Dublin band Ten Speed Racer have re-released their 2000 album, Eskimo Beach Boy, with further releases records and previously unheard tunes/B-sides due next year. We asked singer Dermot Barrett the BIG questions . . .
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Tell us three things about yourself…
I live in Norway, I'm a Libra who knows not one thing of horoscopes, and I once met Robert Plant outside of an ice rink.
How would you describe your music?
I tend not to; I let others more qualified in that field run that one. This record is five young handsome Dans playing drums, bass, electric guitars, and any instrument they can get a hold of, with more ideas than Don Draper on a bender to burn through. It has been described by others as- "well ahead of its time." But that was then…let’s hope it’s time has caught up!
Who are your musical inspirations?
Ken Griffin, The The, Ozzy, Bob Dylan, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Talking Heads, Edvard Greig, Neil Young, Japanese House, The National, St Vincent, Spiritualized, Motörhead, Lewis Capaldi, Brian Brannigan, Whipping Boy, The Phantom of the Opera, Ruby Taillights, Julian Cope, Frank Sinatra, Iggy, Bowi. Maybe the Beatles, off the top of my head, I don’t really know. The music is inspired well beyond all of these things…If we want to talk about this one record, Eskimo Beach Boy, then there’s so, so much mixed in there. Or my personal trip into music - then I was deeply inspired by the incredible Sonny Condell and most definitely by Steve Cooney. I would never have stood up in front of people to play guitar/sing if it wasn’t for both of them.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Big Country in the RDS Simmonscourt. I think that I was even there for the soundcheck. I may have been 14/15 at the time. Thanks, my beautiful Sis! Love ya!
What was the first record you ever bought?
Dexys Midnight Runners - Too Rye Ay. No wait, I got that as a present. Maybe the first record I bought was Julian Cope’s World Shut Your Mouth on 12". I really remember buying that in Abbey Discs, blew my mind, still have it. Incredible!
What’s your favourite song right now?
RIGHT This very minute - it is Norwegian artist Dagny - Heartbreak in the Making. What a great POP Song! Great singing.
Favourite lyric of all time?
SO many. That Dagny one above is great. One that I love is The National - "I still owe money to the money to the money I owe." And I love every line of the Whipping Boy’s When we were Young, especially the line, " . . . and your dad stood up for you when the Judge said 'YOU’RE A FOOL!’" Fantastic! But, one that makes me always smile is Our House by Madness –"The Kids are playing up downstairs".
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Lunar Junkies by Ten Speed Racer on Eskimo Beach Boy (23rd Anniversary Edition out now). Because It is so sublime and delicious , most other songs would drive me over the edge. Added bonus, I would get .0002 cent for every play. That or Dionne by the Japanese House possibly.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Eskimo Beach Boy is on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon, all the Streaming sites. But the Website that we’d like to push the most- BANDCAMP. Not for us, but for the website itself...it needs saving! www.planetarydiscs.com or Planetary Discs Facebook page. All will lead you the band members personal Instagrams/Facebookery or Twittins (if they have or want them)..All the Ten Speed Racer records will be re-released in due course, along with a good few previously unreleased tunes. It’s going to be, finally, good. Oh YEAH!
Alan Corr
