Bernard + Edith have crafted their own universe, separate to anything around them. Finding themselves at odds with the prevailing scene in Manchester, the duo simply decided to sculpt their own – and invite others into their world.
“The sort of band we are, we don't really fit into the music scene in an aesthetic way or a musical way,” explains Nick 'Bernard' Delap. “But ideologically everyone is quite connected. It's almost like, people just want to come together and do something different.”
“I find it quite difficult for women in Manchester, really because it's such a masculine scene,” adds Greta 'Edith' Carroll. “All these boys with guitars trying to beat each other. It's very competitive. The reason why we're seen in a good way is that we don't have to compete with anyone, everyone just sort of likes us and we get on with them. We don't have to fight anyone, or anything.”
Meeting while still in their teens, Bernard + Edith fused their disparate background into something wholly atmospheric. Often referring to visual touchstones, the duo cite Twin Peaks as a major point of inspiration. “Atmosphere,” states Bernard. “The music is obviously amazing in Twin Peaks. The music's what makes it so good, in a way. It just gives everything the feel of otherworldly-ness.”
The pair have transplanted this approach into their own sound, as Edith explains: “Trying to create a fantasy world with the music. If you think of a place in your head and make music that will just take you there.”
Walking around Manchester together, the duo return home with banks of found sounds and unusual samples. “We do a lot of recordings with field microphones, we'll come home one day with a cool sound and that'll influence a track,” says Bernard. “When we're making music the atmosphere is what we're going for above anything, really. There's a lot of attention to weird sounds that you wouldn't hear necessarily in a song.”
Debut album 'Jem' is difficult to pin down. At one point Cocteau Twin-esque purity of sound, at others a quite pop-oriented release, Bernard + Edith flit between everything from Chinese music to jazz standards. “We built the album up ourselves at home over the space of about two years, really,” explains Bernard. “We just write music together at home all the time and we built up this massive catalogue of music.”
“It's all very DIY this album,” adds Edith. “It's all very natural.”
What: Dreamy, gossamer pop
Where: Manchester
3 Songs: 'Poppy', 'Wurds', 'Tidal Wave'
– – –
– – –
Buy Clash Magazine
Get Clash on your mobile, for free: iPhone / Android
