Funeral For A Friend's influential album, Hours turns 10 this year. We have commentary on the album from Matthew Davies. Enjoy the read and let us know your thoughts on Hours ten years later.
How did you feel when the album came out?
I felt thrilled, it was a pretty unique experience making the record and it's the only one we've made outside of the UK. I felt relieved and excited.
Where do you think the album fits in the band's legacy?
I think it's the best record we've done, hands down. I think it found something in Kris and my songwriting that really pulled to the core of what this band is to us, fragile and steadfast in equal amounts. I love it for its balance and its tenderness and its political leanings.
How the band approach writing?
Well, it was predominately myself and and Kris who came up with the main ideas, Darran had the riff for Monsters. We jammed out ideas in our rehearsal space and demoed them in Darran's garage as was our standard then we built them up or chipped away at them until we felt we had something special.
What inspired the lyrics?
Everything...growing up, romantic involvement with other people, the past, present and future and Terrence Malick's Badlands.
What were your hopes and expectations for Hours during the writing and recording process?
I hoped it would be a record that balanced everything that I wanted our band to be and I hoped that the process wouldn't kill me or hospitalize me like it did around Casually Dressed. For me it was about making a statement, this was our first 'complete' album with no songs pulled in from previous EP's etc so for me it was crucial that the balance of the record was right.
When you were in the studio, how was the morale of the band?
It was good for the most part. Terry Date was incredible to work with and he made the environment productive for us. I had a tough time at first, I blew out my voice playing some shows before we hit the studio and it took me a while to get myself focused.
When was the last time you listened to the record? Are there memories and emotions that come back?
I listened to it fully a year ago when we were getting ready for the Boysetsfire shows. It's so easy to be back in Seattle when I hear it, I makes me feel incredibly happy and proud hearing it.
What do you remember most about making the album?
I remember singing Drive in the front of Terry's pick up truck and I remember standing out on a busy street singing the middle eight of History to passers by. Strange moments but ones that stick with you.
What sort of place was your life in when the album came out?
It was a whirlwind, the band just seemed to explode and everyone wanted a part of it. It was scary and I didn't respond to that very well. I've always been a private individual so having random people follow you around towns on your was strange.
Did you ever expect the album to have the influence it did?
Never, we never expect anything like that at all. We always say that we make records for ourselves first and foremost and Hours is a prime example of that mindset.
Do you remember what you were listening to at the time?
I recall listening to Springsteen a lot as well as Soundgarden and Dredg.
Is there anything about the album you'd change?
Maybe the album title, to me it didn't really say anything but apart from that...nothing.