Democracy at work.

watch assasinator 13 video

“We do everything on a five-way basis,” says Trevor Wensley, describing the democratic nature of Chikinki. “It’s great when you’re writing songs but not so good when you’re trying to work out where to eat that evening.” The band have just released the single, Assassinator 13, an edgy pop assault filled with soaring keyboards and fuzzy basslines. “We tend to share around the jokes and take it in turns to have a go at each other,” he grins. The album, Take Me Out, follows early next year.

Chikinki’s approach echoes that of acts like Simian, Athlete and The Rapture who have a pop sensibility but also a strong desire to bugger about with sounds and arrangements. “We write pop songs, then we see how interesting we can make them,” says Trevor. “We haven’t got a bass player so all the bass comes from the synths, which gives it a more squelchy bottom end sound. We use an electronic drum kit so you get an electro dance sound, but because it’s all played live it comes across like a rock’n’roll band.”

The band all live in the same house in Bristol and released their home-recorded debut album a couple of years ago on the tiny independent label, Sink And Stove. Now that they’ve signed to Island they’re taking advantage of the major label’s clout. “The old stuff was a lot more lo-fi and experimental, a staying-at-home kind of record rather than a reflection of what we do live. Now we’re working in a studio with a producer so we can get it to ‘kick’ a bit more.”

Each member writes songs, which leads to healthy competition. “We always end up with more songs than we need. You know that if you want to get your songs on the album then they have to be good.”

Trevor thinks this approach encourages them to be more prolific, and they don’t plan to let up once the album hits the shops. “We’re hoping to have a load of demos ready by the time this album comes out so we can start getting on with the next one. It’s interesting to see people like The Coral churning it out, and that’s the kind of plan we’d like to follow.” So watch this space. Matt Walton 21 November 03

Chikinki – Assassinator 13, released 17 November 03 on Island. Take Me Out, released early 2004.

useful link: www.chikinki.co.uk