Pitchfork

Once in a while, the Futureheads are forced to slow down for a moment and consider the present. And here in the present, the band has no UK label, having just been politely dumped by 679. The Sunderland four-piece served up this year's solid News and Tributes to UK audiences via the label, as well as their self-titled debut. (It came out on StarTime/Vagrant in America.)

Now, with the young, sexy band back on the market, the question is: what next?

"At the minute we haven't found a label," Futureheads vocalist/guitarist Barry Hyde told Pitchfork in an interview on Monday. "I suppose you could say we're in between labels."

Hyde doesn't seem terribly miffed by the split, which was ultimately at the label's discretion. "Basically, [679] decided not to take us up on our options, for various reasons. But I was pretty pleased, to be honest with you. I was kind of hoping that it would happen, because I would love for us to have a fresh start-- try it a different way with some different people, so we're all very excited about next year."

Hyde's reluctant to say the band's experience with the label has led him to desire a "fresh start"-- instead, according to him, it's the age-old it's-not-you-it's-me scenario: "I suppose we weren't unhappy with the label [or] the people at the label. We were just unhappy as a band, I suppose, during that period when we were on their label...we did a lot of touring, and it was quite exhausting."

But Hyde admits, nonetheless, that he had higher hopes for the relationship with 679. These things are give and take, of course, and it seems the label slacked a bit on the giving end. "We made an album, News and Tributes," said Hyde, "and we're really pleased with it. But we don't think that enough was done with it...they just seemed to kind of go quiet. And maybe they've got lots of other things to think about, I'm not sure."

Hyde added that things are cool with the Futureheads' American mistress, StarTime/Vagrant. "We're happy being with Vagrant in America. [The split is] just in the UK."

However, the band's American A&R representative told Pitchfork in an e-mail yesterday afternoon that things aren't quite so simple. "StarTime/Vagrant licensed News and Tributes from 679/Warners UK for release in North America," he said. "It was not a direct signing of the artist. As the Futureheads are no longer on 679/Warners UK, our contractual relationship with the band is (unfortunately) over as well.

"Obviously, we love the band and would love the opportunity to keep working with them."

Since both Hyde and StarTime/Vagrant clearly still have feelings for one another, we sincerely hope they can work something out.

With 679, however, it is so over, and Hyde waxed positive about the newfound freedom. "Bands change labels all the time. And quite often changing labels can be quite an advantageous thing for a band to do. So we're in that position now where we've got lots of labels interested in us and we're still a band that people like, you know, we've got fans." Playing the field, are we?

Quite a few choice suitors have approached the Futureheads, but they've yet to find The One. So what does Hyde look for in a label? "The name of the label isn't really that important; it's more about the people at the label. They have to really want to work with us. They need to enjoy what we're doing. And they need to want to see us grow, and be a part of that. It's all just about meeting people.

"But first and foremost we want to concentrate on getting some new material together, because that will give us the bravado and the courage to start playing those songs live, and then it's all about the new confidence that we have after the new material that's going to see us through."

Continued Hyde, confidently: "I think people are keen for us to keep making music. And we're just really excited about finding someone new and releasing an album next year." As you should be, Barry. Plenty of fish in the sea, as they say.

Hyde had plenty to tell already about that new album, or at least the band's designs for it. "I want to get loads of songs together to chose from," he enthused. "Like 30 songs or something like that-- have a different experience on this record, make demos we didn't on the last one, and have loads of songs to chose from. Whereas on the last one, we just recorded the songs we had, and that was enough for an album."

Watch out, labels: The newly available Futureheads are feeling bold, according to Hyde. "I'd like to try making a really abrasive album. I'm getting a baritone guitar; I want to make a heavy rock album. We all want to make a kind of hard [record], back to some of the spirit that our first album had, with the kind of big harmonies and stuff like that. We want to make music that has a very unusual groove, but you can't escape it, you can't deny it."

As previously reported, Hyde suffered tendonitis earlier this fall and the Futureheads were forced to cancel their U.S. tour. Thankfully, "It's all right now, much better. Basically, two years of constant touring and then you have a little time off, and your wrist decides to tell you that it's been in quite a lot of pain for a while and it needs a little rest."

Injuries are nothing new to the intrepid men of the Futureheads, however. "I think we all have been completely physically battered over the past few years."

The Futureheads hope to return to the U.S. as soon as possible, but in the meantime, Hyde and Co. have their sights set on some more exotic locales.

"We're going to have some gigs in China. I think bands are starting to go over there doing tours and stuff, so that will be fantastic. China! I'm all into trying to go to places we haven't been. I want to go to South America, and I'd also love to go to China, so we'll see. Also we're kind of curating an indoor festival in Newcastle just before Christmas. We're playing and a load of local bands are playing, so that will be great."

Blind dates:

11-25 Preston, England - 53 Degrees *#
11-26 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC *#
11-27 Sheffield, England - Leadmill *#
11-29 Wolverhampton, England - Wulfrun Hall #$
11-30 Warwick, England - Warwick University #$
12-02 Falmouth, England - Princess Pavilion #$
12-03 Portsmouth, England - Pyramids #%
12-04 Cambridge, England - Junction #%
12-05 London, England - Astoria *#
12-15 Manchester, England - The Old Brewery !
12-20 Newcastle, England - Academy (Futurefest) @

* with the Howling Bells
# with the Enemy
$ with the Motorettes
% with the Maccabees
! with Simian Mobile Disco, Sway, Zane Lowe, Milburn, the Nextmen, Dan Greenpeace
@ with Field Music, yourcodenameis:milo, Kubichek!, This Ain't Vegas, Dartz, Catweasels