All of which brings us neatly onto Craig’s great French Looking back over the last 10 years they pinpoint I even got an autograph for my dad. It was quite vibey
evolution. Having moved out here in 2007 to lead a various events Graeme describes as “proper Jim’ll Fix that period. Yeah, mistakes were made but we learned
Gallic variant on The Good Life, it was clear that the It moments” — the first time they played T In The Park; a lot.”
writing and recording of Silicone Soul’s fourth album the first time they were flown to Paris to DJ; going to
would be markedly different from its three predeces- Miami and “driving along the stretch of road that’s Even now as we head off to Craig’s local restaurant the
sors. However, despite both Craig and Graeme being in the Miami Vice titles”; the first time they raided a vibes keep coming. The hypnotic tune on the stereo
self-confessed ‘lazy sods’, this new set-up actually mini-bar. Just real boys’ stuff. is Kevin Yost’s ‘Feelin’ Loose’ (a track they’ll soon be
aided the process: where in the past procrastination “Even signing with Soma was real Jim’ll Fix It stuff remixing), with its insistent “Keep the high hat high”
would often take over the creative process, now the because the first house records we bought were Soma refrain. Both marvel at the simplicity of the chant and
urgency of being in the same room ruled. records,” says Graeme smiling. why no-one has used it before.
“In the past we’d both reach the point of stagnation Even the low points — like when they licensed ‘Right The talk turns to the democratising internationalism
at the same time,” explains Graeme. “As the weeks go On’ to Virgin for “silly money” and were forced to com- of dance music. And it becomes clear that Silicone
on that effect becomes more pronounced. You need promise slightly, although it didn’t extend to miming Soul’s 10-year journey to the heart of this interna-
fresh ears, so it’s worked out brilliantly this time. We on Top Of The Pops (“It just had ‘bad move’ written all tionalism makes perfect sense. They’re no longer mak-
both have the same studio set-up so that helps. Plus over it,” recollects Craig) — were lightened by some ing music for parties in Glasgow — their breathtaking
when we were in the same studio at the same time we magical moments. They got to meet Mick Jagger, for sounds are for the world.
didn’t mess around. We used the time wisely. We’d get instance. “It’s that one house nation thing, isn’t it?” Graeme
up at 10am, have some coffee and get on with it.” “He was recording a solo album in the same studio,” concludes. “It doesn’t matter where you go in the
says Graeme. “We said hello and he stopped for a chat. world, everyone dances the same.”
Enduring Friendship
“We sit in front of our computers in different countries
and we end up buying the same tunes from Beatport.
That says it all, I think.”
“I believe that the music you
Craig is explaining how his and Graeme’s friendship
has endured over the past 20 years. Like many teenag-
make is triangulated by your
ers they bonded over music and though they both
admit it’s hard to separate their friendship from being
imagination and your taste.”
in Silicone Soul, it’s their history that means more at
the end of the day.
graeme
Both shared a love of Primal Scream and it’s through
Bobby Gillespie and co.’s epoch-defining ‘Screama-
delica’ album that they began to dip their toes into
dancier waters. Growing up in Glasgow it wasn’t long
before Slam — Stuart McMillan and Orde Meikle —
registered on their radar. Pilgrimages to Slam events
soon gave them a deeper appreciation of this incendi-
ary music.
“We never really understood what was going on,”
recalls Craig. “We used to sit around talking about it,
wondering what was going on up there, whether they
were playing two records, whether the bassline was on
one record. There wasn’t so much information avail-
able. We couldn’t work out why people at these events
had so much energy, either. Then, of course, it became
apparent!”
“We were playing in bands to, like, 50 people in a pub,
whereas down the road there would be 500 people
jumping up and down and going completely and ut-
terly crazy for five hours,” continues Graeme.
Allstarz
When the band “naturally” fell apart the two of them
continued making music — this time with samplers,
drum machines and a mixer. They started their own
label, Death Perception, and after releasing two EPs
they signed to Slam’s label Soma. It was then they
truly became Silicone Soul.
“Silicone Soul was actually a track on our second EP,”
says Graeme. “The names we came up with, Soma
weren’t really keen on,” he laughs, shuddering at the
memory. “Casino Boogie Allstarz — with a z! They
sat us down and said, ‘Guys, we think in a couple of
years…’”
They both begin to laugh. “They definitely possessed
a little more wisdom than we did about things at that
time.”
080
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DJ474.silicone_soul.indd 80 14/5/09 11:32:10
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