Latimer House are a four-piece band based in Prague that make guitar-driven, literate, pop music, encapsulated in their debut single, This Is Pop / Shake!
They began in 2010 when drummer and percussionist George Kominek (from Toronto) and guitarist Joe Cook (London) booked a rehearsal room to jam song ideas. Keyboard player Anar Yusufov (Baku) joined later that year, bringing some musical breadth, and in early 2011 bassist Michael Jetton (Virginia) moved in to help nail it all together.
In May 2012 they went into Faust Studios in Prague with engineer Derek Saxenmeyer to begin work on recording their first collection of songs.
They cite a diverse range of influences, from classic 1960s and 1970s pop and rock, through funk, folk and New Wave, to classical music, obscure experimental rock and current indie/alternative stuff. All of these themes come through in their music, but the Latimer House sound is conjured up by sparkling keyboards weaving through rhythm-guitar based songs that are under-pinned by some powerful drum patterns.
In the studio they were joined by Jim Thompson from England on mandolin and violin, by Jan Keller, the world’s coolest cellist who sports a Mohican and plays with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, by Tommy Levvechia and his trumpet, and by guitarist Justin Lavash. These guys brought additional range and dynamic to the songs and sound of Latimer House.
This Is Pop / Shake! is out now on Honk Records, and is available on 7” coloured vinyl and invisible digital at http://latimerhouse.com and the usual digital outlets. Latimer House will officially release their debut album All The Rage in early 2014 on vinyl, CD and digital.
Introduce yourself and your music in one sentence - Latimer House are a four-piece based in Prague that make guitar-driven literate pop.
We managed to catch up with Joe Cook (Guitarist) and he was kind enough to take part in an interview, here's how it went….
Last time you used public transport and where did you go? Today - a tram from my home to the centre of town.
Last time you felt proud? Whenever I look at our 10 month-old daughter, Annabelle.
What classic song do you wish you recorded and why? Er... Tomorrow Never Knows by The Beatles, because it was so daring, innovative and ground-breaking; a real work of art.
Last movie you saw? Casino Royale, on DVD at home earlier this week.
Last book you read? Leonard Cohen's "Book of Longing" is currently on my bedside table, so I'm dipping in to that
What did you dream about last night? Can't remember
Last time you cried? Tears of joy at the birth of Annabelle.
Biggest musical influence? Melodic guitar based music, everything from the 1960s to the here and now
Best gig you ever played? Early, messy ones are always the best, in nostalgic hindsight!
Best band/artist of 2013? Alex Bleeker & The Freaks made a good album, I saw Buke and Gase twice, and Haim and Gary Clark Jnr were hot
Biggest act you have ever played with (supported or on the same bill as)? No one big or famous, yet!
The last album/record you bought? Haim's Days Are Gone and Captain Beefheart's Doc at Radar Station bought last weekend at the Vinyl Store in Prague!
Last time you had a fight? As a kid at school.
Tell me one of your guilty pleasures? So many pleasures, so little guilt... good wine, ice cream
Best advice you ever received and who was it from? Remain true to yourself, stay independent and do what you really want to do (parents)
Largest amount spent in a single purchase? (excluding houses) Guitars and amps and hi-fi equipment etc.
Whilst Joe was reminiscing on how much he spent on guitars in the past, we hit him with the quickfire questions….
Coffee or Tea? Tea
Coke or Pepsi? Neither
Mac or PC? Mac
Holidays/Vacations – Beach or ski-ing? Beach
Meat or Vegetables? Both
CD or Vinyl? Vinyl
Car or Motorbike? Car
Cat or Dog? Cat
Acoustic or Electric? Both
Angelina or Jennifer? Who's Jennifer?
Full English Breakfast (bacon/eggs/mushrooms/toast etc) or Cereal? Full English, with HP Sauce and black pepper, please.
Visit the Latimer House website (address below) to listen to their music, download a free track, buy 'All The Rage' on CD, vinyl or digital, sign up to their mailing list and link to their Twitter and Facebook pages.
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