Lost Horizons with Abney Park

Catching up with Ophelia’s crew

21st May 2008

It’s been just under two years since AE interviewed Abney Park for the first time. Their line up has changed and a new album has been released. We picked up with Robert and Nathaniel as they stumbled off the Ophelia and into a local tavern for refuelling!

'For your information the following interview is conducted in Piratese. If you are not fluent in Piratese please consult your local pirate representative for further information. Alternatively watch this .

Q: Ahoy there Cap'n Robert! How be ye scallywag and that rust bucket ye call the Ophelia?

Captain Robert: She's still aloft...but barely.

Q: Does ye suffer from mutiny on your sky vessel, throwin' any unruly crew over board then press gangin' more for replacements, as I spots new faces among ye! Who be this statuesque Finn? She seems to have done away with that whirlin' dervish Veen and now stands in her stead! And who be this strapping fellow playin' the bass, what trials did he have to suffer before bein' allowed on board ye ship, or did it involve a cosh to the temple and a bag over 'is head?

Captain Robert: Lord, don't say "mutiny" too loud. Yeah, Veen fled while she could still stand. It was complicated, but mostly it comes down to the fact that she had nomad in her blood. So, I stood on the docks hollerin' "Spinning girl wanted! Shit for pay, but ya get your own bunk! Sometimes..." And eventually there was a line of girls all spinning and squirming in front of me. Finn came up, she was dripping went...been swimming all day I guess, and her movements were fluid and she sang like a siren, so we quick popped a bag over her, offered her a job, and she's regretted it ever since.

Nathaniel: I tried for the job myself but everyone kept telling me that I lacked the proper qualifications. I had my outfit all picked out and everything! I suppose it's a good thing, though. Finn is a better dancer than I am. Ah, well.

Captain Robert: Daniel was already on the Ophelia, we just didn't know he played bass. When Jean Paul got knocked off the rigging somewhere over Shangri-La, we were desperate. We asked everyone on board to try bass, and Dan played a lot better than "Old Pops the Latrinesmen" (second runner up, but the smell was unbearable), so I we let him hold the Flintlock Bass.

Nathaniel: Actually, when it came time for Daniel's audition, he was far better prepared than we were. Not only did he blow us away, he'd learned songs that the rest of us weren't prepared to play. We ended up trying them anyway and he was the only one to keep things straight. Hell, I depend on him to keep me in time and in place during the music.

Q. It be… gah, I can't keep this up! Out of Pirate mode. So along with new crew a new album 'Lost Horizons'. You guys have put a lot into its production are you pleased the way it turned out and ultimately of course how it was received by the fans?

Captain Robert: Yeah, I was relieved I didn't screw up this album. The last album was so good, I really didn't think I could top it. When this new one was done, and it didn't stink, I exhaled, kicked out my pipe, went to bed, and didn't get up for a week.

Nathaniel: The new songs are a lot of fun to play live and we've been getting a lot of positive response at shows. There're always those worries that come along when you try something new and out of the box and I think the risk has paid off.

Q: The album contains the crowd and granny pleaser 'Airship Pirate' is this now the official Abney Park signature tune? Any chance of a quick rendition?

Captain Robert: "With a crew of Drunken Pilots, we're the only Airship Pirates! We're full of hot air and we're starting to rise. We're the terror of the skies but a Danger to ourselves!"

Nathaniel: Airship Pirate is a lot of fun to play live. We always have a strong audience presence during the chorus. This is also the first song where I play both violin and guitar live. There's that brief moment of panic when I have to shove my guitar aside, grab the violin, and play. It's a mess of pedals and cords but we've managed to make it happen with a little help from our expendable crew members.

Q. The website is also getting revamped . I have to say I do enjoy the astrolabe navigation and the flash widgets you create. (see bottom of page for the player). Is it's creation all down to you guys or do you have underlings working in the bowls of the Ophelia to help produce it?

Captain Robert: Lord, does it LOOK like I can afford to hire extra crew? Naw, I do that shit myself to save money. If the band needs it done, we gotta be able to do it.

Q. You've been pretty busy on the gig side of things, with this years Dragon Con and others still to come. How did the event at the Maker Faire come about it's not exactly the run of the mill gig?

Nathaniel: The Maker Faire show just kind of fell into our lap. I'd been corresponding with the glitterati of the Steampunk Maker scene (Gareth Branwyn of Make Magazine, Magpie and Libby of Steampunk Magazine, Jake Von Slattof Steampunk Workshop just to name a few) and the next thing I knew I was having a conference call with about 12 people talking about how we were going to present Steampunk to the masses. My head is still spinning.

Q. On the subject of gigs, lots of folks down under were looking forward to you guys touring Oz. How come the Australian tour didn't come off in the end?

Captain Robert: Blame it on an irrational fear of Drop Bears. Not me, mind you, I’m not afraid of anything…but I assume the girls…well…they might be…

Q. There was rumour some time back of you guys playing at the Edison in LA or was that just a suggestion for a release party of 'Lost Horizons'?

Captain Robert: The Edison Show is coming right up! May 25th (2008) And it will be EPIC! This is the most amazing place I have ever set foot in, we will be playing all night long, dozens of songs, and we might even coax out some members of the Steampunk Community to perform with the band! (Mum's the word, but I'm working on something neat in this regard). If you only go to one Abney Park show in your life, this should be the one!

Nathaniel: Personally, I really hope that you don't limit yourself to that one show. I suggest a regimen of regular Abney Park shows. That's really the only way to make sure you don't miss anything good. That said, The Edison is breathtaking. Absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait to play there.

Q. I here mention of an Abney Park card game in development. Can you explain how the game works, who's designing it and is it going to be self published and available via your website?

Captain Robert: Well, I started with the concept and rules, and Daniel has taken over. I don't want to give away the secret mechanics, but generally speaking you put together crews of airship pirates and fly around an exotic Victorian world, sending your crew on adventures and doing battle with other airship crews. It'll be neat as hell...if we can afford to print it!

Q. With the ever expanding line up of goodies you have in the vault I have a request, any chance of some Abney Park full size Standees? I could put one in my window to scare off intruders when I am out. Nothing more fearsome than a horde of Sky Pirates guarding your house. Mind you, my flat mates might use them as dart boards or BB gun targets, so perhaps not!

Captain Robert: HAHAHAHAH! Andy, you'd scare off quite a bit with that.

Q. Belly dance or belly buttons?

Captain Robert: Same thing, from where I'm sitting

Nathaniel: Belly Dance. After all, there's more to the belly dancing than just belly buttons.

Q. Ninja or Pirates?

Captain Robert: Pinja Nirates

Q: Ok so any last words before you vanish into the Aether once more?

Nathaniel: We've got a lot of folks out on the East Coast that haven't seen us yet. We're gonna be in Atlanta and New Jersey in September. Come on out and say hi!

As Captain Robert and Nathaniel wonder back to the mooring mast of the Ophelia I can hear ‘ Airship Pirate’ beginning to form in the back of my head, I think I will be humming that song for days! Yup it’s started! If you want to check out more on Abeny Park (the band not the Victorian London grave yard ) then follow the links bellow.

Myspace

Youtube

Homepage