band profile

The Bright Space

As an additional feature of the MILC magazine, we're aiming to shine a spotlight on some of the many up and coming, bright, young, destined-for-greatness, clean, polite and respectful types who happen through Miloco's hallowed doors.

In the first of these encounters, four fellows called The Bright Space settled down in the plush sofas of virtual space, plumped their wireless cushions, let their feet rest easy on a few USB-compatible poofs and subjected themselves to a few gentle MILC questions...

MILC: "Hello gentlemen, and who might you be?"

TBS: "We're The Bright Space, and more specifically: Malcolm (guitar & vocals), James (bass & keys & backing vocals), Tom (drums & backing vocals) and Will (guitar)."

MILC: "And a quick band history, chaps?"

TBS: "Wrote songs, scrapped them, wrote more, made a record, went home for tea."

MILC: "Marvellous. It's been said you take your cue from the likes of The Cure, Interpol, Doves & The Flaming Lips; where might those interested in your splendid brew of melodic, beatific, epic and heartfelt sounds get a chance to have a listen?"

TBS: "They can listen to a few songs on the website: www.thebrightspace.com or at myspace: www.myspace.com/thebrightspace. And if they fancy direct contact they should go via: thebrightspace@hotmail.com

MILC: "And do you have any upcoming gigs/events?"

TBS: "Our club night (Dead City Radio) will restart again this autumn, and we're looking at new and strange venues [for it] now. We'll be playing lots of normal gigs too and have a few exciting prospects being lined up - more info when we confirm dates."

MILC: "What project are you recording here at Miloco?"

TBS: "We have been mixing our debut album...and playing pool. [Miloco's] Matt Hyde has been working the desk."

MILC: "And how's it going? What studio have you been using?"

TBS: "It's sounding great, most of the mixes were done at The Garden, but we've also mixed three songs in The Neve Room at Milo 1 (Leroy St)."

MILC: "So it where/how did you record it?"

TBS: "We recorded the album ourselves on a g4 bought from Loot. We're based in Greenwich, where we have our own studio, called The Surgery...This idea began as an experiment, recording all day and having fun with it. Matt (Hyde]'s come along and tidied up our stuff, and we are all happy with the results. It's been an odd way to work, but it seems to have worked out for us."

MILC: "What made you choose Miloco?"

TBS: "Milo is cool, nice people, nice pool table, [and] the right side of London for us south east boys!"

MILC: "And are there any planned release dates for any of this material?"

TBS: "Two 7" singles will be out this autumn, 1000 only. Then two proper singles early in the New Year, with the album to follow."

MILC: "And who are you signed to?"

TBS: "We are setting up our own label to release the 7" and that's as far as we care to think at the moment."

MILC: "Who would you most like to work with in the future?"

TBS: "We like the way we've been working - it's relaxed and experimental and fun. Matt Hyde is a great engineer and mixer, so we are not in a rush to change anything...But fast forward two years and we'll be crack heads with our own p.a.'s in Barbados running up huge studio bills with Mutt Langer..."

MILC: "And what were your favourite records when you were between 5-10yrs old?"

TBS: "The usual kids stuff. You know like The Clash, Velvet Underground, The Cure, Suicide, Television, selected Bob Dylan. But mostly we were inspired by writers at this age - none of the Narnia rubbish - French stuff and philosophy."

MILC: "And between 11-16yrs?"

TBS: "Spandau Ballet only."

MILC: "And between 17-25yrs?"

TBS: "The Wombles. Favourite labels PWL and Angular Records."

MILC: "Who would win in a fight between Top Cat and Yogi Bear (and why)?

TBS: "T.C. is trailer trash and kicks ass... I mean, WHO has a mate called Boo Boo?!" [Top Cat progresses to the next round]

MILC: "If your band was a dessert which would it be?"

TBS: "If our band was a desert [sic] we'd be The Sahara. Dusty, mysterious and barren."

The Bright Space were talking to MILC in August 2005 © MILC@Miloco 2005