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Rip It Up, Issue 55, 1 February 1982, Page 6

When Pop Mechanix left for Australia last year, everyone expected them to do well. They were tight, had good songs and a charismatic frontman. Within months of arriving, there was a strong video of 'Jumping Out A Window', and talks of an album to come. Things looked rosy. Then an almost-defunct Sydney outfit, name of Popular Mechanics, decided to cause trouble. In the resulting legal battle, Pop Mechanix became NZ Pop in Australia. Soon after, vocalist Andn. ,v Snoid left to join fellow expatriots, the Swingers. Pop Mechanix decided that bass player Paul Scott should sing, and they slimmed to a four-piece. The next dilemma was the album. It was finished, but with Andrew's vocals. Studio time was booked and plans made to re-mix with Paul singing. So it's not surprising that it's taken a year for the lads to visit home. The band had just played its Sweetwaters' slot and was relaxing in the CBS caravan. So what did Paul think of the band's performance? "I think we played better than last year. Half the things we threw in were unfamiliar to the audience, so we could have struck dead spots, but it went well. We actually have so many new songs that we could have played all new material. But you have to play a certain amount that the audience is familiar with." With things going so well in NZ, what prompted you to head for Australia? "Going to Australia was a natural progression. New Zealand only goes so far, then you have to go to Australia. The industry is much bigger, and it makes a better starting block for the world.'' Was it what you expected? "Oh, there were lots of surprises. We were very naive when we got there. I think gigging was the hardest part. You have to play one-nighters regardless, usually with several other bands, because most pubs don't close till 1 am." Drummer Kevin Emmett chips in: "You have to be totally professional, in Australia. The standard of presentation and production is very high." Paul agrees. "There are so many bands there, that you have to have a

"There are so many bands there, that you have to have a strong presentation to draw crowds. It's good, in that it prepares you for an international market." Do you think your sound has changed to cater for the Australian market?

"Our music isn't pre-packaged for Australia. I think even if we wanted to conform to that sound, we probably couldn't. We even stopped playing 'Now' at one stage, because it was too Australian."

Andrew left Pop Mx on November 26, and the band played that same night as a four-piece. Did Andrew's departure affect the music?

"We made no conscious effect to change, but I think we have, in a strange way. The emphasis has shifted from a visual one to a musical one."

You didn't think of getting another singer? "Once Andrew left, we decided no more singers How is the album progressing?

"It's completed, bar the mixing," says Paul. "As well as redoing the vocals, we'll also change little bits we weren't happy with. The band's sound changes all the time, so the album is not such a fair representation as it was." What was it like working with Eddie Rayner? "We learned a hell of a lot from Eddie. He had the technique and experience to teach us things we had absolutely no idea about." Is 'Texas' a new song?

"No. 'Texas' wasn't the first choice as a single, but it was the only song that had my vocals, and we couldn't find the studio time to re-do anything else. I think 'Love Comes To The Rescue' will probably be the next single." So will we have to wait another year before we see Pop Mx back here again?

"We'll come back to tour once we've finished the album. In 1981, the major problem was that we couldn't afford to come

back." Mark Phillips