On Friday Green Buzzard beamed us Space Man Rodeo, a 10-track transmission straight from the outer reaches. The EP follows Dewey Everglow, an unlikely, spacefaring wonderboy as he attempts to make direct contact with our interplanetary neighbour Mars.
The only thing better than hearing Everglow’s perspective is hearing Paddy Harrowsmith’s, the man on lead vocals. Here is his take on each track on the concept EP; where they came from, why they were written and which stage of this mission to Mars they encompassed.
Launch into the stratosphere and beyond with Green Buzzard’s Space Man Rodeo, a 10 track concept EP rooted in the mystery of outer space.
Take-Off Transmission
I wanted an opening track with a sound emulating a spaceship taking off. This was the end result of myself, Dave Constable (keys on Space Man Rodeo) and a few of his synths hanging out for a night at his place.
Do You Ever Glow?
One of the earlier written tracks for Space Man Rodeo which also led to the name of the EP’s anti-hero, Dewey Everglow. It was inspired a lot by Brian Eno’s debut album Here Come The Warm Jets, which in turn set the tone for much of the rest of Space Man Rodeo.
Tear My Heart Away
This was the first song I wrote for Space Man Rodeo once I worked out the back story and visuals for the EP. I really love how the guitars turned out in this recording, largely inspired by Wire’s The 15th.
This is my personal favourite song on the EP and the easiest and quickest song I wrote, maybe that’s why?
Transmission #1
I asked Dave to make a collection of synthesizer compositions to reflect being lost in space, he came back to me with a 30 minute track entitled Spacey Soundz. Very fitting.
This was my favourite part, and yes, I listened to the whole thing.
Never Let Me Go
This was the first song I wrote with synthesizers in mind, almost before guitars. For much of the EP I put a much stronger emphasis on synths and for the most part wanted to leave a lot of space for those synth parts, most of which were written in the studio.
Again, Dave had a big part to play in the writing of this song, as did Micky Grossman, who played guitars on Space Man Rodeo, he wrote the guitar solo/instrumental , which is also one of my favourite parts of the whole EP. I guess I was listening to The Cure a lot whilst writing this song, which was an pretty big influence for this record.
Space Control
This was the second song I wrote after developing the Space Man Rodeo idea. I guess this song marks the second half of the EP in which the Dewey Evergow finally makes contact with the planet Mars; it’s written directly from his perspective.
I.D.W.K
This is the only song which is a collaboration, written by myself and Micky Grossman. He came to me with the main chord structure and guitar riff and we went from there. It’s also the first and probably only time I will ever put a key change in a song.
Sonically, we were going for a sort of Blondie or The Cars, 80s pop/post-punk vibe.
Transmission #2
This was recorded the same night myself and Dave did the opening track, Take-Off Transmission.
Hypnotized
The latest inclusion to Space Man Rodeo, so much so that the chorus was written literally the day we recorded the song. Originally intended as a B-side, it eventually found its way on, and in turn became one of my favourite songs on the EP.
The Strokes’ Room On Fire was a big inspiration for not only this song, but also the main reason I started playing guitar.
Dream In/Out
The only song written before the idea and back story of Space Man Rodeo came to be. I think the general vibe and meaning behind this song fits pretty perfectly into the rest of the EP, hence why it found its place on the release.
I thought its lyrical content of escapism made it a fitting end to the Space Man Rodeo arc.
Listen to the entirety of Space Man Rodeo below:
