 What’s the Story? GROK are a band with no songs. Every time they perform they hit the stage with no ideas except for a list of images and the Wheel of Chordal Destiny, which determines the key the song is to be played in. It is risky and there is the potential for it to all go badly wrong but that is part of the fun, creating something on the spur of the moment. How does it Work? GROK call an audience member to come and spin the wheel. Everyone then looks at each other and someone starts playing in that key or begins with a rhythm. The band then feels about for an idea or direction, sometimes its instant other times it make take a little while. The ideas have space for form themselves and then become a song. Scott who sings with GROK then remembers the list of images that he brainstormed prior to performing and one of these will leap out as fitting what the band is playing. Once an image is selected the lyrics will follow this central image but are made up on the spur of the moment. The structure varies but there is always an attempt to find a vocal hook in the verse or chorus. GROK are attempting to improvise pop songs reminiscent of Kraftwerk mixed with C86 or the Smiths NOT free Jazz or some other type of progressive exploration. Making songs out of nothing that seem like they existed before very satisfying. Often when the songs are over the band feels like they should laugh uproariously because it is all so absurd that an idea just clicked was explored and it will never be played again. Ruined Music for Everyone? The album was recorded over a weekend at Foma Studios in Finsbury Park. The band when in with nothing and came out with 31 songs. Over the course of 2007 GROK lazily honed these down to 10 that would work on an album though another few are earmarked for singles and B sides. The names of the songs are prefixed with a number – this is the order they were recorded. The name of the song follows. This is the central image that Scott sang from to create the lyrics in the song. A few extra keyboard lines have been added to thicken up some parts and the vocals had to be re-recorded in one or two takes as the original track had too much bleed from other instruments coming through. It was important for the band to all be in the same room together and approach the recording as though they were performing. Additionally some backing vocals were added to accentuate some of the vocal hooks. GROK have resisted the desire to change lines or words to make them sound better or to give a greater focus after the fact. The vocal melody and lyrics are almost exactly the same as what was recorded on that weekend. You will hear the band feeling around for ideas as you listen and then snap into focus as they latch on to something that clicks. History GROK’s first album ‘Bubbles and Noises from the Aquarium’ was released in 1997 even though the group had been getting together for their own enjoyment since 1991 on a farm near Cambridge in New Zealand. Over the years there have been different members and GROK decided to relocate to London in 2000. Once in London the members focused on different projects but have kept going back to the freedom that is GROK. Eleven years after the last a new album is released in May 2008 but this new album signals the beginning of a new productive phase for GROK. New albums and singles are planned over the coming months and year so stay tuned to our web site and myspace for updates. |
