Bristol-based experimental three-piece My Octopus Mind are due to release their debut album ‘Maladyne Cave’, July 10th. The band have carved a bold yet delicate niche for themselves amongst the ever-growing and ever-changing Bristol music scene. Inspired by it and embodying it’s creativity and idiosyncrasies.
Maladyne Cave is a journey, from start to finish. It explores the concept of human nature’s need to control and manipulate in the context of love, war, politics and religion. A dredging of the soul in all its battles with being human. The inevitable failure of our conquest over the planet and ultimately an undiluted analysis of the self, allowing the subconscious to speak. The thoughts and feelings behind every song are not only apparent in the lyrical content, but are also very evident in the ambient, sometimes dark and hauntingly beautiful music that supports them.
This mind altering album, recorded over two years, embodies creative obsession – the bands musical ability, drive and attention to detail are clear to see here and no more so than for guitarist/vocalist and producer Liam O’Connell, who ended up living in his studio for a year to be able to afford to self-fund the record.
Art really does imitate life for My Octopus Mind, and this is no more accurate than in the carefully chosen yet tongue in cheek title ‘Maladyne Cave’. Maladyne, a hybrid of Melodyne, an autotune software, laughing at the obsessive attention to detail in the creation process and Malady a sickness of the mind in relation to our modern culture. The Cave, a long, thin, dark room where the band recorded and spent most of their time for two years.
Maladyne Cave is due for release July 10th and will be available on all major platforms, check out the album artwork below!
Check out track Elska from the album below!
We caught up with the band as they spoke about the upcoming album and more!
So how pumped are you for the release of your album ‘Maladyne Cave’
After two years of work from recording it to getting it sounding right, at this point we’re not sure how to answer that… On a scale of ____ to pumped, probably pumpe? Yes, we are pump in German. Strong, reliable, and able to weather the largest of inappropriately placed sausages.
How has the release of Elska gone down so far?
All gravy. We’re proud of the video and of the folks we worked on it with, that’s Pocket Fluff Productions who did the acrobatics and Josh Williams who filmed it. We’ve had lots of lovely messages and people coming up to us saying nice things, positive feedback and all that. We’re 51 per cent sure that they’re sincere.
Can you tell something about the album no one else knows?
If you play it backwards it will summon the Great Cephalopod Consciousness out of its ancient slumber. It will rise out from the deep, and usher in a new era of tentacled dominion over mere hominids. It also sounds better.
What’s your favourite song on the album?
Bucking Fecuz. It’s a song we don’t often play live, it’s a wee bit gentle for a live audience, but we really enjoy its feel on the album. Also, Mocha Narwhal! It’s super fun and cuts through the epic introverted wonderings.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble to create a glitchy dark folky piece of nom. Can’t imagine anything creamier.
Will you be touring at all this year?
We will be doing a short tour of France at the end of November along with a few more dates around the UK.
What’s the alternative scene like in Bristol at the moment?
So many interesting bands. Our good friends Okay Leader have a divine approach to beauty and filthy wonky riffs, Stereocilia has just released another slice of calm, Evil Usses are the kings of joyous very sideways angular bounce. The improv scene is really taking off thanks to wizards like Waldo’s Gift and Ishmael Ensemble. Spindle Ensemble, another ensemble, so many ensembles… it’s all beautiful and classy. We have members in Stanlaey, who are doing weird things with strings beats and visuals, Young Waters who are blending Folk with some weird electronica, and the Ogives Big Band are playing the heaviest riffs from somewhere left of you’re peripheries. There are so many creatives in the city it’s hard to keep track of it all really.
What do you all get up to in your spare time when not working on music?
Books, gardening and getting out into the hills and forests keep Liam sane between playing in 5 or so bands. Izy works full time in care and loves irritating people with stories about continental philosophers. Oli is a quizmaster at the King Street Brew House, teaches drums to the next generation and plays in two other bands (Stanlaey and Ogives).