'Guitar music obviously, but with electronic influences, while still trying to sound human', suggests Henry, singer, guitarist and co-songwriter of the band. Quite ambitious for a new band. Well, new in the sense that they are releasing their debut album this year. As a group, the band history can be traced back to when they were at school together, around ten years ago. Evolving from The Full Monty to Hester Thrale, they kept the band going while at Oxford. When they graduated they were signed to db records (home of The Electric Soft Parade, Tom McRae, amongst others) and since then had been working on their album.
Why did it take them so long? 'All the time during Hester Thrale, that's just time playing your dues. We were just developing our sound at university, kept writing songs and developing,' says Owen (bass and keyboards). ' We were quite relaxed when we were making our album,' adds Marcus (drums). ' There was no expectation for our album. We thought we might as well make it as good as we can, change our name and start again. We probably recorded twice as much material as we actually needed.'
'The recording process was pretty exploratory for us. Just being in a studio and coming across the new gadgets and computers,' continues Owen. The influence of the new gadgets are noticeable in the new songs. Some of them are much more electronic, involving samplers and the like, as heard later that evening at the gig. The band do enjoy experimenting with their sound.
Henry extends the idea further, 'If you closed your eyes and listened, in some of the songs you wouldn't realise that Tom (guitar, keyboard and vocals) was playing a guitar. That's what I love about the electric guitar.'
Now that they've recorded the album, the touring begins. This Oxford date is at the tail end of the tour for the single 'Radio' but soon they will start again for the album. How do they pass the time while on tour? They seemed almost offended when it was suggested that they could throw TVs out of the windows.
'The TV listings is as much as we throw out,' jokes Marcus. Henry takes a more serious turn. ' Those bands who throw things out of the window and drink three bottles of JD every night are compensating for their music.' It seems Psychid want their music to speak for them rather than any acts or statements they make.