³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

This week on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 1 we have a special Maida Vale Session from Cardiff artist John Mouse, who released a new album this year called Humber Dogger Forties on Crocfingers Records.

The album and session features some special guests including his brother Steve Jones on one track and Prince Edward Island as a backing band. Listen out to this week's Introducing show for the session and interview with John and Steve, but here for Wales Music I interviewed John for more on the antics of the day at the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s legendary Maida Vale studios.

Hi John. How was the day trip to Maida Vale on Friday?

First of all it was amazing when we found out that we were going to record at Maida Vale. I have recorded at some great places in the past. The Session in Wales, as it was then, sent us to Loco, and Monnow Valley, and I also done some sessions at 6 Music, but this was something special.

When we turned up I was full of nerves and excitement. Phil said to me over breakfast: "I am just waiting to be found out." That kind of summed it up for me; I didn't believe that we were there. Maybe that's just a lack of self confidence and belief that I get about my music.

Just above our heads at breakfast there is a picture of The Beatles pushing trays along the same service area that we just picked our sausages, scrambled eggs, and beans from. At that point it really kicks in.

We were also and hour and a half early, so we had plenty of time to kill. I had a look around and saw musicians from the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Symphonic Orchestra tuning up. And the toilet floors shined, so much so that when I looked down I could see the reflection of the other bloke in the cubicle next to me, who had taken a phone call at a "inconvenient time" as he politely put it.

We banged out the four tracks in less than an hour and half. Once we got going it was great, that's what we were there to do. I think that everyone had that red light tension though. Your hands freeze up on the fret board when the voice from behind the glass booms "we are going for a take".

We were exhausted at the end of the session, but celebrated with a Chinese in Camden Town. Happy days.

Which songs did you record?

The Last Great Rhondda Romance.
I had set a challenge to Prince Edward Island, my backing band, to write a love song between two miners. They came up with "Like bouncers we stand" which will be on their album due for release this sept on the same label as John Mouse stuff. So the challenge was bounced back. Immediately a love duet with Steve came to mind, based on the height difference between the two of us. The rest of the lyrics wrote themselves in a couple of minutes.

If I Were An Oyster
I heard a riff on the radio, I think it was an Echo and the Bunnymen track, but I might be wrong. I tried to play a riff similar, but because I am crap on guitar I have no idea if it sounded like it. Then I had the hook line "If I were an oyster I'd clamp my shell on you." The rest again just sort of followed. I wanted to place a lot of the songs on the Humber Dogger Forties album. Giving them location. Langland Bay is mentioned in this one.

Got You Shaking Your head (Like David Gray)
I went to Phil in the studio and said, "I've got this line: 'She said, you've got the coolest friends". I got three chords like, Lou Reed, or Cornershop or something, and I wanted it to be an indie disco anthem, a bit Pulp-esque. Then he sent me a rough version. I tidied up some of the lyrics, he added the David Gray hook line and that was it. I think its my favourite track on the album. Probably because its more Prince Edward Island and less John Mouse.

Sex With You
This is a song about not being able to have sex with your partner because they are postpartum. I don't really say this, I just describe how that person is feeling. So it can come across a lot more sinister, and lot weirder than its actual meaning.

If you really listen to the words, its quite detailed and personal, so the clue is there, as this person is not a stranger to the one he wants sex with. This has gone down a storm live though, people just here the lyrics "I want to have sex with you" and think its some desperado, I think. Maybe I'm not giving the audience enough credit here.

Anyway, people can make what they want of it. It's not up to me once it's out there what people think, and that's a good thing. It makes the song bigger; it gives more life to my initial idea.

I heard you had quite a line up of nine musicians at the session. Do tell me more about them.

They are all in , who are one of my favourite bands, and it's amazing to have them play with me, live when they get a chance, and on this session. I have become really good friends with them all, and its always a pleasure to be in their company. Oh yeah, some bloke off the telly was there too - nice one bruv.

There's been quite a gap in your recording career, your blogs tail off in 2007 and yet you're back with full force this year. Did you get fed up of music, or gigging at least?

No. We had a baby.

What's your favourite subject matter for a song?

Relationships. Not I love you, you love me, but human relationships.

What other music inspires you?

I don't listen to a lot of music. Writers inspire me more. So maybe bands with a focus on lyrics. I love Malcolm Middleton, Bill Callahan, and the Silver Jews, and pretty much listen to them all the time. I like a bit of Johnny Cash now and again too. The authors who inspire me are Vonnegut, Bukowski, Carver, Heller, Hamsun. I'm doing an MA in creative writing which really helped my songwriting. It gave it a lot more focus, and showed me what I could do.

What'll be the next step for the promotion of the album? Any more gigs lined up?

I have five gigs in the next three weeks. Two in the Rhondda and three in Cardiff.

Red Cow, Treorchy, 9 July
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, 11 July
Barfly supporting some bloke from Pineapple Dance Studios, 16 July
Parc Hall, Cwmparc, 17 July
Buffallo Bar, Cardiff, 21 July

They are all acoustic shows though, as James from the band is getting married. But the acoustic shows are just as fun for me. I can sort of do what I want, without worrying that I will piss the band off.

Then I'm having a break cause I am having another baby. So back around Swn time with a full band performance at the festival, to be confirmed. Then it's back to the drawing board for the next album, due in 2012.

Tell me about Crocfingers, the label that's put the album out.

are a small label. They are small but they care, as Sean Hughes said in The Commitments. London-based. Prince Edward Island are also on the roster.

Listen here for the full session and a performance video this week.