Die ursprünglich aus Manchester stammende und in der Zwischenzeit in Berlin ansässige, düstere Post-Punk-/Shoegaze-Band The Underground Youth ist ein fleißiges (schwarz gekleidetes) Bienchen: 11 Alben seit 2009 sprechen gegen langes Rumlungern auf den Friedhöfen der Stadt!

Musikalisch stehen The Underground Youth in der Traditionslinie von Joy Division und Jesus & The Mary Chain, wirken manchmal wie eine Geschwisterband zu The KVB.

* Your three favourite Punk singles/songs?

** ‘Ghost Rider’ by Suicide,

** ’T.V. Eye’ by The Stooges,

** …and I’d be remiss not to mention The Clash on a list of “punk” singles, so ’Tommy Gun’.

* Your favourite song lyrics?

That’s difficult to narrow down, probably one of the hundreds of Bob Dylan phrases that has stuck with me since the first time I heard it. From ’Shelter From The Storm’ –

“Well, I’m living in a foreign country but I’m bound to cross the line
Beauty walks a razor’s edge, someday I’ll make it mine”

There’s also a treasure trove of Leonard Cohen lyrics I could pick from. Not wanting to linger on one of his most over-covered songs, I’ve always loved the following lyric from ‘Hallelujah’, which he later changed for subsequent live recordings and as a result the most famous covers (John Cale, Buckley etc. etc.) never included the line –

“You say I took the Name in vain
I don’t even know the Name
But if I did, well really, what’s it to you?”

* The best “new” artist / band right now?

Nuha Ruby Ra:
Take a listen for yourself. We played at the same festival earlier this summer and caught some of the set. It’s a great live show, I’m looking forward to seeing them again soon.

* Jesus & The Mary Chain, Suicide or Spacemen 3 – which one do you prefer and why?

All tremendously important in their own way, however, two of them arguably wouldn’t exist without the other, so Suicide.

* A record that will make you dance?

The Fall – ‘Hit The North’

* Your opinion on Morrissey?

I’m a believer in separating the art from the artist, each separate case of ‘cancelling’ and the like should be taken individually and it remains down to each individual how they decide to view an artist’s work if they disagree or are offended by the actions or opinions of those who created it. I disagree with, though am not surprised by Morrissey’s controversial views. The Smiths were a band I grew up with and I also enjoyed a lot of Morrissey’s solo work, it’s not music I listen to a lot nowadays, but that’s not primarily due to the behaviour of the man himself. Maybe it has tainted my enjoyment somewhat, which is disappointing, but it’s not something I give much thought to.

* Your favourite song about rebellion/revolution?

Gil Scott-Heron – ’The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’

* Your favourite song this year so far?

I forget what songs came out when, but I know for sure Night Beats released ‘Hot Ghee’ this year, I really enjoyed that track.

* Your favourite movie about music – and why?

I’m always apprehensive about a musical biopic, but Anton Corbijn’s ‘Control’ is a movie I’ve revisited a few times, the cinematography is stunning. It’s a tragic story that I don’t believe anyone should exploit, but it’s a beautiful piece of cinema.

* The best song you’ve ever written / recorded?

Honestly I can’t be that self-aggrandising, I guess whichever has the most plays on Spotify.

* Your favourite German song/record?

Einstürzende Neubauten – ‘Feurio!’

Or the album ‘Pain It Dark’ by 39 Clocks

* Your favourite record of all time?

Rowland S. Howard – ‘Teenage Snuff Film’

(Antworten: Sänger & Gitarrist Craig Dyer)

Das neue Album “Nostalgia’s Glass” von The Underground Youth ist bereits erschienen: