Space have 3 massive hit singles under their belt so far since last summer. Not bad for a band who claim inspiration from such far out sources as film-goers companion handbooks and Planet of the Apes. Who lives in a house like this? Diminutive frontman/bassist/singer Tommy Scott throws a light on the weird world of this Liverpudlian quartet.

"Basically we're about looking at things in another way, using your imagination. Take a song like Neighbourhood, that's about looking at things from the perspective of a child, when everything seems weird and seedy". Tommy is 28 but with the impish grin of a 12-year old peering through his neighbours windows.

He is Spock-like in his appearance (dark pointy eyebrows) and his love for all things camp affirms the peculiar quality of the man. "Mostly I'm influenced by films", he says in a heavy scouse accent. "I see the songs I write as soundtracks for particular stories in my head. Musically I like old stuff like Roy Orbison, and some new stuff like Tricky, but movies are the big thing for me. Ive never really had heroes in music".

Space launched themselves three years ago and have found quite a large niche in the more surreal tailend of the Britpop market thanks to the debut album Spiders. The single Female of the Species (name taken from a B-movie advert) is currently to be heard on ads for the Childrens Channel.

While Tommy gives credit to Oasis for paving the way for rock music in the mid-90s, he is less favorable towards the rest of the new lad entourage. "I find it all rather boring. Its like the new conservatism - the Tory version of music".

Tories are a subject Space don't mind discussing. "We all hate the queen and Tories", professes drummer Franny in a matter-of-fact tone. "We're from Liverpool so we don't call ourselves English. We're scouses. Everyone hates us in England". This is no mere nihilistic rock'n'roll posturing. Until Female of the Species took off they were all on the dole, and have a real grounding in the political situation in England. Nevertheless they try to keep politics out of their music.

"Politics to me was about my dad being on strike all the time", continues Franny. "It's about being on the dole and trying to get off it. I'm going to vote Labour although I think they're beginning to look a bit Tory-ish".

Being from Liverpool beckons the compulsory Beatles link, but you're more likely to hear musical similarities with the fab four in Manchester than in the Space collective. Spiders fuses a number of styles from cabaret to rock and trip hop. "People in Liverpool could never really get their heads around us because we weren't trying to rip off Revolver by the Beatles or Fifth Dimension by the Byrds. If the Beatles were around today they'd be using samplers and equipment because they were ahead of their time".

Three quarters of Space are in their late 20s and have left their wilder days behind them. "When I was 14 or 15 I had dreams of being a big famous star", says Tommy, "but I'm 28 now and it's got to the point where I just get a bit jaded by the whole thing." Franny agrees. "When we're finished touring we just want to go home and put our feet up and lounge about. We're not into the whole rock'n'roll drugs lifestyle. That side of bands is so boring. Any old dosser in the street can smoke a joint. If thats what people want to do thats fine but were not that type of band".

Space have material for a second album which should see the light of day next autumn.

Related