Jason Applin is a man whose music has dipped in and out of my life for almost thirty years now, from Britpop upstarts Bennet in the 90s through Union Starr and Damn Damn Patriots in the earlier years of the current millennium and more recently as the first half of lengthily monikered duo Here Are The Young Men and Uncle Peanut. As someone who flecks the musical narrative of my own journey from teenage to middle age, it seems somehow fitting that the debut album from his new project The Gymkhana, takes nostalgia as its central theme.
Centred around the trio of Applin, Matt Dyson and Patrick Hannan of The Sundays and theaudience, but featuring an astonishing array of guest appearances including but not limited to members of Art Brut, BMX Bandits, Embrace, Evil Blizzard, Gong, Lotus Eaters, Mediaeval Baebes, Midlake, Miranda Sex Garden, Slowdive and Teenage Fanclub, Follyfoot 71-73 is a concept album based on memories of the equine-themed 1970s children’s TV show of the same name. The eleven tracks of glowing pastoral indie-folk are interspersed with conversations with Ron Stryker, one of the lead characters from the TV series, voiced by the original actor, Christian Rodska, musing on both the joys and pitfalls of a life consumed by nostalgia. It’s a warm, gently psychedelic and wonderfully odd record, that is worth exploring for much more than its impressive guestlist.
As the record finds Applin looking back to his childhood for inspiration, what better time to ask him to share ten songs that have marked important milestones on his own musical journey?
1) What is your earliest music-related memory? What do you remember being played at home when you were a child?
There was a lot of music in my house growing up. Not all of it good. Some stuff really came through and stuck with me though….Johnny Cash at San Quentin for example. The occasional ‘pop hit’ of the day – ‘Son of My Father’ by Chicory Tip was a particular favourite. My brother and I would mime to it in the lounge to an imaginary audience. I would have been about 5 or 6.
2) What was the first record that you ever bought? Where did you get it and do you have any recollection of the experience?
I think the first album I bought was Showaddywaddy Greatest Hits. I was 7. I don’t remember actually buying it, but it would have almost certainly been purchased at Aerco Records in Woking. Used to get all our records there well into the 80s. Also used to shop at Harlequin Records in Camberley – sadly neither shop is there anymore.
3) When did you really start to develop a passion for listening to music? How did that come about and what were you into at the time?
Music was always there – my Mum and Dad both listened to music a lot at home and in the car. I probably got very passionate about music when I was about 12 or 13 and first came across KISS. I was obsessed with that band. The make up, the photos of the big explosions, the catchy cheap glamour of the songs. I was fascinated. Always carried a soft spot for them for many years. In very recent times however, I have become increasingly aware that sometimes they are pretty shit.
4) What was the first gig that you went to? Where was it and what was it like?
I think it would have been Gladys Knight and the Pips at the Rainbow Theatre in London. I was very young so mainly I just remember feeling a bit tired. Not sure I had the same appreciation for say, ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ back then. Today I love that song.
5) Top of the Pops features heavily at one point in the record – is there a particular performance from the show that sticks in your mind?
Ok – so to be totally honest it would have been Gary Glitter without a doubt. Something I obviously have mixed feelings about now. It’s hard when the subject of childhood admiration turns out to be a fucking monster.
6) What are your memories of starting out making music? What was the first song that you learned to play?
I sort of learnt how to play ‘Smoke on the Water’ on guitar. I never learnt how to play it properly. I never learnt to play the guitar properly. Even when I was a professional musician I didn’t really know how to play.
7) What was your first band/musical project?
I played guitar in a band with Craig Logan (from Bros) called Stone….we were a terrible rock band. We both played in a band with Matt and Luke Goss for a bit but I left convinced they were going nowhere. Not my best decision in retrospect.
What music was influencing you at that time?
Around the time I left that band I whole heartedly embraced indie music, especially the Smiths. That was it….I just wanted to be Morrissey then. I repeat…. It’s hard when the subject of childhood admiration turns out to be a fucking monster.
What are your memories of playing your first gig and are there any recordings out there?
It would have been with Stone in my friend’s barn. Unfortunately, no recordings….I would love to hear it. There is a photo knocking about somewhere.
8) Which band/artist do you think has had the biggest influence on your music over the years?
When we started Bennet I was definitely influenced by Blur….in particular Modern Life is Rubbish, which had just come out. I thought it was so refreshing I loved the English oddness of it…..probably as I had with The Smiths years before. They don’t really inspire what I do now. These days I listen to a lot of early 70s prog and art rock….however that English oddness is an ongoing theme. Be it The Smiths, Blur or Caravan…..they all have that quality.
9) Who are some of your favourite current artists?
Oh dear….. this is tricky. I am terrible at keeping up with new artists. I have friends who make music I like….Billy Reeves, Crayola Lectern etc. Those records are new….does that count? What do you like about them? English oddness. For me Crayola Lectern is the modern day Robert Wyatt.
10) You have a new album out, how has your approach to making music changed since you started out, and how has your sound developed over that time?
It’s a hobby these days ….and I approach it as such. It has to be enjoyable and it has to be important but not more important than ‘real life’. I played bass on this record, not my usual go to. I really enjoyed that and it’s something I want to push further with the next record. We had the idea early on that we would invite guests in to play on the record so I think it was quite freeing to record bits with no preciousness involved as any part was up for being replaced by someone we invited in at a later date.
I have never recorded a concept album before, so the fact we based this on nostalgia through the prism of the early 70’s TV show Follyfoot, gave the process a structure that I really enjoyed.
Is there a particular song on the record that epitomises what you’re aiming to achieve or that is particularly special to you for any reason?
I think ‘The Last Time I Saw Ron’ is a good one. It features a lovely vocal performance by Duglas from BMX Bandits and some lovely guitar work from Christian of Slowdive. It also has a melancholy feel to it that sums up the emotion of nostalgia (which is the theme of the record) and also my own personal feelings of the actor Christian Rodska who played Ron in Follyfoot and provided narration on the record. He died shortly after recording with us – he was a lovely man and we all would have liked to have had more time to get to know him.
Follyfoot 71-73 is out now on vinyl and digital download via Bandcamp
Interview by Paul Maps
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