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In Conversation with Clear Horizon
October 2003
A little background:
Sometimes with life, I always find it interesting that often one thing
leads to a another. Take for example when I first started music
properly back in 1998, I never really planned to do as many different
projects as I have done (and am still doing also), one thing simply lend
to another and it all started from there.
Take the case of Clear Horizon, who I have interviewed here. I
actually interviewed Jessica Bailiff, one half of Clear Horizon only
a little while before about her solo music, when during the interview
she then mentions about this new band she has formed called
“Clear Horizon” with Dave Pearce, famous for been in the band
“Flying Saucer Attack. “, (One of the most beautiful messings of Folk
Rock and Post Rock ever) so as soon as I heard about this and considering
I rate Flying Saucer Attack as one of my biggest influences EVER as
well as Jessica’s music , I just knew I had to sit down and get a interview
off them, so I asked Jessica and all that started from there.
I know for a fact from reading elsewhere that Jessica and Dave had
started work together, as far back as 2000 or so, shortly after the release
of the last Flying Saucer Attack “Mirror” but then afterwards it all
seemed to disappear and I never heard anything else about it, so I began
to think that was it really.
Fast-forward to 2003 and as you may have noticed else-where on this
website, I did a interview actually with Jessica and much to my surprise
during this interview, Jessica actually revealed some details about
this forthcoming album. So what happened was I decided to do a
follow up to this and ask her would she would like to do some
additional questions specifically on Clear Horizon.
I am not aware of an individual website for Clear Horizon as of yet,
but perhaps no doubt nearer towards the time when the album is
released (Due out at the beginning of November).
In the meantime, sample downloads can be heard on Jessica’s
official website.
Jessica's official website
Setting Sun:
Hiya - I have been familiar with you of your
separate releases for some years now, and have both
of your separate set of releases both quite equally
challenging, so when I first heard about this, I
became very excited and interested by just wanting to
hear it. Can you explain to us a little bit about the
history of your forthcoming release "Clear Horizon",
how you got together and using my usual saying how
fired the starting pistol etc?
Jessica (JB):
it started off with us meeting at an fsa
show in Chicago several years ago. After
developing a friendship through the mail and over the
phone, I somehow found the nerve to ask Dave if he'd
like to attempt some sort of musical collaboration.
Dave Pearce (DP):
Jessica is one of the best people ever, so as I'm
only interested in working with other people
musically nowadays, NOT on my own, it was obvious to
try doing some tracks, as I knew I could trust and respect
her with it without any worries. So more a personal link
really.
Setting Sun:
Did it prove quite difficult trying to work out the
album with the pair of you leaving so far apart. I
work in a band myself where the members live at
opposite ends of the country, but you only have the
Atlantic Ocean between the pair of you, which is much,
much worse?
JB:
actually, the distance, in a way, made it easier.
I'm very shy about playing and singing in front of
people. I didn't have to deal with creating in person
with this album, which was nice for my nerves.
However, the distance made for a long period of time
spanning to finish the recordings. Also, with the
other person not being there, it can be difficult to
stay motivated. A threat face-to-face is much more
intimidating than a threat over the phone or on a
piece of paper to get one's act together and finish a
piece of music.
DP:
I now know how threatening Jessica can be
face-to-face; had I known that before, I'd have
been a darn sight quicker doing my bits for
the tracks!!
Setting Sun:
Okay, what’s the origin behind the name of Clear
Horizon? Is it meant to be reflected in the music?
JB:
Dave found the name; it was originally supposed
to just be the album title, but we decided it worked
very well as a project name.
DP:
It's from an Alfred Hitchcock interview quote in
fact, it's a positive meaning name (shock, horror...)
Setting Sun:
I’ve read several interviews of Dave not clearly
comfortable doing live concerts, and from re-reading
interviews with Jessica, I know Jessica is not that
keen on doing, if you were to approach gigs to support
the album, how could you see the album in the live
arena?
JB:
We've talked about possibly touring with the next
album, but not this one. So we really haven't thought
much about performing the material on this one.
DP:
I reckon the stuff could adapt to be done live
quite well theoretically, but neither of us are
comfortable singing in front of people, so....
Setting Sun:
What’s next for you both after this? Is there any
plans for singles from the album etc, etc?
JB:
I don't know, really. We have begun work on the
2nd album. Both of us have compilation tracks in the
works, as solo artists, not clear horizon. That's as
far as I can see, right now (aside form the eau Claire
project, which I probably mentioned to you in the
previous interview segment). Dave is actually
secretly a member of another band that has releases on
one of those hip London cd-r labels.
Setting Sun:
What's the inspiration behind the artwork on the
album? I certainly thought it added a distance things;
is that something to do with it?
JB:
A lot of things happen subconsciously, so I think
that your observation about the artwork conveying
distance was a good one, though it wasn’t intentional.
The outer art is from a photo I took here in the
States, and the inner art was created by Dave; we then
both, along with designer Craig McCaffrey, ironed out
the overall look of the album.