Phone Label Dials Up Success For Travis

Jun 22 2008 Billy Sloan

TRAVIS have turned the clock back 12 years to launch the next phase of their career.

The Glasgow group have revived an indie record label for new EP J. Smith.

It's being released on June 30 on Red Telephone Box Records which Travis founded in 1996 with a £500 loan from singer Fran Healy's mum.

The band put out their first single, All I Want To Do Is Rock on the label before landing a major record deal.

Fran has also designed the Spirograph-style sleeve for J. Smith to complete the DIY appeal.

"All I Want To Do Is Rock was a limited release on 10in vinyl and Fran did the artwork," said bassist Dougie Payne.

"J. Smith is a nice little bookend. We did five albums with Independiente and parted amicably which is unusual in this industry.

"So we revived Red Telephone Box which is our own little label."

The EP is a taster for Travis' sixth studio album, Ode To J. Smith.

It was recorded in London's RAK Studios where acts such as Paul McCartney, The Animals and Cockney Rebel recorded classic hits.

Dougie said: "The Animals recorded House Of The Rising Sun there in two takes over 10 minutes in 1964. As they had a whole three-hour session booked they recorded the rest of their album in the time left over."

Travis - Fran, Dougie, drummer Neil Primrose and guitarist Andy Dunlop - describe J. Smith as their first three-minute rock opera.

Dougie said: "J's a fictitious character we wrote around but we're steering clear of the words 'concept album'.

"We're calling it prog-pop and there's definitely a nod towards Ray Davies and Pete Townshend.

"We had a fouryear break between our albums 12 Memories and The Boy With No Name so we wanted to record really quickly.

"We recorded 10 tracks in four days and left the rough edges - we didn't smooth them off."

Dougie and his actress wife Kelly MacDonald are celebrating another production - the birth of their first child, four-month-old Freddie.

He said: "I've really taken to fatherhood. It's absolutely amazing. Freddie is so beautiful and adorable - he's the greatest thing.

"Being a dad opens up this other part of you you didn't know existed. It's a very humbling experience."