and his bass-playing fianceÃ© Claire Thornton joined Alex and John Weir (drums) about a year ago, it's been a hard slog but things are beginning to pay off now and MNP are one of the hardest-working bands on the local scene.

Stuart Gillies: "We're really busy but because of that I think the band's got a lot tighter and we know each other better. Before, the band was pretty traditionally lo-fi and, although it's still kind of like that on record, live we're a lot louder now. Tunes with noise, or fuzzed up pop if you like."
"Although we get compared to Sonic Youth a lot, I've never listened to them in my life. But people are always going to try to pigeon-hole you."

Aside from live gigging, MNP have provided tracks for numerous compilation albums, and are about to record an 18 track album for Canadian record company, Paperheart Recordings.
They continue their heavy schedule with a slot alongside fellow T-Break winners Macrocosmica at Drouthy Neebors tomorrow night, and at the Doghouse on Sunday as part of the Tayside Records Compilation CD showcase.

This is an interview with Alex taken from Jock Rock.
Interview by Stuart McHugh

Repatriated Scot-Brummie Alex Botten's Magnetic North Pole have a new LP (split with Southall Riot) on Earworm. We talked to them about life in Dundee, N.Pole Soundlab Recordings and the Unscene Festival:

SMcHugh "What (...on earth!?) made you move to Dundee in the first place? Were you making music when you were down south?"

Alex "Lindy and I wanted to move away from the midlands and we were friends with Peter from Yul-Peter and I was born in Glasgow so we moved here to Scotland. In England I was involved in the scene that threw up Avrocar, MagnÃ©tophone, Jameson, Novak and Plone. I played in a band called Kosmische that has become somewhat legendary in Birmingham. We are seen as the great 'lost' band of the scene cos we split up before we released anything (apart from tapes) and a lot of people really liked us."

SMcHugh "How was the 'scene' in Dundee when you arrived? Did you feel it needed some help?"

Alex "It was pretty poor, all shitty pub rock bands and dodgy punk acts alongside some pretty run of the mill indie bands. I didn't intend to get involved to be honest, I just wanted to form a band and not get into the 'politics' of any local scene. I formed Maps Of Jupiter and a few weeks later (literally) Earworm asked us if we wanted to do a single so I ended up getting known by other bands - mostly for vocally expressing how crap I thought they were!"

SMcHugh "How does Dundee link with other cities in Scotland?"

Alex "I donï¿½t know that it does. Most of the good bands here don't see themselves as 'Dundee' bands - more just based here. The feeling I get is that promoters from other cities sneer a bit at bands from round here even though several are really good. We find it very difficult getting shows outwith Dundee even though we've got records out and have been on John Peel etc."

SMcHugh "How did you get involved with Earworm? And would you have preferred to release the album on your own label?"

Alex "Dom Earworm and I stayed friends after Maps Of Jupiter split and I sent him a copy of our first single - he bought fifteen off me so he could sell them through the occasional Earworm Catalogue of non-Earworm stuff as he liked it so much. After that he asked us for a track for the 'Tell Tale Signs Of Earworm' CD compilation and then asked if we'd do the split LP with Southall Riot. As far as releasing stuff on N.Pole Soundlab Recordings goes I'd much rather put other bands out and let other labels deal with Magnetic North Pole. Having said that we are going to be on the next N.Pole Soundlab EP. Itï¿½s going to be a split label release with Paper Heart Recordings in Hamilton, Ontario with us, Lousy (from Sweden), Shutterbug and Evie (both from Canada)"

SMcHugh "Do the bands on the label just get in touch with you - I mean they are pretty far flung. Are they are just part of your extended 'family'?"

Alex "Most of the bands are people I'm friends with first, some from Birmingham and a couple of people I heard on the radio and just rang up. I do that a lot actually - most people are really friendly but a few, like Beth Brewer, have just been rude even when I have sent them records as a way of saying hi!. The only band that is kind of family is The Pharisees as my brother plays bass and sings for them...mind you, if they weren't any good I wouldnï¿½t put out their records!"

SMcHugh "Speaking of families, is the Dundee scene just one big happy family?"

Alex "Um...no, most of the bands are really bitchy and shit."

SMcHugh "Who do you rate in Dundee and beyond?"

Alex "Laeto are amazing and I'm not just saying that cos I used to play with them! Asuka are really good in a kind of early nineties US college rock way. Gerils are one of the best bands in the world and Yul-Peter is a genius...oh, and Voigt Kampff and New Group are both wonderful!"

SMcHugh "Influences?"

Alex "I guess my major influence is Canadian lo-fi overlords Eric's Trip - a truly wonderful band. Really I think we just try to make the music we'd buy."

SMcHugh "Tell us something about Unscene - how was it 'up to you' to get it going?"

Alex "The whole thing was an idea I came up with when I was still in Birmingham and me, Perry from Avrocar and Rich from Halon 1301 organised the first one in Birmingham. The last two in Dundee have been organised totally by me, it's really hard work but I've put on some really good bands and the festival seems to be gaining credibility so I'll keep doing it for a while at least."

SMcHugh "This yearï¿½s line up?"

Alex "The November one will have us, Nikita, September, Asuka, Laeto and a load of other bands...I really ought to get it sorted out!"

Here's an interview taken from This Is Not TV fanzine:
This is Not TV/Magnetic North Pole. Interview by Craig Scott.

Meet a little bit of the Underground! Inspired by hearing Magnetic North Pole on compilations, the assiduous and indefatigable Craig Scott chased them to their lair and wrung an interview out of them.

I was particularly taken with the group's contribution to an EP entitled 'Sounds In Your Head Vol. 1' (released on their own label), the track in question being a skewed slice of fairly lo-fi indie called 'Caterpillar'. They also appeared on Disc 2 of Earworm Records very fine and strongly recommended compilation 'The Tell-Tale Signs Of Earworm' (Worm43); this track is the short, rumbling 'Clouds Of Red And Grey'. Both these tracks impressed me enough to get in touch.

Guitarist and vocalist Alex formed the band in the summer of 1998, although it took a while for the line-up to settle down...

Alex "At the moment, there's myself, Miquette who also sings and plays guitar, Stuart on bass and John plays the drums"

...he says, after explaining the various line-ups. Both of the songs that I mentioned earlier, as it happens, were recorded by different line-ups. In addition to forming the band, and trying to get it off the ground, Alex also founded North Pole Sound Lab recordings...

Alex "It started at the same time as the band, really. I knew loads of great bands who couldn't get anything released so I set up the label to put out little gems from my talented friends."

...He then tells me that the only financial option that is viable for the label is to run it on a (broadly speaking) Communist footing...

Alex "The bands fund their part of the 7" and get paid with the same percentage in vinyl. Paying for 125 records gets them 125, although their track is on 500 records. It would be easier to run it on a 'Whoever Has The Cash' basis, but then I wouldn't be so proud of the releases. So I only ask folk I like."

And the folk he likes, so far, included Odeama, Halon 1301 and Pentothal who shared the label's first split 7" with MagNP. Tell us about them, then...

Alex "Pentothal are on the 'North' side, with us. They're from Largs, and have been about for a wee while, I first heard them on the Beat Patrol (a BBC Scotland radio show). I think they are really good, but they suffered from an odd mix on the single. Odeama and Halon are both from Birmingham. Odeama have splintered now, but they were Ade, Martin and Lee, but Ade is now in Nubia and (wait for it...) NOISEBASTARD. Halon is a side project of Richard Amphlett, who normally plays bass and sings in extreme hardcore outfit Bloodbath Picnic Heroine (mmm...tasteful - Craig). They are the heaviest band, ever."

For the record, Pentothal seem like a straightforward indie-rock act (and the production is woeful on 'Scared Of Girls'), while the others are more your kind of Krautrock/post-rock business. Well, they are from Birmingham. Both are quite interesting in their own little way.

And, as if all that wasn't enough, there's another string to his bow. You recently arranged the Unscene festival, didn't you?

Alex "Yeah, I've put that on twice now, and was also involved in the first one in Birmingham. All three were very successful with bands such as Avrocar, MagnÃ©tophone, Odeama, Snow Patrol, Pentothal, Peeps Into Fairyland (hurrah - Craig) and loads of others playing."

Does this mean that Dundee has a scene you identify with?

Alex "Dundee is like most small cities - it has it's good bands and its bad ones"

He then goes on to name at least a dozen bands from the city that he likes - including Laeto, Infernal, Yul-Peter, New Group and Hamper - and singles out three bands that he describes as 'total cack'. These are Cerulean Blue, Kingsize and Candystore Prophets. You have been warned, OK?

Alex "The Candystore Prophets were actually dubbed 'utter pish' by Stuart Mogwai for their tenth-rate Arab Strap impressions"

...he informs me, with a certain amount of glee. You didn't mention Chute Records...

Alex "Absolutely nothing to do with us, as it's run by Jan from Spare Snare. He attacked a member of Pentothal at Unscene, he is therefore a bit of a twat."

That's that cleared up, then.

So, what of the future for the band and the label...

Alex "On the label front, I've just released 'Sounds In Your Head Vol. 2' which features Spraydog, Nubia, Hamper, The Pharisees, Wrists Of Fury and Dirt Rosy. And 'Vol.3' is nearly done - with tracks from Gerils, Yul-Peter, Emer and Infernal."

Get in touch with them if you want more details, and I strongly suggest that you do, because this is a label that is enthusiastic but most of all exciting. Alex is also keen to hear new, interesting bands, so if there are any out there, why not send him a tape (though no promises, obviously).

Alex "Band wise, I'm putting out a limited clear seven-inch fairly soon and Earworm are releasing our debut LP. It's through their mail order 'Dark Room' series, a split white vinyl affair with Southall Riot on the other side. (Which should be really interesting - Southall Riot were another highlight of Earworm's compilation - Craig). After that, a few more splits, a couple of tracks on a French compilation and a contribution to an Eric's Trip tribute from Canada"

What is going to make these really exciting is that Magnetic North Pole have a rule that they should never release anything twice...

Alex ..."We've got a lot of recording to do."...

And gigs?

Alex "We'll be playing out and about when the mood takes us. If any of your readers want us to play in their town, tell them to get in touch. Weddings, Birthdays, Bar Mitzvahs..."anything".



**************************************


Here is a list of some of the gigs the band played.

16th November 2000  	Westport bar, Dundee  	'Meet the underground' night
9th November 2000 	Drouthy Neebor's, Dundee 	Sputniks down and Dynamic static
2nd November 2000 	The Tron, Edinburgh 	Rhu, Loki and Nikita
31st October 2000 	Westport Bar, Dundee 	Rhu, Loki and Nikita
25th October 2000 	13th Note Café, Glasgow 	Rhu, Loki and Nikita
22nd October 2000 	Amplifier @ On Air East, 15 Ward Road, Dundee. 	Laeto, Gerils.
1st October 2000 	Bar One, Motherwell 	Vinyl Reverb and Nikita
22nd September 2000 	Edinburgh Art School 	Ballboy
21st September 2000 	Drouthy Neebor's, Dundee 	Speeder
1st September 2000 	Nice 'n Sleazy's, Glasgow 	The Silver Pill and Terra Diablo
CANCELLED 	Outside the Overgate Shopping Centre, Dundee! 	-
5th August 2000 	Glastonbelly Festival, Bell Farm, Carnoustie 	-
25th July 2000 	Westport Bar, Dundee 	Rare acoustic MNP show with Douglas T Stewart ( BMX Bandits )
23rd July 2000 	The Shak, Hamilton 	Six band minifest
11th July 2000 	Westport Bar, Dundee 	Findo Gask ( Stuart & Claire from the Pole side project )
9th July 2000 	The PRS Stage - T in the Park, Balado, Kinross 	A few other lesser known bands... ;)
6th July 2000 	Westport Bar, Dundee 	C I State & Nikita
21st June 2000 	The Attic, Edinburgh 	Pentothal & BYLXI
18th June 2000 	Doghouse, Dundee 	Tayside Records all-day event
15th June 2000 	Drouthy Neebors, Dundee 	Macrocosmica & Gerils
8th June 2000 	West Port Bar, Dundee 	Six band bill
4th June 2000 	Ice House, Perth 	T Break
4th May 2000 	Classified secret 	Classified secret
2nd May 2000 	Potterow, Edinburgh 	Gas giant & Atomic Dogs
26th April 2000 	Wilkie House, Edinburgh 	Pentothal & BYLXI
19th April 2000 	Drouthy Neebors, Dundee 	Miracle Pills & Loki.
26th March 2000 	Westport Bar, Dundee 	Laeto
23rd March 2000 	13th Note (Club), Glasgow 	Kirby & Twitch.
6th March 2000 	Drouthy Neebors, Dundee 	Risingson & Shutterbug.
1st March 2000 	Drouthy Neebors, Dundee 	Magicdrive & Asuka.
29th February 2000 	Mono@DUSA 	Laeto, [Mercury Tilt Switch] and The Needles.
17th February 2000 	Drouthy Neebors, Dundee 	Loki & Northern Remedy.
4th February 2000 	West Port Bar, Dundee 	Women's Aid Benefit with Laeto
27th January 2000 	West Port Bar, Dundee 	Mylar & Venetian Love Triangle.
24th January 2000 	13th Note (Cafe), Glasgow 	Pentothal.
19th December '99 	Westport Bar, Dundee 	The Needles & Yellow Car.
16th December '99 	Dbasement, Dundee. 	-
23-25 November '99 	Unscene Festival, Dundee. 	-
23rd November '99 	West Port Bar, Dundee 	Snow Patrol and Asuka.
11th November '99 	Drouthy Neebors, Dundee. 	-
13th October '99 	Drouthy Neebors, Dundee 	Jeremiah.
11th October '99 	Drouthy Neebors, Dundee 	Earworm Night, with Ma Cherie For Painting.
8th September '99 	Dbasement, Dundee 	Asuka & Infernal.
22nd July '99 	Drouthy Neebors, Dundee 	Super-Bikeshed, with Mica, Jeremiah and The Duke of Portland.
17th July '99 	The Plough 	Servo.
26th May '99 	Aberdeen 	-
20th May '99 	Drouthy Neebors, Dundee. ]]></description>
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