Since its release last month, Cave’s fourth LP Threace has been garnering the four-piece some well-deserved acclaim. It continues in the Chicago outfit’s Krautrock-inspired style, but also brings in funk and jazz rhythms, relying less on the extended dizzying crescendos that have been a hallmark of previous Cave records.
Guitarist Jeremy Freeze, a recent addition to the group, believes the slight change in sound came about organically. “I don’t think we set out to progress,” Freeze reflected. “It was a different line-up so that added to the creative process.”
The personnel change Freeze refers to was his own inclusion after founding member Dave ‘Rotten Milk’ Percaro left the group.
“They needed someone to fill out the line-up and they called me,” explained Freeze, who was more than happy to help out his long-time friends.
While the Threace sessions were Freeze’s first time writing and recording with Cave, he is well acquainted with their ethos, having previously played live with the band. In fact, Freeze can trace his association with his fellow Cave members to the very genesis of the group.
“I met Dan (Browning – bass), Cooper (Crain – organ/guitar) and Rex (McMurry – drums) in Missouri and we all played in a bunch of other bands together. It’s a small place and eventually we all got together and started doing this.”
“[Krautrock] is definitely one point that we all take from. We’re all really into that kind of music. It’s not the only well we pull from, but it’s definitely the most present.”From these formative stages in Columbia, Missouri, Crain, Browning, and McMurry then moved to Chicago, Illinois where they joined with Rotten Milk and formed Cave in its original line-up. Freeze believes that the move to Chicago “opened up a lot of opportunities” for the band, owing to Chicago being “a huge city in general but also for music in particular”.
Speaking of the outfit’s relationship with its adoptive city, Freeze noted, “Cave is pretty distinctive in Chicago. Even though there are a million bands here, there aren’t bands that sound like Cave.”
Although that could be said of any city in which the group finds itself. CAVE’s drone-psych grooves exhibit a refreshingly distinct sound in the current musical landscape.
This sound is one that can be easily associated with that of the Krautrock movement that came out of Germany in the late 60s and early 70s. “[Krautrock] is definitely one point that we all take from. We’re all really into that kind of music. It’s not the only well we pull from, but it’s definitely the most present.”
While the impact of the Krautrock sound, epitomised by bands such as Neu! and Can, is clearly evident in Cave’s music, Freeze explains that these other “wells” of inspiration are wide ranging, particularly in his own playing style.
“I listen to a lot of country music. That’s a big part of the reason I make music. The way I play guitar comes from that school.” The tight, slightly twangy guitar melodies that Freeze delivers on Threace occasionally offer nods to his country influences and also presents a different aesthetic to the wild synth bashing that was a trademark of his time with Rotten Milk.
While this significant change to the line-up may have altered Cave’s sound, it did little to unbalance the recording process.
“There was a lot of live interplay between the four of us. [Threace] was all recorded live. There was some stuff pieced together but most of the time we’ll come up with something, work on it ‘til we like it, and then hit record.”
This approach of writing and recording during studio sessions left “a lot of room for improvisation” according to Freeze, who went on to say that the album “was a lot of fun to make”.
“I listen to a lot of country music. That’s a big part of the reason I make music. The way I play guitar comes from that school.”Although, he also mentioned that this spontaneous recording style made it a challenge when it came time to play the new record live. “We had to learn to play the songs that we’d recorded.”
Obviously relearning the tracks didn’t prove too difficult. Cave’s month-long tour of North America throughout October was reportedly a resounding success.
“All the shows have been really well received. All the reviews we’ve read along the way seem to be positive and kind of clinical, trying to describe how we sound, which makes me think that it’s a good thing that people are trying to figure it out.”
Along with the favourable reviews, Freeze also commented that the audience response to the new material “seemed to be positive”.
The ‘hometown show’ presents a highlight for many touring artists. Cave delivered local fans in Columbia a real treat – despite being brought about by a terribly sad event. As a tribute to the late, great Lou Reed, Freeze described how the band “pulled together a cover of the Velvet Underground song ‘Sister Ray’” during their performance. “Rest in peace Lou,” Freeze added, echoing the sentiments of countless music fans worldwide.
The tour also saw Cave’s number swell to five with multi instrumentalist Rob Frye joining the live line-up – an inclusion that Freeze greatly appreciated.
“Rob was a really nice addition. It forced us to be more dynamic live. You can’t play over a flute!” Unfortunately Frye will not be making the trek to Australia when the group tour next month. “He looked into coming with us but it just wasn’t going to work out,” explained Freeze.
Despite Frye’s absence, Australian fans will be eagerly anticipating the tour as Cave make their first ever trip Down Under in December. Freeze admits that the feeling is mutual, as he is “super excited” about the upcoming shows in Australia and New Zealand.
Cave will play three dates in New Zealand at the end of November before coming across the ditch for shows in the east coast capitals and Perth. In addition to their gig at the Kelvin Club, the band will play another Melbourne show as part of a double-headline bill with UK producer Kelpe at Boney on Sunday 8th November.
Cave Tour Dates
December 4 – The Zoo – Brisbane… Tickets on sale now from lifeisnoise.com, oztix and the venue
December 5 – The Annandale Hotel – Sydney… Tickets on sale now from lifeisnoise.com, oztix and the venue
December 6 – Kelvin Club – Melbourne… Tickets on sale now from lifeisnoise.com and oztix
December 7 – Slanted and Enchanted – Astor Theatre – Perth… Tickets on sale now from lifeisnoise.com, heatseeker, oztix and the venue.
December 8 Boney with Kelpe (UK)… Tickets on sale now here
