Let Em' Talk: Uncool Paul gives us insights into his new album 'Ip Dip'

 


The self dubbed introverted ginger curio, Uncool Paul has returned with his new album Ip Dip. I first came across Paul in the early days of the blog when he sent me a link to his -  then newly-released - album Limon and Leme. He's a self depricating character who has a love for a vast amount of nuances and idiosyncracies and this ultimately, fuses it's way into the work. Paul talks us through the new album telling us more about these eclectic influences, special guest performers and how cartoon villains struggle with old age.
 

1. Plastic Aspirations 

'Plastic Aspirations' started as just a lyrical piece that I read over a very basic 120 bpm disco beat. It took some time tinkering about with a very Duran Duran bassline before everything pulled together. Lyrically, it's about letting go of materialism, commercialism and Love Island

2. Hit By An Ambulance 

Originally this song sounded like 'Stand' by REM, but I sent it to my friend Shane in California (Johnny Marr but with short-shorts and weed) and he added these ludicrously catchy guitar lines that really lifted the song to a new level. He also recorded guitar on a second song that ended up being a bit out of my vocal range, annoyingly, but I love this one to bits and the lyrical idea also makes me chuckle to myself. 

3. Dick Dastardly

  Dick Dastardly was the bad guy in Wacky Races and he was relentless with his cunning plans but never actually achieved anything. The song is based on a really daft notion I had of cartoon villains struggling to move on in old age - It's quite sad really. Sounds like The Kinks or Blur but more of an 80s' vibe (guess that's me in a nutshell actually).


4. She's A Cat 
 
This was written in quite a tongue-in-cheek way, about my friend Bianca Brownies posing as a cat on Instagram. Within about ten seconds of seeing the post I'd picked up the guitar and sung "She looks down the lens with a wry grin..." and the rest followed quite easily. Bianca agreed to do vocals as "The cat" and it really is magical when she sings and meows. 

5. Human Malfunction

 'Human Malfunction' is reminiscent of the music I used to play in bands, very punky and energetic. I desperately wanted to involve Sven the Slacker on this after hearing his track 'Bombe' and I'm so glad he was into it. It is an angry song about being nice, typically. 

6. Grow Me

 This is the second track that features Bianca and is the only remnant of the first sad bunch of songs I wrote. It is such a delicate and floaty song that I thought it would suit her vocals. I had no idea what she would sing but as it turns out, it's the main hook of the song. I have no idea what to compare it to musically but it is one of my favourites.

7. Emotional Fly Tipper

 We all know one right? This one had been hanging around for some time and I had no idea what to do with it. It was just the acoustic guitar and melodica parts when I first recorded it but I punked it up and it seems to work well. Someone recently pointed out the chorus is very Billy Bragg, which I love!

 
8. Fish 

'Fish' is based on a whimsical poem I wrote and is the first collaboration I did for the album, with the wonderful Lily Rose. I had a very rough idea of what I wanted on the piano, but couldn't play for the life of me and Lily understood exactly (she's an understanding expert). I would describe it as Buster Keaton meets Syd Barrett

9. Spectacles

I wanted to do something with Blokeacola for ages, I think he comes from a very similar musical world to me. This was the perfect excuse really. The song is a sort of psychedelic britpop anthem about home-working. Sounds odd but it works very well! 

10. Pink Envelope

 It's about struggling to move forward with your life and dealing with change and feeling like you are a re-made version of yourself. There is some fabulous synth work on here courtesy of Except Elephant, that I describe as "Tim Burton synths". Subtly psychedelic, a little darker than the rest of the album but quite lovely too. 


11. The Magpie 

'The Magpie' was written when I was seventeen. I had completely forgotten about it but it popped back in my head when I played a wrong chord on another song. When I recorded it I wanted it to evoke the time it was written, so it has a real childlike clunkiness to it, some melodica and me shaking and hitting various things in my bedroom. 

12. Marmight

The idea behind this was that humanity's lust for money over a healthy environment leaves a bad taste in my mouth that is "Worse than Marmite". Tamara Jenna was staggering on the recording of this, she has this incredible work ethic and I think if I'd left her to it, she would have done the whole track herself, and she got so into it, it blew me away. It is a really BIG song. 

13. Birth Of The Uncool 

This was a late addition to the album, it had no lyrics or melody on the verses right up until I started mixing. I think that worked to its benefit though, as my natural "Go to vocal style" is very Squeeze/Blur/Madness and it suits the track really well. It is a happy song about being depressed. Typical.

14. This Valentine's

 The closing track on the record, 'This Valentine's' was originally a fingerpicked acoustic guitar track that I wrote on Valentine's day, in a pathetic state on my bed. I figured out the guitar line for keyboard and it turned into something completely different. The track ends far too abruptly, which is a deliberately poignant metaphor. 


You can follow Uncool Paul on Instagram and buy Ip Dip from Bandcamp now.

Comments