Mon 15 Sep 2003 16:44 MUSE INTERVIEW (2003) http://www.dotmusic.com/interviews/September2003/interviews30826.asp Muse have marked their return to music in the fashion they're becoming used to. New single, 'Time Is Running Out', is firmly lodged in the Top 10 this week and their third studio album, 'Absolution', will no doubt trouble The Darkness' reign at the top of the album charts. dotmusic re-acquainted itself with one third of the Muse machine, drummer Dominic Howard, recently as the band were holed up plotting their live return - in other words whittling down set lists, designing stage layout and debating whether or not to take a choir on tour with them. Yes, seriously. Without further ado, read on to discover what Reading 2002 was like, the thinking behind their latest video and what the future holds for the band. On missing the festival circuit this year: "Yeah, it felt a bit weird not playing this year but we didn't have an album out so we wanted to come back when we had new material to play." On their slot at Reading 2002: "We did quite a big slot at Reading last year and that was amazing. That was definitely a pinnacle for us last year. It was the first festival we went to when we were young and I remember arriving there and thinking, 'Jesus that main stage is massive' but I was sure we'd play there one day. And we did. Quite high up in fact." On 'Time Is Running Out' single and video: "We had a brilliant idea for the video that we thought would work really well with the song. We had an initial idea of some kind of secret council of people sitting round a table. These people are of high military rank, they're commercial bosses and are extremely wealthy - they are actually part of a higher government. "They'e supposed to be having meetings but really they're having a laugh. We took the basic set from Dr. Strangelove that worked really well with the other ideas." On selecting singles: "I can't stand the idea of selecting singles and reworking tracks. I personally, and its different for all of us, would like to go 'Here's the seven minute track, deal with it, play it if you want to.' We've yet to decide on the next single but I'd love to go with the long track with big strings all over it and a piano solo in the middle. Maybe we will." On the making of their 1999 debut LP 'Showbiz': "Before we were signed in Teignmouth (hometown in Devon) we'd play in a room two or three times a week to just try and get a local gig. That's where most of the first album was made, that's how the sound was created. It was a very personal sound to where we were in that point in our lives." On the making of 2001 follow-up 'Origins Of Symmetry': "The second album was made during a process of change and touring. Suddenly we'd gone from an unsigned band to touring round the world and all the things that go with that. That album reflects the confusion and change and what was going on with our lives." On the making of 'Absolution': "This time round we went back to how we were initially, we'd come full circle. We took some time off, had no distraction and started getting together in a rehearsal room in London. "We had nothing else to do, we were purely there to make music, and it felt good and in a way just comfortable. We felt like we hadn't done that for years. We had the space to make music without the limitations of being on a tour bus or in sound check. "It was very refreshing cos we hadn't done that for so long. It also felt more insular and in some ways the album is more personal because of that. It's about where we're at today, at this point. On experimenting: "Before we started recording, we did a lot of experimentation when we were recording demos, which we hadn't really done before. "I was playing a d-drum kit which is all electric going through a (mixing) desk with headphones on so we'd press record whenever we wanted, which sounds pretty good. "Because we had that luxury of time and that kind of set-up, we definitely tried a lot of different ideas out and we actually sat around and talked about the songs." On accusations of being overblown: "It doesn't bother us. I guess it's just people's opinions. It doesn't affect the way we write. It's purely what we want to do." On future goals: "Everything's felt like it's been getting bigger up to this point so in the short term, if we can pull off this arena tour - which will be a challenge - then we'll have accomplished something." For more info on Muse check out their official site. Chris Heath -- 啊，吾的焦躁表現得那麼明顯嗎？ --

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