is an English pop-rock band from London. Russell Lissack and Kele Okereke first met in 1998 and found the other members through ads in NME. Their debut album «Silent Alarm» was released in February 2005, it went platinum and was named «album of the year» by many critics. As their music became more diverse over the next few years the band was constantly distancing itself from rock into the direction of electronic experiments.
Gordon Moakes: I get soppy in the bath. Literally.
Suede - The Wild Ones
Kelee Okereke
Love - You Set The Scene
Mathew Tong: Great bath time fun, especially when the mariachi horn section kicks in. If I shut my eyes and really think, I could be in a bath tub in California. San Francisco to be exact. I really want to go to San Francisco.
you relax on a beach?
Alfie - People
Kelee Okereke
Blur - Clover Over Dover
Mathew Tong: I like sea sounds so if I was listening to a Walkman on the beach, I'd still want to hear them.
Gordon Moakes: I prefer to read on the beach. And I prefer woods to beaches anyway.
you go to a club?
Underworld - Moaner
The Stone Roses - I Am The Resurrection
Gordon Moakes: I like it hypnotic and moving, say «Moaner» by Underworld, or even «I Am The Resurrection» by The Stone Roses.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Rich
Kelee Okereke
Mudhoney - Suck You Dry
Mathew Tong: That song... what a great drinking song.
you cook?
Sleater Kinney - Get Up
Kelee Okereke
MC5 - Sister Anne
Mathew Tong: It's so good to rock out in the kitchen.
Gordon Moakes: Anything. It needs to be a certain frequency to make it out over the sizzle. It’s good catching up time for music. Radio 4 is great to cook to too. The radio station, not the band.
you prepare for an important date?
The Slits - Heard It Through The Grapevine
Kelee Okereke
Mogwai - Christmas Steps
Gordon Moakes: At The Drive-In, I suppose would get the adrenalin going, or «Christmas Steps» by Mogwai.
Small Faces - Tin Soldier
Mathew Tong
you are in a depressive mood?
Godspeed You! Black Emporer - Moya
Kelee Okereke
Joy Division - Decades
Manic Street Preachers - Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky
Gordon Moakes: A bit obvious but «Decades» by Joy Division or «Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky» by Manic Street Preachers. They draw emotion from me. Better out than in.
Sebadoh - Too Pure
Mathew Tong: Sad song. Great over the top guitar too.
you destroy a hotel room?
At The Drive-In - Arcarsenal
Gordon Moakes: Hey, what kind of band do you think we are? «Arcarsenal» would do it. «Beware! Beware!»
Les Savy Fav - Who Rocks The Party
Kelee Okereke
The Beatles - Maxwell's Silver Hammer
Mathew Tong: Since I haven't destroyed a hotel room, I'll stick my neck out and say if I did, I'd be listening to this.
you drive a car late at night?
Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows
Blur - Chemical World
Gordon Moakes: I can't drive but «No One Knows» sounds ace when driving and «Chemical World» by Blur was the song we always listened to coming home from gigs as teenagers.
Fleetwood Mac - Dreams
Mathew Tong: The 'Mac are severly underrated. Fuck rebellion, our parents know best.
Radiohead - The Tourist
Kelee Okereke
you fall asleep?
Aphex Twin The Stills
Gordon Moakes: Aphex Twin again. Or last night it was The Stills.
Radiohead - The Tourist
Kelee Okereke
Dinosaur Jr. - Poledo
Mathew Tong: The pitch-shift string tape loop at the end puts me in a funny daze every time. I tried to recreate a similar effect home on my four-track taping Classic FM off the radio. It didn't sound as good.
you make love?
Aphex Twin - Ambient Works
Gordon Moakes: A music-free zone I find. I'd end up listening to it too closely and I'd be distracted. Maybe something very ambient like «Ambient Works». But too frenetic or chilled out and you're in trouble.
Clinic - Distortions
Kelee Okereke
Isaac Hayes - The Look Of Love
Mathew Tong: It has to be. It has to be.
you pretend to be married?
Schneider TM - The Light 3000
Kelee Okereke
Graham Coxon - Who The Fuck?
Mathew Tong
Coldplay
Gordon Moakes: Coldplay make you feel like you’re married. A good reason to avoid.
you sit in a plane?
Yo La Tengo - Deeper Into Movies
Gordon Moakes: I love that line «If I could figure in that sky»; it's so expansive and dreamy.
Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
Kelee Okereke
Neil Young - Lookout Joe
Mathew Tong: I'm not a being fan of flying. Anything that sounds remotely smacked out normally puts me in a better mood when I'm on the runway.
you read a book?
Low - Over The Ocean
Kelee Okereke
Loose Fur - You Were Wrong
Mathew Tong: Good book readin' music.
Aphex Twin - Ambient Works
Gordon Moakes: See my answer to «when make love». I need to concentrate.
you wake up?
Fabric - Elegy Of Failure
Gordon Moakes: Anything by Fabric. They kick started my love of real, fast heavy melodic hardcore, and can do the same to any given day.
Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights
Kelee Okereke
The Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice
Mathew Tong: If that doesn't send a rocket up my ass and leave me smiling (the song that is, not the rocket up the ass), nothing will.
Questions answered by: Gordon Moakes, Kelee Okereke and Matthew Tong
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