TOTAL:SPEC MAGAZINE...Twisted Charm: This Way To The Dancefloor

Growing up and enduring his teens in sleepy Northamptonshire, Twisted Charm songwriter/singer/guitarist/pin-up Nathan Doom yearned for something new, exciting and dangerous. Once the idea of a band became a reality (brother Dominic played drums and John Garley bass) the three trooped down to London for what Doom describes as a "mixture of parties, music and University." Before long they met sax player Luke and Twisted Charm were all set.
Bringing together gritty post-punk, nagging pop hooks and unconventional sex appeal, Twisted Charm left a mark on their new city surroundings within months. Slowly building up a sharply-dressed, music-obsessed young following with the help of indie Alt Delete (the label which arguably kick started the new wave of indie/dance with their Digital Penetration compilation last year) Twisted Charm now unleash their debut album, released on buzz imprint Because Music.
Doom talks quietly and somewhat nervously about himself and his band, but he's clearly a young man who has the essence of punk rock etched into his skin. Whether it's the awkward Wire-esque guitar melodies, Sonic Youth energy, or the biting vocals of The Fall, Twisted Charm absorb their influences to create a unique, addictive sound.
The frontman admits to enjoying the anonymity that London provides, a far cry from his upbringing, where "everyone knew everyone else's business" and drugs were rife in his family's neighbourhood.
"The album wasn't intentionally meant to be a critique of London life from the eyes of an outsider. London was how we expected it to be. I love the architecture and the dirt. It can be ugly and beautiful simultaneously."
"Songs like London Scene aren't necessarily about London, they can relate to any british city minus the landmark references. My lyrics are mainly observational, while some of the songs on the album highlight personal relationships too. There's a mixture of themes."
On new single Cinema, Doom pleads "Take me to the cinema, so I can see again", before name-checking Russian director Kieslowski in one of the verses. A self-confessed film addict, Doom takes his influences from the different narratives of continental directors.
"European films, especially French, Italian and Russian ones are generally really stylish and romantic, but Iranian cinema is much more low budget and gritty. Russian cinema in particular is very abstract – watching a Kieslowski or Tarkovski film is like staring at a painting, whereas Iranian cinema is more authentic and tends to use character development for its main foundation."
Recorded in Wales, Real Fictional took a measly two weeks to get down on tape. Doom had written and recorded each song on an eight-track over a year-long period in his London bed-sit.
"The studio was in the middle of nowhere which gave us the solitude we needed. We went in knowing exactly what we wanted from the recordings. I love being in the studio. Live gigs are great, but I enjoy making music more than anything.
"I think playing a clothes shop in New Cross was our most bizarre show. It could only fit 40 or 50 people in there and we probably sounded terrible, but it was fun despite getting a tooth chipped. We had people violently jumping at us on stage whilst eating the free home made curry on offer. I guess they don't get out too much south of the river."
The band know how to please large crowds too, having toured Italy and opened for Klaxons in France earlier this year. Playing to sell out venues, Twisted Charm proved quite a hit with European audiences, and the plan is to return before the end of the year.
"Compared with London and a lot of big cities in the UK, not many bands play in France, so the crowds are much more receptive. In London everyone's sick of watching bands every night."
Talk turns to musical influences, and Doom picks out veteran avant-garders Blonde Redhead as particularly important for him personally.
"I like them because their music is so unique and elegant. It's magical, moody and full of dark melodies. While they're not a big influence on the sound of Twisted Charm, I really admire their aesthetic."
While they're unlikely to do a Klaxons just yet, Twisted Charm are doing all the right things (punk legend John Robb wrote their sprawling biography); appealing to both scene kids and moody post-punkers put off by The Rapture's new disco route.


THE SUNDAY TIMES:

Breaking Act: Twisted Charm.

Who are they? A north London four-piece, Twisted Charm follow two great indie singles with their last for Alt>Delete (Boring Lifestyles) before trading up to Because (home to Jarvis, Charlotte Gainsbourg and the like). You'd need to be cloth-eared not to hear the influences — distantly, James Chance, Gang of Four, Devo, the Specials, early Blur; more recently, the Rapture and Clor — but Twisted Charm work such magic with the contents of their cauldron that this quickly ceases to matter. A nice line in sharp social-observation lyrics jollies this process along, but it's the squalling, Contort Yourself-style sax and mad, spasmodic guitar that hurtle both the song and the listener towards only one conclusion: Twisted Charm are great, and you should cop a load of them pronto.


THE LONDON PAPER:

All around me teenagers clutch glow sticks, balancing on tippy toes, craning their necks for a glimpse of the empty stage. Cigarette smoke puffs into air that's muggy with anticipation. Twisted Charm's drummer Dominic Cole creeps onstage and the crowd squeals. The punchy drumbeat of Happy Alone announces the arrival of singer Nathan Doom, bassist John Garley and saxophonist Luke Georgiou and 800 people packed into L'Olympic in Nantes France, erupt like Robbie Williams just flashed his arse.

When they tour, this Finsbury Park-based foursome pile into a beat up Citroen Estate, crash on friends of friends floors, or snuggle up on the couches of fans they've met on MySpace, but here, on the road with Klaxons, their given a doe-eyed reception befitting pop royalty.

Their tumultuous set of terse, jazz-inflected, post-punk culminates in a gleeful stage invasion, with one adorable French poppet plucking up the courage to kiss Nathan on the cheek.

Backstage, gulping down beer, the group of twenty-somethings are as excitable as puppies.

"That was amazing!" exclaims mop-topped hip-swiveller Luke, who looks every inch a pop star in his silver pointed shoes and turquoise glitter littered cords.

"It's always nice to be kissed," agrees Nathan with a shy smile. "It doesn't happen much in London."

Signed to uber-hip French label Because Music (home to Klaxons, Justice, Charlotte Gainsbourg), Twisted Charm started life in Rushden, Northamptonshire where brothers Nathan and Dominic grew up.

"It's very bleak and grim," admits Nathan, the dismay of Rushden tourist board. "There's loads of heroin - every other person must be on smack."

With just the one Rushden pub playing host to hair metal bands, a move to London was a no brainer and it's this city that seems to inspire the lion's share of their debut Real Fictional.

Take London Scene? a snarky swipe at the capital's cliques set to sparse reverbed guitars, delirious sax squiggles and Nathan's maniacal laughter, bemoaning that "Nobody has the time to bother to read John Keats". Like a demonic Damon Albarn fronting PiL.

Elsewhere, Never Grow Older is a jerky, bass heavy hit from someone with a Peter Pan complex ("I never feel like an adult. Even though i have responsibilities i don't properly embrace them") while latest single Cinema is an ode to celluloid escapism.

It's a dance-tastic record for sure but an eerie vibe pervades and it's no wonder. Nathan used to live in mental institution because his ex-girlfriend was an occupational nurse, a scene he describes as "really surreal, long corridors, lots of shouting, like a horror movie – The Shining". To compound this their debut was recorded in a haunted studio with a dark spectre.

"I'm really cynical, but it wasn't just me," laughs Nathan. "We all ran out of the room absolutely petrified.

With their debut out next week, Twisted Charm's time is now and it seems autographs hunters are already on the move with one cornering Nathan in the supermarket.

"I just thought it was really funny, I had no money, they wanted my autograph and I just wanted some beans on toast. It's hardly glamorous."

So did you sign her breast?

"No, no! Not in Tesco's!"

WWW.NOIZEMAKESENEMIES.CO.UK:

1. How was it letting an experienced producer take the reigns with your music, and what do you think he bought to the album and the Twisted Charm sound as a whole?

I'M ALWAYS THE BOSS IN THE STUDIO. BUT I LET LANCE TAKE THE REIGNS AT THE GOAT PUB IN WALES. I OFTEN LEFT HIM AT THE BAR TO BUY MOST OF THE ROUNDS AND THE LAMB SHANKS. SERIOUSLY THOUGH, HE ADDED AN AMBIENCE AND A CLEAN SHINE TO OUR SOUND. IT'S MORE POLISHED, MORE SPACIOUS AND MORE LAYERED. PLUS LANCE BULLIED LUKE A LOT FOR LOOKING GAY. HE THREW LUKE'S NEW TRAINERS OUT THE WINDOW ONE NIGHT INTO THE STINGING NETTLES AFTER A WHISKEY SESSION. THE STUDIO WAS HAUNTED SO LUKE WAS TOO SACRED TO GO OUTSIDE AND GET THEM...OR GET HIS HANDS STUNG SO HE JUST SULKED INSTEAD. LANCE ASKED TO WORK WITH US AFTER HE SAW US PLAYING LIVE. I ASKED HIM WHO HIS FAVOURITE BAND WAS. HE SAID THE STRANGLERS. THAT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.

2. Your songs seem very geared towards modern social commentaries on attitudes and lifestyles. Do you always intend to write about the people you meet and see around you, or is that just what comes naturally and most inspires you to write?

YES IT CAME NATURALLY AT THIS POINT IN TIME. I WILL ALWAYS WRITE ABOUT PEOPLE I MEET IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER. "LAYABOUT" IS ABOUT A FRIEND OF OURS CALLED PAUL BROWN. HE FOUND IT REALLY INSULTING BUT IT IS AN HONEST REFLECTION OF HIM. I ERASED THE BIT ABOUT HIM HAVING TEETH MISSING THOUGH. JEALOUSY IS ONE OF THE FEW PERSONAL SONGS ON THE ALBUM ABOUT MY EX-GIRLFRIEND. I THINK I WILL WRITE MORE PERSONAL SONGS ON OUR NEXT ALBUM AND LESS SOCIAL CRITIQUES. I WANT TO MAKE INNOVATIVE ART-POP. I DON'T WANT TO RE-ADDRESS WHAT WE HAVE DONE BEFORE.

3. Given that you've toured with and are label mates with the Klaxons, and your sound has that electronic element, it seems likely that you'll be filed in the new rave box by a lot of people. Would you say it was fair to make you part of that scene or is your sound too diverse to be pigeonholed in that way?

PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS PIGEONHOLE BUT I LIKE WHAT JOHN ROBB WROTE ABOUT US. WE EVEN MADE IT OUR BIOGRAPHY ON MYSPACE. HE ADDRESSES OUR SOUND AND NEW RAVE AND HOW WE WILL NEVER BE A PART OF THAT. HE EXPLAINS IT BETTER THAN I COULD. OVERALL SCENES ARE TENUOUS. IT'S FAR BETTER TO TAKE RISKS AND TRY TO CREATE SOMETHING NEW AND UNIQUE. THE BANDS THAT SUCCEED IN DOING THIS ARE ALWAYS REMEMBERED.

4. As far as influences go, there definitely seems to be a few that stick out - 'Park Life' era Blur, Joy Division, Sex Pistols, The Fall for example. Who would you all cite as big influences though, on the band and as individuals and why?

I LIKE ALL THESE BANDS YOU HAVE MENTIONED MINUS THE SEX PISTOLS. I DON'T BELIEVE IN THEM. MUSICALLY WE ARE INFLUENCED BY BLONDE REDHEAD BECAUSE THEY MAKE SUCH EMOTIONALLY SEDUCTIVE MUSIC; SONIC YOUTH BECAUSE THEY MAKE SUCH OBSTINATE AND ARTISTIC RECORDS; THE STRANGLERS BECAUSE THEIR MUSIC IS SIMULTANEOUSLY TOUGH AND MELODIC. BUT I'M REALLY INFLUENCED BY WRITERS ASWELL SUCH AS ZOLA AND DOSTOYEVSKY AND THE WAY THEY SHOW THE DARKER SIDE OF HUMANITY THROUGH THEIR CHARACTERS. THE AUTHENTICITY OF IRANIAN CINEMA IS A BIG INFLUENCE TOO, AND WE ALL LOVE THE MADNESS WITHIN BERGMAN AND HERZOG'S FILMS. THE CINEMATOGRAPHY IN KIESLOWSKI'S AND TARKOVSKI'S FILMS IS ALSO INSPIRING. THESE ARE ALL PIONEERS.

5 London Scene? seems to have become a bit of an 'LDN' type urban anthem. Is it good to have a big, recognisable single you can pull out the bag like that or are you worried people might base their opinions of you purely based on that song?

IT'S AN HONOUR THAT YOU OR ANYONE ELSE SEES OUR SONGS AS SUCH. LET'S JUST SAY I'M NOT AS DISILLUSIONED AS THOM YORKE SINGING 'CREEP' WHEN I'M SINGING 'LONDON SCENE?'. HOWEVER, I DO PREFER OUR SINGLES 'CINEMA' AND SOON TO BE RELEASED 'SOCIALITE'. THESE ARE BETTER INDICATORS OF THE DIRECTION WE ARE HEADING IN.

6. So what plans are in place to tour the album? Where can we get to see you play?

WE HAVE JUST PLAYED THE D-PERCUSSION FESTIVAL IN MANCHESTER AND THE 1234 SHOREDITCH FESTIVAL IN LONDON. WE HAVE A STRING OF OTHER DATES AND SOME IN FRANCE. BEST TO KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED ON OUR MYSPACE PAGE.

7. A bit of a random one, but i'm sure a lot of people are wondering, where did the 'Doom' nickname come from?

WELL MY EX-GIRLFRIEND'S NICKNAME WAS 'FROLIC' SO IT MADE SENSE FOR MINE TO BE 'DOOM'. I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED OPPOSING WORDS WITH ANTITHETICAL MEANING, HENCE, WHY OUR BAND NAME IS TWISTED CHARM AND OUR ALBUM IS CALLED 'REAL FICTIONAL'. PLUS MY LYRICS DO HAVE A SLIGHT CYNICAL EDGE SO 'DOOM' MAKES AN APPROPRIATE STAGE NAME. I'M ACTUALLY A VERY HAPPY BUNNY THOUGH.

8. So what's the long term mission for Twisted Charm? Where are you hoping that, beyond this album, the road will take you?

I'M HOPING TO WRITE SEVERAL UNIQUE AND INSPIRING ALBUMS AND FOR TWISTED CHARM TO BE REMEMBERED AS AN IMPORTANT BAND. OR JUST TO BE REMEMBERED. AFTER THAT WHO KNOWS? MAYBE I'LL DO A DUET WITH DOLLY PARTON UNDER THE GUISE NATHAN REDNECK!


WHO'S JACK MAGAZINE: AUGUST 2007

Who's Jack magazine ask Nathan Doom of Twisted Charm......What are your four favourite things about London?

1. ANONYMITY:
one of the main reasons why i moved down to london. there is an ugliness and sense of abandonment about london that breeds solitude and loneliness. maybe i'm warped but i find this captivating and beautiful. there are so many faces that you become insignificant. there are so many interesting pubs full of banal characters. you can escape the gossip and small minded mentality prevalent in small towns.
 
 
2. ST.PAUL'S CATHEDRAL:
there are several fascinating overviews of london. muswell hill, hampstead heath's kite hill and the london eye all spring to mind but none surpass that of st paul's cathedral. when there is a slight mist it is even more enchanting. the small stairway that leads to the very top enhances trepidation and vertigo. furthermore, it spirals clockwise which is ludicrous and you have to use your left hand to balance yourself. it's also a great place for first dates as you win on two counts. you are considered to have a romantic side and you get clung onto for dear life! a great ice breaker.
 
 
3. HAMPSTEAD HEATH:
it's nuts how you can have such a vast country heath bang in the middle of a smoky city! it is absolutely stunning but has an eerie quality that i like aswell. you sense a history of danger and the potential for something bad to happen when you walk across it. this enhances the surreal atmosphere of the place. like all of london it is very cosmopolitan too. you get middle-class dog walkers protecting their poodles from the threat of the working-class walker's pitballs. a very funny sight! one thing i do dislike though is all the keep fit fanatics stretching all over the damn place. you can escape these though by getting a decent fry up and a cup of tea in the cafe. in the winter if it has snowed heavily the heath is awesome and inspirational!
 
 
4. CULTURE/ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT:
the only down side about the cultural scene in london is that there is too much to do and you can miss out on something special. the time out guide and the guardian guide are indispensible cultural bibles. you can find out what obscure iranian cinema is showing that week, what band is in town, what art exhibitions are showing, (still waiting for egon schiele though) what plays are showing at the theatre and where the best debauch clubs nights are being held. the abundance of activity in london is simply overwhelming!


DISORDER MAGAZINE: GRADUATE FASHION WEEK
23 JULY 2007......Nathan Doom, frontman, guitar and synth player for Twisted Charm, reveals his steepest student learning curves and discusses his choice of degree and how it helped him get where he is today. It didn't!

1. Where did you study?
 
NENE COLLEGE UNIVERSITY

2. What degree did you get and has it helped you along in life?
 
AN UPPER CLASS 2.1 BA HONOURS DEGREE IN ENGLISH LITERATURE. IN TERMS OF FINDING A DECENT JOB IT HASN'T HELPED ME AT ALL. FINDING ONE OF THOSE IS ALL ABOUT WHAT BLOOMIN EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE. LUCKILY I ONLY WANT TO BE A ROCK STAR LIKE ELVIS THOUGH. BUT YOU NEED GOOD LUCK AND GOOD TUNES TO BE ONE OF THOSE. UNFORTUNATELY I ONLY HAVE ONE OF THOSE TWO THINGS. BUT BEING A RECLUSIVE AVANT-GARDIST MUSICIAN HAS IT'S MERITS. AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I TOLD MYSELF AS A WEE BOY WHEN MY FOLKS USE TO GROUND ME FOR STAYING OUT TOO LATE. I GUESS CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS HAVE GIVEN ME MORE CONFIDENCE ON STAGE. LIKE MUSIC THEY REVOLVE AROUND PERFORMING TO A MOODY,SMILING,INDIFFERENT AND ENRAPTURED AUDIENCE.

3. Best thing about your higher learning experience?
 
I LOVED THE ANTI-QUATED LIBRARY IN THE BASEMENT. IT WAS SO AUTHENTIC AND FULL OF CHARACTER. ALL THE BOOKS WERE HARD BACKS AND COVERED IN DUST THROUGH YEARS OF NEGLECT. I FOUND KNUT HAMSUN'S "MYSTERIES" IN THIS LIBRARY AND IT IS STILL MY FAVOURITE BOOK TO THIS DAY. I HAD TO CLIMB A LADDER TO THE TOP SHELVES TO FIND IT. I LOVE THE SEDUCTIVE SILENCE INSIDE LIBRARIES TOO. MAYBE THIS IS WHY I AWAYS FEEL VOYEURISTIC WHEN I'M IN ONE.
IT'S FUN TO PEEP THROUGH THE BOOKSHELVES AT SOMEBODY WHEN THEY ARE UNAWARE THEY ARE BEING WATCHED. LIBRARIES ARE SEXY!

4. Equally, what was the worst!

WAKING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A PARK ONE FROSTY MORNING WITH A HANGOVER THAT EVEN CHARLES BUKOWSKI WOULD BE PROUD OF.

5. Your top tip for exam time hell is...
 
I ACTUALLY ENJOYED EXAMS. I FIND THEM REALLY TRANQUIL. I ALWAYS SPENT LONG PERIODS LOOKING UP AT ALL THE STUDENTS SCRIBBLING AWAY IN A PANIC.
 
6.Tell us your most embarrassing student moment, possibly involving nudity and lamp-posts...

I WALKED INTO A LAMPOST ONCE WHILST STARING AT A GIRL WHO WAS PRACTICALLY NUDE. I SCREAMED LIKE A GIRL ASWELL! THAT WAS EMBARRASSING. BUT I CANNOT REMEMBER HAVING AN UNCOMFORTABLE NUDE EXPERIENCE OF MY OWN. MY STUDENT FLATMATES WAYNE AND DAVE USED TO CHASE ME AROUND THE HOUSE WITH THEIR BIG DANGLING WILLIES. THAT WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY FUNNY AND FRIGHTENING. I ALSO HAVE A FUNNY CHILDHOOD MEMORY OF MY ELDER BROTHER GILES COMING OUT OF THE BATHROOM. I GUESS HE MUST HAVE BEEN ABOUT 14 AT THE TIME. HIS TOWEL DROPPED FROM AROUND HIS WAIST IN FRONT OF OUR SISTER NOVA. HE CRIED HIS EYES OUT. THAT WAS HILARIOUS! GILES USED TO PRACTICE DOING THE SPLITS LIKE PRINCE FOR HOURS ON END IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR ASWELL. FUNNY BOY!


7.If you hadn't of gone to college, what would you have done instead?
 
WROTE MORE SONGS. READ MORE BOOKS. WATCHED MORE FILMS.

8. What's your stance on the up front fees debate?
 
IT'S HORRIFIC! I DON'T THINK ANYONE WITH HALF A BRAIN WOULD DISAGREE THAT PAYING FOR EDUCATION IS OUTRAGEOUS AND ELITIST.

9. You get to be Education Minister for a day, what do you change about higher education?
 
MAKE EDUCATION FREE AGAIN BUT FINE STUDENTS IF THEY STAYED IN BED INSTEAD OF GOING TO LECTURES. I'D BE A MILLIONAIRE IN JUST ONE DAY DESPITE MY INTENTIONS BEING GOOD.

10. Looking back on your time there, how worthy was it all?
 
IT WAS INCREDIBLY WORTHY IN TERMS OF SOCIAL INTERACTION AND MEETING LOTS OF EASY GIRLS TRYING TO FIND THEMSELVES.

11. My Humanities lecturer smelt like biscuits all the time, weird, did any of your teachers smell a bit odd?
 
YES MR.MCORMICK ALWAYS SMELT OF PINEAPPLE PIZZA. I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE HE CAME IN AFTER HEAVY DRINKING SESSIONS. TRY SMELLING SOMEONE THE MORNING AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN DRINKING SPIRITS. YOU WILL FIND THIS IS WHAT THEY SMELL OF.


ARTROCKER MAGAZINE: NATHAN DOOM'S RATED AND SLATED......

RATED:

1. chocolate and tea:

call me rock n roll but chocolate and tea are thee drugs! i'm grumpy first thing in the morning like most artcockers i guess, but once i've dipped me mint aero into me mug of brewed tea i'm singing with the birds. so what if nestle are baby killers miss.frolic.

2.lora logic:

not only did she improve the likes of the stranglers, the raincoats, swell maps, and scritti politi with her added sax toots, but after leaving x-ray spex she formed ESSENTIAL LOGIC (the most under-rated band of the post-punk era). the musical innovation of this band's early work is captivating. tracks like "collecting dust" and "brute fury" get me shaking like a retard on the dancefloor everytime.

3.john lesley:

we all know when a woman says "no" she means "yes".

4."mysteries" by knut hamsun.

life is full of mysteries but this masterpiece should not be one of them. johan nilsen nagel's uncanny insight into the human soul is haunting. who cares if knut hamsun turned into a nazi in his later years if he can write something as compelling as this.(ha ha)

5.the english cafe:

i love having a fry up in the archway cafe. i like being surrounded by all the regular oldies. their bickering sounds trivial but it's only because they've seen and done it all. each one of their wrinkles speaks volumes. and the bacon is good.

SLATED:

1.harry potter:

smug suited adult philistines read this on the tube like it's the bible or something. what a herd of sheep! it really gets to me. big perfumed office brutes and lifeless middle-class women engulfed by fucking wizards so they can escape their mundane lives. i work in a library so hearing people ask, "have you got the new harry potter book" all day long is enough to make you want to twat them regardless.

2.parties:

i always end up at them. i look around the room and realise that my friends must have gone home after the tacky indie club we were at. so i'm sat here with a bottle of smirnoff in my hand in a room full or people i don't like playing music i cannot stand. why? i ask myself. then it happens all over again the following week.

3.gustav klimt:

he's not a genius. far from it. the only genius thing he did was discover egon schiele.

5.liars:

i hate liars. what's the point in lieing? if you don't want to do something then say you don't. if you want to do something then don't pretend not to. most of the time if you've got something to hide it's only because you've told a lie in the first place."all you need is love". bollocks! all you need is honesty. unless you want to pull a sicky from work.


DAZED AND CONFUSED:

They might like to record surrounded by sheep, but this British four-piece aren't about to lazily follow anyone...

Twisted Charm are a four-piece that produce energetic post-punk anthems that document how boring everything is, along with their desperate attempts to escape England's grey reality. Four years into the business, they look like a group of geeky dischevelled uncles, but in a good way.
Originally from Northamptonshire, 2004 was the year the boys decided to break free from the constraints of their parents' basements, and move to London where they could rock out to their hearts content without any fear of waking up gran. 'We needed to get out of that shithole, and London seemed the best place to be as a band," says bassist John. Signed to French indie label Because Music, Twisted Charm recently finished recording their debut album. "We recorded it at foel studios in Wales," explains guitarist and frontman Nathan. "It was properly out in the sticks. We were in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by sheep. It was a brilliant experience though. The studio is where we feel most at home".
Produced by Lance Thomas (Ladytron/PJ Harvey), the album, so far untitled, is a step forward from the raw, post-punk sound of their live show. "There's lots of big 80's gated drum sounds, and synths aswell, which is a bit different for us", laughs Nathan. "We are all really proud of it though. It's a timeless record. It would sound modern even if it came out in five years time." The songs are based around lyrics slating routine and criticising the British lifestyle. "The lyrics are more satirical than pompous", explains Nathan. "If we take the piss out of something, it usually includes ourselves."
"We're a lot more passionate about our music than most bands", says Nathan confidently. "I think a lot of bands today are short-lived, or get into music for the wrong reasons. We just love writing and playing, and i think that shows."


WWW.GLASSWERK.CO.UK:


Finsbury Park's finest Twisted Charm release their eagerly anticipated debut album 'Real Fictional' through up and coming label Because Music on August 6th. Their mix of electronic synth, sax, unrelenting bass, and witty, punchy lyrics of undercover, inner city London have sent this foursome's star soaring.

They've left their small town roots - Northampton - behind and have come 'to kick regurgitated rock-n-roll in the throat.' The debut, produced by Lance Thomas (PJ Harvey/Ladytron), is as current as it gets and they have absorbed grime and new rave to produce something unique. It's no surprise they have just toured with the Klaxons.

Nathan Doom is everything a front man should be. He's got the style, the skinny jeans and the stories to start a party even while reciting tales of disillusionment and detachment. The band have generated a loyal following but their addictive post punk electro should send these lads towards bigger things.

Here's a few words from the Twisted Charm chaps. Get to know them and let them take over your brain.

1. WHO would you most like to take down with your sniper rifle?

the turkish guy who stole my mobile phone in finsbury park last sunday! i lose countless phones when I'm drunk but that's my fault. i cannot accept having my phone pinched after having it for only four weeks. so many song ideas stored on the dictaphone, so many numbers i cannot retrieve, so many mafia fantasies about shooting the guy.

2. WHERE is the place to be?

in the studio making music! in the pub during happy hour! in bed with a
beautiful girl!

3. WHAT Twisted Charm rock n roll stories can you share?

what happens on tour stays on tour. but one new years eve i mistook my first girlfriend's christmas tree for a toilet. i woke up on the couch, got up, knocked it over and then proceeded to wee all over it. this woke her mum up who then decided to take me to the bathroom for a strip wash. i wouldn't have stayed for sunday roast the following day if i had remembered any of it!

4. WHEN NME ask you to do a cover shot, you'll say?

yes of course! anyone who is passionate about their music would say the same. the magazine might talk a load of rubbish, but as a songwriter you want your music to be heard by as many people as possible.

5. WHY make music when you could be doing?

i'm afraid life without making music is meaningless. although playing for arsenal could give it some meaning.


WWW.ROOMTHIRTEEN.COM:

R13: What role do you play in the band?

Nathan: Well my bass player calls me "doom the illustrious leader" but he is taking the piss I think, but I write the music and the lyrics for twisted charm.

R13: How long have you been together?

N: I've been with the drummer Dominic since his birth. He's my baby bro you see, but three years proper since we released our first 7 ".

R13: You grew up in Northampton but now live in London, do you feel that being in the city helps launch your music?

N: We actually grew up in a town called Rushden in Northamptonshire, but yes to the question. You either played death metal in the attic at the Oakley Arms there or you listened to drum and bass on the high street benches smoking crack, incidentally we rescued John from these very benches.

R13: What are the essential things that make Twisted Charm different to the floods of other groups on the London scene at the moment?

N: Our personal idiosyncrasies, honesty and defiance of convention

R13: So the "twisted" part of the band, what crazy or debauched moments have you had together?

N: The others like to watch me cook for them naked. Dominic likes to sit on club promoters. John and Luke like to discuss their latest gadgets in the car whilst complaining about each others' farts.

R13: Onto your album, how long had you been gathering songs for and how long did it take to record?

N: I had written a few songs a while ago but others like 'Socialite', 'Cinema' and 'Layabout' I wrote about a month before we recorded them. It took about two weeks to record. It could have been less if we spent less time talking to the sheep and drinking with the inbreds at The Goat pub.

R13: To fans of which other bands would you recommend your sound?

N: The Stranglers, Blonde Redhead, Sonic Youth, The Fall, Essential Logic, James Chance, Ratatat, Can, Talking Heads, The Specials, ESG.

R13: How was the tour with The Klaxons? Did you get a good reception on the continent?

N: It was fabulous! It was so wonderful to get taken to restaurants for delicious food and lots of wine! We usually get bread and cheese for our riders. It was great to play to sold out audiences aswell and go down well. We had our first stage invasion on that tour.

R13: Where do you think that your fanbase is currently strongest?

N: Probably in France as we get a lot of press out there. We were in Vogue last week apparently, but the closest you would get John and Dominic to a cat walk would be to hand them a cat and a lead.


R13: What's been the best moment of your musical career so far?

N: For me it was in the studio in Wales; to see your songs finally come to life is an ineffable experience! On the last day of recording when I was playing the piano a phantom appeared. We all ran out in a frenzy like frightened children! But it was the best moment because it showed that music can even make the dead dance.

R13: If we could only download 3 tracks from your album, which would you want it to be?

N: Socialite, Layabout and Jealousy.

R13: You're fans of cinema, which film would you like your music to have appeared on the soundtrack for?

N: "Aguirre- the Wrath of God", although it would totally ruin the film. Our music would actually suit an Iranian film called "The Apple" best as it is an odd and eccentric little film.



THE TIMES ONLINE:

Equal parts charming and twisted Times Online Student features budding young musicians ready to catapult onto your playlist. We hunt down those about to make sound waves in the music world to bring you the next Next Big Thing in music.

On the one hand, Twisted Charm's lead singer Nathan 'Doom' is a nasty piece of work. Lyrics such as "When you seduce boys in bed/Daddy wishes you were dead," and a professed desire to "kick rock and roll in the throat" don't exactly inspire an urge to meet the guy in person any time soon. But in conversation, far from the floodlit stage of a concert hall, Nathan is the picture of sweetness, laughing easily, casually throwing in commentary about the finer points of French and Russian literature (he's working his way through Victor Hugo's The Last Day of a Condemned Man right now – "It's not as hard as it sounds," he demurs), and dealing with a recent heartbreak.

"I'm quite a shy person actually," he insists. His self-consciousness is part of the reason that Nathan recently moved out of his eight person flat share to a single bed-sit – he couldn't work on his music. "I wouldn't dare sing, because I kept thinking people would hear. It's quite embarrassing." Yet strangely, on stage there's not an ounce of unease reverberating through his strident vocals in which he condemns the various banalities of London life. The songs paint a picture of a prickly and particularly cheesed-off frontman. It's all a bit Jekyll and Hyde. "I'm not that tough," he insists, "But I'm not shy when I am performing." Evidently.

The band draw heavily on electro, employing the well-worn effects of voice distortion to create a lingering echo-filled buzz around each phrase, as in the single "Cinema." On its own, it's a sound that's been done before, but Twisted Charm don't stop there; the music is fleshed out and enlivened by insistent drums and sax blasts that add layers of dimension. John Garley plays bass and the sax is brought by Luke Georgiou who transforms the jazz-born instrument into an implement of coaxing videogame bleeps. The glittery landscapes created by the band bring to mind The Rapture, with Nathan's petulant vocals winding with a punk-like insistence through the noise.

The vitriol he spews is surprisingly on point; you'd be hard pressed not to find yourself nodding in commiseration with the griping of a caged boyfriend in "Happy Alone" and the jaded escapist in "Cinema." But Nathan insists: "I'm not a pissed off person at all. I don't know where the cynicism comes from."

The band's past is a colourful one, with Nathan himself only recently having moved out of an institution for the mentally ill - his ex-girlfriend was an occupational therapist in residence and the pair lived together at the ward. He is brutally un-PC about his experience: "At night, it was like a scene out of The Shining. You forget that the people there are all off their heads. You mingle with them during the day, but have to remember to lock up your room."

More traumatic though, he says, was a childhood languishing in a small town in Northamptonshire. "Everyone was on smack, it was pretty hardcore. There was nothing to do; if you don't write music what else is there?" Nathan and his brother Dominic Cole who plays drums in the band escaped as quickly as they could to universities in a bid to get away from their small-town existence. While Nathan graduated with a degree in English Literature from Nene College, Dominic studied photography - an endeavour that "lasted about a month." Nathan recalls: "It was just a blag to get our parents to drive our stuff down to London so we could play music." Sarah Maslin Nir


THE GUARDIAN ONLINE:

Band of the day...Twisted Charm:

Hometown: Northamptonshire-born, they now live in London.
The line-up: Nathan Doom (vocals, guitar, synth), John Garley (bass), Luke Georgiou (saxophone), Dominic Cole (drums).

The background: Twisted Charm are exponents of heavy-heavy monster CCTV techno. The beats are mental, the keyboards choppy, the guitars steely, the sax squally, the bass lines as Wobble-y as they are warped, and the vocals snidey and shouty - imagine the spawn of two JRs, Jamie Reynolds and Johnny Rotten. Their music, at its best, offers a powerful account of life in the capital, where teenage mums, football hooligans and pissed-up city boys with 22-grand jobs are berated over rhythmical noise and dissonant parps of brass....The Cole bros and their mate Garley were reared on new wave, jazz, hip-hop and Chris Morris's Jam, then the sax of the sulky Georgiou shaped the Twisted sound. But they're not just here for the musical things in life. When he's not performing, Dominic works in an insane asylum, where he can't distinguish between the inmates and the warders. John has gypsy ancestry and a family history of mental illness. Nathan, whose antennae helps him pick up on the peculiar and tawdry, might look effeminate but don't mess....he has a black-belt in karate.
Now signed to Because Music, home of Jarvis Cocker and Charlotte Gainsbourg, Twisted Charm are in the capital where Nathan can spy on lowlifes and the band can afford to move out of their hellhole of a flat. With their Citroen estate car and songs about whores, boredom and human behaviour, TC intend to "kick rock'n'roll in the throat", which isn't very nice, but perhaps necessary. Paul Lester.


ARTROCKER MAGAZINE:THE FRIDAY REVIEW.

This issue we brought Twisted Charm into the artrocker office, where we piled them with drink (tea) and forced them to listen to some of the latest releases...

AUTOKAT: Innocence (akoustik anarkhy recordings)

Nathan Doom: It's a bit basic.
John Garley: I don't like it. It's a bit boring, a bit punk- a bit too rock.


ASSEMBLY NOW: Graphs Maps and Trees (kids)

Nathan: I've never heard of them before. I don't like their name. It's a bit boring and bland. I could see myself listening to this on Dawson's creek. I mean, it doesn't have to be Dawson's creek- it just has to be bad television- it could quite easily be Hollyoaks. It's very safe. I'd give it 3 out of 10.

John: I'd give it 4. I really don't like it.

Nathan: That was the worst one.


THE BEEP SEALS: Stars (heron recordings)

Nathan: It's the same as the last one. I could see myself listening to this in a cafe, or in a doughnut shop in New York.

John: It doesn't sound very American. If i had it i would give it to someone else.


LA PALS: La Pals (akoustik anarkhy)

John: That's a worse name than Pure Reason Revolution.

Nathan: I like this one- it's got a bit of atmosphere to it. It's very dreamy- it's light. I like the swirly atmosphere. You could listen to this one on a merry-go-round at the fair.

John: It's alright. I wouldn't cover my ears if it was playing.

Nathan: They don't sound like they are from Manchester.


ZAN PAN: Sirens of Titan (pigeon coup records)

John: I like the name Zan Pan.

Nathan: Are they called Zan Pan? I've heard worse- their name is better then "A Singer Must Die". Good start.

John: The singer sounds a bit like the Ramones singer. I quite like it. It started off really really crap, then it changed. I though it'd be really like Hot Chip, but they've got this brass bit. They sound a bit like Spinal Tap. Definitely Spinal Tap. This bit's different though.

Nathan: The bits keep changing. I'd imagine that if someone bought this cd they would have a harley davidson.

John: ...and be over 45. Our fans wouldn't like it.


LADY FORTUNE: Mr.Brown (wanderlust records)

Nathan: I don't like their use of the word "fuck".

John: Yeah i don't like swearing in songs.

Nathan: It's kind of embarrasing. I just don't feel like he means it. People just shouldn't swear in songs. I believe in very few people swearing in songs- i cannot believe in his swearing. I wouldn't buy it and i wouldn't download it. I'd frisbee it across the room if it was given to me.


PACIFIC: Break Your Social System (moshi moshi singles)

Nathan: Their record label is interesting. Good start - very shoreditch though. I couldn't see myself dancing to it. I definitely wouldn't dj it, because i think it would be too difficult to dance to. I could see myself cooking pasta to it, with a bit of garlic, bacon and lemon juice. You definitely need the lemon juice. I'd give it a 5.

John: I'd give it a 6.


FREEZEEC:

First of all, cheers for this proof of originality! Your name's group does not start with "The", it is so rare nowadays for an English rock'n'roll group...Do You know where this fashion comes from?

Nathan Doom: Maybe it comes from the English band "The The".
Seriously though, we don't know where it comes from. We only knew that we wanted to avoid it.


Does the name "Twisted Charm" have a history?

Doom: Yes. It suits mine and my brother's personalities.
We can have split personalities, especially when alcohol fuelled. I am a fan of Stevenson's Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde which was also a catalyst for our band name. Plus i love opposing words with contrasting meanings.


In your songs, you say that we are anaesthetized by TV, that we are alone, all similar, that we are boring in an asepticized world...
You are large optimists, aren't you ? Do you really believe it ? Or is it irony ?

Doom: I am a very optimistic person. This is why i find it necessary to observe the negative sides of human nature and lack of individuality.
Television enhances monotony. It makes people feel they are part of society when in actual fact it is drawing them away from it by diluting social interaction.


Points of hope in this crude world ?

Doom: Art, individuality, creativity, knowledge, food, wine and women.


May I criticize your album. I think that all the songs are very good for the radio, easily recognizable thanks to background notes often repeated, which identify the pieces. By the way, listening to the whole album in one time is rather difficult, precisely because of these given notes which give the impression (and it is only an impression) that the songs are quite the same. You see what I mean?

Doom: On first listen it may appear so. The album has a very distinct and bold sound. On repeated listens, though, each song develops an identity of its own.


My colleague has listened to your album, he found that "strange" and made him think about the "Bérurier Noir", an 80's group rather underground and cult.
Do you know about them? I didn't know about them and it's true that by listening too, we can notice these similarities of sound and history of the group.

Doom: No i had not heard of them. Your link is not working either. But i just found some other videos on youtube. I found them interesting but i couldn't see any similarities with us. They seem more hardcore-punk and less melodic.


Do you listen to French music ?

Doom: Yes We are big fans of Lucrate Milk, Justice, Stereolab, Les Rita Mitsouko and now Berurier Noir.


Will you play in France ?

Doom: We have five dates with Les Rita Mitsouko :
grenoble mc2 9/11/07
genoble mc2 10/11/07
paris olympia 13/11/07
toulouse le phare 4/12/07
bordeaux la medoquine 5/12/07
......come down and have a drink and a dance with us!


What are you listening to by the moment ?

Doom: The Good the Bad and the Queen-" "
Blonde Redhead-23
Brian Eno-Another Green World


Can you advice about artists ?

Doom: Form a band for nothing more than a passion for music. Never compromise your sound. Strive to create something unique.


3 of your favorite songs ?

Doom: Stranglers : Don't Bring Harry
Sonic Youth : Schizophrenia
Bob Dylan : Ballad Of A Thin Man


3 cult movies ?

Doom: Godard: Vivre Sa Vie
Bergman: Seventh Seal
Teshigahara: Woman In The Dunes



Do you have any other passion ?

Doom: I love writing and the cinema.
Dominic loves photography.
John loves driving family estate cars.
Luke loves money and moaning.


POP NEWS:SEPTEMBRE 2007....TWISTED CHARM

Avec leur EP "Boring Lifestyles", et surtout une tournée en première partie des Klaxons, les anglais de Twisted Charm ont déjà attiré l'attention d'une génération lasse de vivre en noir et blanc. Portant les inévitables paillettes et maquillage glam du moment, ils ont choisi de maltraiter l'ennui avec un post-punk chaotique illuminé par un saxophone insolent. Dans l'attente de la sortie de leur premier album fin septembre chez Because, Nathan Doom, guitariste et chanteur dont la voix hache si bien des paroles ironiques et drôles, s'est plié un instant à la bienséance pour nous répondre.



Penses-tu que Twisted Charm sonnerait différemment si le groupe était originaire d'une grande ville plutôt que du Northamptonshire ?
C'est difficile à dire parce que nous vivons à Londres depuis quelques années, on n'a jamais eu une mentalité de petite ville, c'est la naïveté des habitants de notre petite ville qui nous a donné envie de la quitter. Je trouve l'environnement citadin bien plus inspirant pour l'écriture. Londres est plus cosmopolite que l'endroit où nous vivions avant, elle dégage plus de beauté... et de laideur aussi.

Votre musique est-elle un bon moyen d'éviter la routine ?
Je pense que la musique est idéale pour s'évader de la routine. Mais on en reste tous victimes : on a tous des jobs de 9h à 17h et peut-être même que certains d'entre nous se marierons, si quelqu'un veut de nous...



Et vos vêtements flashy, ça change aussi non ?
Ça a toujours été un moyen de s'exprimer et d'assumer son identité. Luke et moi sommes plus intéressés par les fringues que John et Dominic. Eux préfèrent les accessoires plus masculins, comme du dégivrant pour leur voiture et des manteaux de grands-pères !

Vous attendez-vous à toucher un public autre qu'adolescent ?
Je considère que notre musique est très mature, donc bien sûr, j'espère que les adultes l'apprécieront. Mais entre nous, tu n'es vieux que quand tu te sens comme tel.

Penses-tu qu'il se passe vraiment quelque chose de nouveau avec la new-rave ou est-ce seulement un nouveau fantasme des médias ?
Il n'y a rien de nouveau ! C'est banal, Klaxons reprend quelques classiques de rave et il est automatiquement étiqueté new-rave ! Je ne sais pas comment eux-mêmes voient ça mais selon moi, c'est surtout un groupe de pop indé inventif ! Les médias ont juste fabriqué une scène pour se donner matière à écrire. Puis ils y ont ajouté New Young Pony Club, Shit Disco et CSS... En fin de compte, les scènes sont toujours douteuses et éphémères.



Comment fonctionne l'intrusion du saxophone dans vos compositions ?
Le saxo apporte plus de densité à notre musique, et plus de variations dans nos mélodies. J'ai toujours aimé le son du saxo dans la musique de John Coltrane mais aussi son utilisation par Essential Logic (groupe formé par la saxophoniste Lora Logic de X-Ray Spex, ndlr) et par James Chance And The Contortions pendant le mouvement art-punk de la fin des années 70.

Quel est le dernier bon disque que tu aies écouté ?
J'ai un coup de c--ur pour "23" de Blonde Redhead. A leurs débuts ils semblaient lourdement influencés par Sonic Youth. Mais maintenant, ils ont un son qui leur est propre, mettant en avant les émotions, ça m'a vraiment séduit.

Penses-tu que les gens qui ont écouté votre EP, "Boring Lifestyles", seront surpris par l'album ?
Pas spécialement. La satire, le cynisme, l'humour et la critique sociale sont toujours aussi dominants. Des titres sont plus lents, pour varier et aérer l'ensemble. La dernière chanson est très personnelle, nous continuerons sûrement dans cette direction sur notre prochain album.

Dans quelles conditions aimerais-tu que les gens écoutent votre disque ?
Les pieds dans le bain. En cuisinant. En voiture, tandis que la ville s'éveille. Dans des clubs. Dans une chambre, pour séduire ou pour faire fuir quelqu'un. Au travail, quand le patron a le dos tourné. Au casque, dans un zoo. Du moment qu'il est écouté, c'est tout ce qui compte !

As-tu peur de devenir un jour ennuyeux à ton tour ?
S'ennuyer a des avantages. Devenir vieux, devenir un ronchon avec un ventre à bière et jouer au bingo avec sa femme me paraît amusant. Mais pour maintenir l'intérêt de quelqu'un, que ce soit dans la musique ou dans la vie, il faut être intelligent, créatif, mystérieux, drôle, et par-dessus tout être spontané. Je serais inquiet uniquement si je devenais incapable de réussir ça.

Propos recueillis par Charline Lecarpentier.
Merci à Sophie.