Rocket From The Encrypt
Codes’ epic sound has marked them out as one of the most exciting new Irish acts around. Just don’t tell them they sound a bit like Muse.
Ed Power, 27 Oct 2009
Codes’ Daragh Anderson doesn’t know whether to be deeply flattered or faintly insulted. “I can understand why people would compare us to Sigur Ros and Muse,” says the singer. “I certainly don’t think we sound like those bands. I mean, we’ve also had Keane comparisons. Okay, we use a piano. Aside from that, I honestly don’t see it.”
He won’t thank us for saying so but you can see why people, rummaging for a reference point for the Dubliners’ sky-scraping sound, might end up reaching for Muse and Sigur Ros. Like Muse, their music is almost preposterously epic – you can easily imagine it sound-tracking a Stanley Kubrick movie or an IMAX documentary about weird looking fish or the mysteries of deep space. Plus, Anderson’s vocals have the same hairdryer falsetto quality as Muse’s Matt Bellamy and Sigur Ros’ “Jónsi” Birgisson.
“In our position we’re flattered that we’re being compared to such greats,” the singer allows. “Undoubtedly Sigur Ros would be a big influence. We certainly don’t sound like them but maybe there are textures in there. As to Keane and Muse... well if you sing in a higher register you’ll get that. We’ve gotten Jeff Buckley comparisons too. And, like a lot of musicians, there’s some Radiohead in our DNA. “
Of course, unlike all of those bands, Codes aren’t anywhere near filling arenas yet (though they played the O2 as support act to Keane earlier this year). Signed to the Irish division of EMI, Codes are what you might call a slow burn project – they’ve spent this past 18 months touring their asses off and, following the release of debut album Trees Dream In Algebra are starting to gain momentum, both at home and in the UK. No, you probably won’t hear them on radio – but that goes for the territory with an experimental band, says Anderson.
“We are play-listed on Today FM at the moment. Generally, radio is slow to pick up on new bands. People want to hear stuff they know. We’re making inroads. The label isn’t disappointed. They know better than assume a band like us would be instantly successful. We don’t go for the jugular too much. It’s more of a grower thing.”
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