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Bandcrush: Algernon Doll

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Ewan Grant, aka Algernon Doll, has produced one of the surprises of 2013. We expected second album Citalo-pop to be a delicate, whimsical affair but were wrong from pretty much the first note. Anti-them breaks out with propulsive drums and huge-sounding guitars right from the off, and while there are a few downbeat moments, the album’s stuffed with rugged, distorted guitars and Grant’s soft melodic voice.

Elliott Smith is a fair shout – a bruised singer-songwriter with a punk rock background – and some of Algernon Doll’s tunes really do the comparison justice. Big words from Tidal Wave towers given that this writer’s first child would have been named Elliott in the man’s honour had she been a boy.

Over the course of Citalo-pop’s thirteen tracks, you’ll be sucked into Grant’s world and you’ll be wondering why you’ve not heard of Algernon Doll before.

So we’re loving this, and it felt only fair to gush about it on the interwebs. Here’s Ewan Grant himself…

So who the hell are you?

I’m Ewan Grant, I call myself, ‘Algernon Doll’.

Describe your sound in ten words or less!

Ever-evolving alt-rock and folk. Punk ethic.

algdoll

How did you start out making music?

Everyone in my family plays music in some form. I think the first time I wrote proper songs was one summer when it rained, pretty much, every day and I couldn’t go skateboard so I just sat playing guitar. I played in a bunch of hardcore bands because I was so angry… probably initially at silly things like rain.

Is there a meaning behind the name ‘Algernon Doll’?

It’s taken from the short story, ‘Flowers For Algernon’ which is about a man who gains intelligence through an experiment then loses it after having experienced love and all that came with it. I see it as a pseudo-guise that I can write behind. I have very little control over what happens to me so I’m more of a series of decisions and outside factors. It’s really just a way of trying to take the ego out of things as I hate egos.

Would you say you had any particular influences?

I really love this band, “La Quiete” from Forli in Italy. I mostly get inspired, musically, by paintings and visual art. It’s easier to interpret that as music than be influenced by other music. It comes out more original.

What inspired the songs on the album?

It’s mainly the story of me coming off the drugs I was prescribed to control my panic and move on to other drugs that control my moods a bit better. I’m less sedated with more energy and I’m turning my depression outwards more as anger these days, which I think is healthy. It can be quite tongue-in-cheek. I’ve always been helped by people talking about their illness and I’d like to be that honest in hope that others don’t feel alienated either.

How did you find the recording process?

It’s great, the most fun I have. Myself and Tom Mitchell, who played drums and produced the record, just hung out and skateboarded whilst bouncing ideas off each other. I think the freedom of expression really shows on the recordings.

And how about touring plans?

We plan to tour late September across the UK and France and I’m playing Book Yer Ane Fest on the 29th of November in Dundee which is always a highlight for me.



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