The Liquorice Experiment, swinging Valencia
They play garage, beat and psychedelic rock in the best British 60’s tradition, but most of this band is from the coastal city of Valencia, in Spain. They’ve just released their first album, “How Many Lies” and they’re ready to take their energetic and pure live shows all over Europe.
Text: David Saavedra Photography: JC Verona
Left to right: Brian Diarte, Bruno Cruañes, Jesús Ramírez, Carlos Llatas and Álex Amorós
Some of you are from Valencia, but the band was formed in London. How did it all come about?
(Álex Amorós) The band was started by Bruno Cruañes, Brian Diarte and I in London together with Rachel Wood. I bumped into Brian one day at a music festival. We had both met a year ago at a concert in the Murray Room in Valencia, where we played with different bands. Both Brian and Bruno had just arrived in London, so we talked about the possibility of forming a band. We decided to meet one day to go to his house in East London. There he introduced me to Bruno. If I remember correctly, it was April or May 2016. That summer we started our first rehearsals and in 2017 we gave our first concert. The three of us are passionate about music, each of us in our own way, and I suppose that being able to develop a creative career related to the world of music and improve our English was the fundamental reason for moving to London.
Who are the members right now, and where do they reside?
(Álex) The line-up has gone through various stages, the four of us started and during 2018 Brian went to Australia to live for a year and Rachel had to leave for personal reasons, so Bruno and I continued with other musicians.
(Bruno Cruañes) Of the four of us who make up the band, three remain. Brian returned from Australia in 2019 and rejoined. Later, drummer Carlos Llatas and guitarist Jesús Ramírez joined. To this day, we all live in Valencia except for Alex, who has his life in London.
Your sound and aesthetics are very rooted in the 60’s, a time that you did not live in. How did you get hooked on it, and why are you so attracted to it?
(Álex) We are hooked by its pure sound, its aesthetics and its hedonism. It was a time that changed the spectrum at all levels, a new way of life for youth. It attracts us because it is music fair and square.
(Bruno) The story is a bit long, but we started as four friends trying to find things in common. As we progressed, we realised that what really appealed to us was the sound coming from that time. So, one way or another, we started exploring and experimenting with the songs. On the other hand, if you walk into that scene, you catch it right away. In London and in some European cities you can still breathe that spirit in some corners: the music, the colours, the creativity and spontaneity that arose from a generation that broke with all social patterns.
“It attracts us because it is music fair and square.”
From your CV of concerts, the Mod Weekender Festival in Brighton caught my attention, due to the mythical dimension of that city in mod culture via “Quadrophenia.” Are you mythomaniacs? How did you feel playing there? And, being Spanish, have you felt some kind of impostor syndrome emulating the British Invasion groups in Great Britain?
(Álex) Playing in a place like Brighton at a mod festival was a great experience. Regarding feeling like an impostor, I think, quite the opposite. They have always treated us great and have welcomed us as part of them. We have a huge following in the UK, who have seen us come to life as a band.
(Bruno) We have our references, but we don't idealise them. I think we are more than just a group emulating other bands, although that is something that is yet to be discovered. We've been through various phases and right now we're enjoying this sound, but the next record may be something different.
You play a lot in Spain and the United Kingdom, but where would you say you have seen more of a response?
(Álex) In Spain they are beginning to know us more now, and it is our country of origin, but in the United Kingdom we formed as a band, and they have seen us evolve from the first moment. Currently, I think we have more acceptance in the UK, especially from people who didn't know us at all and who follow us permanently.
(Bruno) They are different scenarios. It would seem that in Spain there is more curiosity and amazement when seeing a band of these characteristics. While in the UK there is more acceptance because these bands have always existed. We've played alongside amazing bands who are now friends of ours and have always been very kind to us. What we are clear about is that we want music with guitars not to disappear.
I see that you move, above all, within the 60's scene. What possibilities do you see for The Liquorice Experiment to transcend that scene, and go further?
(Bruno) For me, it is an ideal path from which to begin to evolve musically. The best starting point I can think of.
How alive is the sixties scene in London, by the way? What places, initiatives, bands, do you find most interesting?
(Álex) The London scene remains alive and is regenerating at a slower rate than before the pandemic, but it continues to do so. It is true that it is in a moment of transition, but it will never die, for which is a time that transcended at all levels. It will be reduced, but also adapting to the new public. The events of New Untouchables continue to be the ones that attract our attention the most and with which we feel most identified. We must also highlight those of Shindig Magazine or Psycherella. Although the regeneration, in my opinion, is mainly taking place at events organised by MOOF magazine or Peckham Northern Soul Nights. As for interesting bands, the one I've liked the most in recent times is, without a doubt, Senior Class.
You have taken seven years to publish your first LP. Did you want to do things little by little, did the pandemic have an influence or have there been other more limiting factors?
(Álex) We did everything little by little looking for the right moment for our first LP, we were never in a hurry, but it is also true that the pandemic slowed us down and that the idea was to publish something in 2020. Since we are a band that records in analogue, we had to wait until 2022 to be able to do it.
(Bruno) Before releasing anything, we wanted to play live as much as possible. We have focused a lot on doing concerts and promoting ourselves based on self-produced singles.
How are your live shows?
(Álex) Energetic and pure. We try to be faithful to our ideas and transmit them.
Do you have a very strict dress-code? What would you never allow, on an aesthetic level, in The Liquorice Experiment?
(Álex) There is no very strict dress-code, we like to wear period costumes or clothes related to it, but we have freedom. Maybe we wouldn't allow a tracksuit.
(Bruno) Well, the image is important and defines a band a lot, but everyone has their freedom when it comes to dressing. I like psychedelic shirts and winter coats, and I can't get rid of my Chelsea boots in my day to day. I have to confess that I don't like Bermuda shorts much.
What are your plans for this year?
(Álex) Playing at various festivals and presenting our album in Spain, the United Kingdom and other places in Europe.
(Bruno) For the moment, next February 24 we present our new single “Novice Pretender” in Valencia. And we have dates in April and May to play at the Ebroclub festival in Burgos and present the album in physical format at the Funhouse in Madrid.
“How Many Lies” is released by Snap! Records
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