With their third album in four years, Melbourne's Snout have taken a great leap forward into the world of beats. About a year in the making, Circle High and Wide takes its inspiration from ‘60s pop, ‘70s funk and ‘80s hip-hop, getting these sounds together with the kind of rock’n’roll that made The New Pop Dialogue swing. 

“It's back to a more groove-based sensibility, that's for sure,” bassist/singer Ross McLennan says. “This is one of those stories that I've explained a lot of times, but it's worth repeating, if you're not too bored. When we did What's That Sound?, that was closer to this album than what The New Pop Dialogue was. And that is purely because when Greg (Ng, guitar) and Ewan (McCartney, drums) joined, we weren't functioning very well as a group type of band and it's just down to the fact that we hadn't played together, really.” 

“And since that album, we've been touring for about two years and I think we've just got it together, you know, enough to do what we want to do now. Not that we didn't want to do a rock album then because the time was right to do that, for us. It's like anything, you go with what you can do at the time and you enjoy it and make the best of it.” 

Snout slotted in recording sessions for Circle High and Wide between tours over the last year or so. “We probably only spent a couple of weeks all up, really,” McLennan says. “It's a great way to work – frustrating mentally, but great artistically because you get to go back and have another peek at things before you commit yourself to the final product. Mentally, it was hard, because you're dealing with different personalities and stuff. Musically, it was fairly nutted out before we went to the studio. And, of course, it takes shape further there because you have to leave yourself open to some sort of chaos to get that kind of spark, you know.” 

Circle High and Wide is the sound of a confident band and it's this mood which has been reflected in their last few live performances in these parts. Greg Ng first joined the band, he was playing with his back to the audience, but now he's comfortable enough to indulge in a little rock’n’roll stage play. 

“Now he's got his front to the audience, it's a completely different ball game,” McLennan says. “Occasionally, he will still do that kind of stuff, it depends what day you catch him. When we were doing spot gigs here and there, he was kind of like that guy out of the Angels, just standing there like a statue for a while. But once we got in the swing of heavy touring, he got in the spirit of it… not in the spirit of it, but confident enough to move around . Because he likes to concentrate on what he's playing.” 

The guitar licks are just one stand-out feature of Circle High and Wide; Ng's use of the turntable, especially on ‘Down Without A Sound’, is the perfect complement to the Snout sound. But don't expect the band to bring a fourth instrument on tour just yet. 

“We'll probably get into that,” McLennan says. “I'm just not sure – it's sort of up to Greg. It'd be good, for this album, if we did, but I can't afford to buy a turntable and Greg's got one, but it's the only one he's got and it's a precious item. We'll probably end up splashing a bit of money out for a generic sort of technics copy that'll be fine for live, but is not quite as good.”    

Snout are only now beginning to get the recognition they deserve for their catchy radio singles, but their live shows have always been impressive. With just guitar bass and drums, they're able to create a really full sound. “I think it's just a thing of key choice, a lot of the time,” McLennan says. “Since we've recorded the album (Circle High and Wide), I've tried to get my bass to sound a little bit more like a bass. And Ewan's actually tuned his drums down a little more to what they used to be, It's a thinker-sounding kit and he's using a better drum kit, too.” 

The drums are certainly more noticeable on this album. “Yeah, I think it's an arrangement thing,” McLennan says. “There's not as much of a guitar saturation thing going on so there's a lot of space for bass and drums to sort of poke through. And it's definitely an aesthetic thing, to get the drums right up there, too. We like our beats, whatever the genre. Not specifically referring to the generic use of that word in terms of hip-hop and stuff. Just moving feet, heart beat and all that sort of stuff. Just getting the palpitations going.” 

Snout play the Great Northern, Byron Bay, this Friday June 5, The Chelsea this Saturday June 6 and with the Living End at The Playroom this Sunday June 7.   
Circle High and Wide is out now through Au-go-go.

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