Called The Deep Set, the new album conveys all of the comfort and familiarity of the band’s bouncy back catalogue without sounding like a tired Bats-by-numbers.
There’s the bright chiming guitar, the infectious pastoral melodies, Robert Scott’s deep vocals, and the simple yet strong rhythm section. There are also plenty of great pop songs.
"It’s pretty much standard stuff, and what we’ve done with other albums," band leader Scott explains when asked about what sets this new album apart from the band’s nine-album-deep discography.
"It’s just us steering it in terms of whether it’s busy or loud, the tempo, whether we leave space for other instruments ...
"I’m pretty much writing all the time, so I have a big backlog of spare songs, and I think after a while, I compartmentalise them, and put ones that would work well as the Bats in a folder. Once I’ve decided it’s something the Bats are going to do, it’s the band playing it that makes it sound like a Bats song. In terms of the playing, what Kaye [Woodward], Paul [Kean], and Malcolm [Grant] play on it, that really defines the sound.
"There are definitely songs that say, if I had as solo songs, I would have approached them differently in the way they were recorded. It’s in the putting down that defines what it is."
But what does keep the Bats sound so well loved and well-received after all these years?
"I guess that’s the X-factor, that’s the big question," Scott says with a laugh.
The approach still pays off. The beautiful relaxed chug of Steeley Gaze, the zipping guitar leads of Busy, the light and bright alt-folk of Antlers are all rousing yet understated and up there with anything the foursome has written.
"We all get on well, we’re on the same wavelength, and we enjoy working in the same area musically."
The band plans to tour New Zealand in March, and then further afield through the mid-year, but Scott is also keeping himself busy with painting (a great work of his adorns the cover of The Deep Set), and other recording projects.
"I’ve recently recorded a song for another Robbie Burns compilation, and I’m looking at doing another solo album. I’m just looking at the angle for that, whether it’s going to be another folky thing or possibly something a bit more experimental and electronic," Scott says.
"It’s a case of whether I hone up my keyboard skills or just go into the studio and start playing with a few toys."
The album
• The Bats’ new album The Deep Set is available now on CD and LP via Flying Out http://flyingout.co.nz/, and digitally on Bandcamp.
