Poltergeist: Just bring your mind and we will do the rest

With Echo & The Bunnymen headlining this year’s Camden Crawl Dublin, the Liverpool lads have remained a firm favourite with fans. Their post punk flavours with inimitable charm and catchy pop hooks continue to sound fresh to this day, and their headline set was incredibly well recieved.

There has always been a lurking dark side to the Echo & The Bunnymen sound though, and it is seemingly this side that members Will Sergeant and Les Pattinson have been exploring with their newest incarnation, Poltergeist.
Replacing vocals with atmospherics, thoroughly intent on feeding the imagination, their series of gigs promoting their new album 'Your Mind Is A Box (Let Us Fill It With Wonder)' will come complete with mind bending visuals and sonic treats.

We caught up with Will Sergeant to find out more. 

How would you describe your sound?

Our sound is still evolving so It's a bit difficult to describe. I guess it's psychedelic / progressive.

Your music has a distinct cinematic feel, do you look to film or the moving picture at all for inspiration?

 I always like to evoke an atmosphere with the music. I think it is nice to think that the listener has some sort of film playing in their heads as they are taken away by our sound.

How did you arrive at the name ‘Poltergeist?’

 As a kid I dabbled with the ouija board and summoned up a few Poltergeists. I always thought it would be a great name for a band. This new project seemed to be the perfect place for the name to haunt.

How have your music tastes and songwriting grown since Echo & The Bunnymen?

 I have become a lot more competent at playing. I never really wanted to become some sort of virtuoso or anything I think it's just the fact that I have been doing it for so long you are bound to improve. My tastes have remained the same really, I like music that takes you and your mind places. This can be achieved by one note in the right place at the right time.

What can we look forward to then with the debut album?

 The album is called 'Your mind is a box [let us fill it with wonder] and that is exactly what we have set out to do. The album has some of the heaviest sounds and also the saddest guitars I have ever come up with, it is a trip.

Do you have a specific aim in mind with the new material? Is there a certain feel or aesthetic you are going for?

 It is still early days yet, so we just let the journey take its course and bring us with it. I think if you have too much of an idea about what you are trying to do It never turns out the way you envisaged it. The project has the 1960s and 70's in it's veins more than anything else, so I suppose on the influence front it's classic Prog Rock with Kraut Rock elements with a bit of punk thrown in.

How has your new material been generally received?

 Everyone who has heard it loves it. So it's been received well so far. I understand it's not to everyones taste and thats cool. I think most people who have pledged for the album kind of know what to expect in a way, they know it will be quality.

Are there any other artists that you are enjoying at the moment?

 I like the Wooden Shjips and the Black Angels. But I mainly listen to my old records though. Early Pink Floyd, Tangerine Dream, Can, Neu, Pretty Things, all the usual suspects of rock. It's almost like my mind is too full to cram in another new band.

What can we expect from your appearance at Sound Control?

 We have some nice visuals if you feel the need to let your eyes look at something. Just bring your mind and we will do the rest.

What’s next for Poltergeist?

 We are getting more offers in to play so we want to do more gigs. We have only done two so far. We are also doing some more recording of new stuff. Generally trying to take the project forward and get out there doing what we love.

For more info and tickets to see Poltergeist at Sound Control click here

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