DECEMBER 1997

DECEMBER 1997

===INTERVIEW ===  

=== Interview ===  

MANSUN - ATTACK OF THE GREY LANTERN   

MANSUN - ATTACK OF THE GREY LANTERN   

As 1997 draws to a close, Mansun stand poised on the threshold of major-league success. Pat Reid talks to their resident

As 1997 draws to a close, Mansun stand poised on the threshold of major-league success. Pat Reid talks to their resident

Basically it's fairly subtle and just gives a little more attack to the notes." A subtly increased attack/notes interface is a major requirement for Chad, because most of what he plays is lead guitar, with very few chords.

Basically it's fairly subtle and just gives a little more attack to the notes." A subtly increased attack/notes interface is a major requirement for Chad, because most of what he plays is lead guitar, with very few chords.

===LOUD AND CLEAR ===

=== Loud And Clear ===

"I've got the compressor on all the time, and the basic sound is the two amps.

"I've got the compressor on all the time, and the basic sound is the two amps.

I use one of those Mesa Boogie V-Twin pre-amp  

I use one of those Mesa Boogie V-Twin pre-amp  

we'll certainly keep it in."

we'll certainly keep it in."

===STRUCTURING THE SONGS ===

===Structuring The Songs ===

While enigmatic frontman genius/weirdo Paul Draper writes the bulk of Mansun material, the lead lines are, naturally, Chad's territory.  

While enigmatic frontman genius/weirdo Paul Draper writes the bulk of Mansun material, the lead lines are, naturally, Chad's territory.  

"A lot of it is putting back the little subtleties that you lose when you take an acoustic song and play it through a cranked up amp.  

"A lot of it is putting back the little subtleties that you lose when you take an acoustic song and play it through a cranked up amp.  

"If something good happens that was an accident, we'll certainly keep it in."

"If something good happens that was an accident, we'll certainly keep it in."

===CROSSING OVER ===

=== Crossing Over ===

With UK sales of 200,000 for Grey Lantern, Mansun are currently the biggest cult band in the land.  

With UK sales of 200,000 for Grey Lantern, Mansun are currently the biggest cult band in the land.  

Whether they can built on this success and cross over to a truly mainstream audience remains to be seen.

Whether they can built on this success and cross over to a truly mainstream audience remains to be seen.

Their schedule is sewn up for the next six months - they tour America, where Wide Open Space has done well, then record that difficult second album.  

Their schedule is sewn up for the next six months - they tour America, where Wide Open Space has done well, then record that difficult second album.  

Reclining on the ugly but functional Parr Street upholstery, Chad seems tired - and he's fully aware that this is only the beginning.

Reclining on the ugly but functional Parr Street upholstery, Chad seems tired - and he's fully aware that this is only the beginning.

So we talk of more mundane matters; which is better, gigs or recording? "On stage you can let go a bit more," Chad says.

So we talk of more mundane matters; which is better, gigs or recording? "On stage you can let go a bit more," Chad says.

"I'm very conscious of trying to get things right in the studio, and also you're working it out at the same time as you're laying it down."

"I'm very conscious of trying to get things right in the studio, and also you're working it out at the same time as you're laying it down."

WIDE OPEN SPACE  

WIDE OPEN SPACE  

Joe Bennett talks you through Chad's ace one-string solo from this 1996 hit.   

Joe Bennett talks you through Chad's ace one-string solo from this 1996 hit.