Like a Christian version of the Smashing Pumpkins - that's the TINGLIES. Dave Williams reports.

the Tinglies

Anyone at the annual Meltdown teaching conference in 1992 will wonder what came of the winners of
the Battle Of The Bands competition Ephis Dammim. The answer was found in 1993's Battle Of The Bands. For then the prize - a chance to record a demo at Walsall's home of Christian rock, Stairway Music - was claimed by a new Scottish band calling themselves the Tinglies. The Tinglies: Ian Cook (vocals, guitar), Phaythe (bass) and Allan McLeish (drums) had all been in Ephis Dammim. Unlike the Cult-meet-grunge-rock style of Ephis Dammim, the Tinglies' music shows heavy soul/rock influences of bands such as My Bloody Valentine and the Smashing Pumpkins.

Ian Cook explains the change of name and direction. "It was the departure of Alan Stallard and Vickie Brown in January of 1993 that saw the downfall of Ephis Dammim. But it also was an opportunity for the remaining band members to change musical direction to suit our own personal tastes. The Meltdown recording weekend made it possible for us to record a few tracks to compliment songs that we had already recorded. The result was our EP 'Happy And Sad Songs'."

The Tinglies have been very fortunate in receiving help and encouragement from people involved in both the Christian and secular music scene, even to the extent of finding the bands new and rather unusual name. Ian explains, "The band have attracted loads of interest from local people who are involved in the music scene. It was during our recording session at the Relative Concepts studio that we were discussing a new name for the band. We felt it very important that our old Ephis Dammim tag be put to rest for good, especially since our new musical direction is so far removed from the old material. After much discussion, it was the studio engineer who suggested our new name! We liked it so it stuck."

Of course the real success of any band can be dependent on the regular appearance of new albums and a stream of gig. So just what do the Tinglies have lined up for us? Ian: "We are in the process of recording an album which is due for imminent release and our live show can be picked up quite regularly at clubs and pubs local to us. Once again we are fortunate in that a local music services company (R & A Music Services) have been a great help in our success of securing regular local gigs and of course we hope to appear at a few of the annual Christian festivals, Cross Rhythms '94 being an event we're really, really looking forward to playing."

The Tinglies have already attracted mainstream secular interest. In May the band recorded a live session for Radio Scotland as part of the lead up for the Edinburgh Festival. Things also look quite hopeful with regards to future recordings. Says Ian, "Sony Music are showing an interest in hearing the band and Chrysalis Records have attended a special rehearsal session laid on for their A & R department."

After a false start with Ephis Dammim things are clearly on the up for the Tinglies. I for one am sure that we will be hearing much more about this enterprising Scottish trio.