KLEN, Falmouth band making waves in Cornwall

KLEN currently consists of Alex Mantle, AKA Bill Upon-Tubs, Cassius Nice-Garside, AKA Orlando Nice, and Paul Ruskin AKA Rough Skin with bassist Jake moving down from Bristol set to join the line-up very soon.

Falmouth-based psychedelic rock band KLEN during their first ever recording session, at AMATA studios (Academy of Music & Theatre Arts at Falmouth Uni), with sound engineer Jamie Harley, photographed for KLEN by Hugh Hastings.

"I had never been in a band or played anything," says Paul. "Not even open mike. We used to play in our flat and never dreamed of playing anywhere else. Got together had a couple of practices then Cass booked a couple of gigs for three weeks time and then it was like it's on and we played our first gig at the Fish Factory [in Penryn].

"The next night we played Cornish Bank supporting Speedboat which was terrifying."

They call themselves the 'Freak Beat Beatniks' and started last June as a 60s garage revival band with influences "from all over the shop," they say.

"I don't think you can put it in a little box particularly," say Cassius. "We like to have things evolve even within songs covering lots of different sonic textures.".

"So far it's the live sound we've really worked on," says Paul "So kind of work out a song that's maybe two, three, five minutes and then we'll build that around experimental noise and jamming along.

KLEN at the Cornish Bank photographed for KLEN by Hugh Hastings.

"It's almost like a DJ set or album side of noise then we stop and have a breather then carry on. It's always different and always at a slightly different pace but yeah, meant to be fluid. It's something powerful, loud and embracing."

"Never conscious of trying to do anything in particular it's just about getting in the KLEN zone," says Alex.

Ninety five per cent of their material is original, apart from a few obscure covers, despite only them being together for less than a year. They were recently featured on BBC Music introducing in the South West with Sarah Gosling who played a rough mix of the song Down The Pen on her show. The track is scheduled to be their first single out in May when it has been properly produced.

"We did a gig with [local band] Mildred Maude recently and just jammed and someone said we sounded like Sonic Youth but haven't listened to them either!"

The band cite their influences as the obscure American garage band The Monks, a band formed by GI's based in Germany during the 60s who shaved their heads, as well as Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd, 60s psych some of the Amercian West Coast bands as well as Velvet Underground and eighties drone rockers Spaceman 3.

"I think from my perspective I always knew it was going to be weird," said Alex. "In terms of our stage presence and all around us."

KLEN at the Cornish Bank photographed for KLEN by Hugh Hastings.

Paul says their look originated from the weird stuff he has collected from charity shops over the years: "When the band started I opened the wardrobe and said shall we wear these? And the others said 'yes'," he says.

Paul and Alex originally moved to Falmouth in 2015 to study at Falmouth University and have now made the town their home.

"We were big into to 'Falsound' at the time," says Paul. "Black Tambourines, Holiday Ghosts, The Red Cords they were a massive influence on us. These guys going out swapping around putting their own gigs, Black Tambourines particularly.

"They were all just doing something interesting that we liked and it showed us it wasn't just a pipe dream that you could get it done if you put your backs into it."

They are now trying to create their own scene through the newly formed Kernow Psych Society and are putting on events in the town throughout the year.

"We set up Kernow Psych Society try and create some essence of a burgeoning scene," they say. "Which actually seems to have worked pretty well so far. Putting on nights inviting other bands down here as the Cornish Bank are doing so it's a stop on peoples' bands tour itinerary.

Any bands that want to get in touch can through Instagram at @KernowPsychSociety or email KernowPsychSociety@gmail.com

KLEN is one of the latest bands announced to be playing WanderFal

You can catch KLEN at the WanderFal Festival this weekend April 8-9 alongside bands such as This Is The Kit, Golden Dregs, Rozi Plain, The Wytches, Hockeysmith, Ruarri Joseph, Big Ben Jorge, Dele Sosimi Orchestra and London Bulgarian Choir.