Paul Butler, Kate Smith and Pat Watson of Delta T
Delta T
By Vic KingMy chat with the three members of Delta T began on a common theme, the lack of good Isle of Wight venues. In 1994 Delta T were regulars at the Crown in Ryde but circumstances have changed. Pat, used to London venues like Dingwalls, finds it difficult.
Pat: "Between 1993 and 1996 we did sixty gigs but in the last few years we've only done about twenty."
Delta T (first line up 1989). Pete (from Waltons) gtr/sax; Pat bass; Brian Brown vocals, percussion (joined mainland band Freedom AKA); Cierille vocals.
Pat: "It started from having a jam with half of the Waltons. We tried so hard to get Tony Walton to be our front man, but after the Waltons he didn't want to know. He'd had enough."
Delta T (second lineup 1992). Pete ld gtr; Pat bass; Jim gtr/vocals (left to go to Newcastle University, became involved with music therapy and pyschology. Now back on the Island); Sandra O'Toole vocals, 12 string guitar.
Pete left in 1996 due to ill health.
Pat: "When Jim and Pete left it left us a bit thin. Kate started to learn guitar. She is a specialist in reggae rhythm. She learnt it properly watching Marley on the video."
Kate: "I used to work in a warehouse. A nipper there, James said 'Can I come and have a bash on the drums and bring my friend Paul?' They were both about to go to university."
Pat: It was purely a jam with Colin and Pete. James had a go, Paul Butler played a bit of guitar and then got on the drumkit. I thought 'Wow'. Paul's gone from strength to strength. In the last few two years he's just foot down on the accelerator. He's quite happy to come along and drum like a lunatic, and put in a bit of guitar and trumpet. He's the first drummer I've worked with that I can integrate with."
Kate: "If we hadn't met Paul, he wouldn't have met Max and so on. I've been trying to get him a girlfriend, but it would ruin his focus."
In 1995 Delta T played a gig at the Parkhurst Forest Fair. Max Brennan came along to the gig with Steve Dungey from Holistic Records. The meeting eventually led to the release of Delta T's first four track EP 'Injected Soul' released in February 1997 (HOL 8). Tracks Deep Range, Injected Soul, Darkside, Majestic.
Kate: "Colin Brocquillon played a bit of keyboards. We did it on a four track recorded in a tiny bedroom at Uffa Fox Place. A wardrobe and a mattress up against the wall."
Pat: "Just done on a crappy four track in a bedroom. Max and I did a bit of fiddling with the EQ."
The second four track CD followed in July 1997. Tracks: Radar 2012 (about Plessey), Lost Arks, The Anolamy, Bush Communication. All tracks from their two EPs were incorporated into the CD 'Lost Arks' released on Holistic in October 1997.
Current Delta T lineup: Olly Bennett gtr, keyboards, percussion; Kate Smith gtr, Pat Watson bass; Paul Butler drums; Pete gtr. Other contributors: Mike Rodriques harmonica (ex-Godfrenzy); Norman Young jews harp/tong drum; Steffi vocals.
Olly joined the band in 1996. His father Richard Bennett played bass in XJB with Mark King on drums and later Built For Comfort.
With Pete back on guitar, it means there are four guitarists in the lineup.
Olly: "Everyone who plays guitar is different. You couldn't get more different range of styles. Everybody adds their own flavour to it."
Pat: "Kate has invested in a hard drive. No more four track recording for us. We've been working on about sixteen tracks to select material for the next CD. Steve Dungey of Holistic is one in a million. People from record companies are normally more into the business side of things. He just loves music. He was a vinyl junkie when he was a kid. We are so lucky to have him. He's an eclectic record man, not looking for a streamlined product he can push and push."
The current edition of the Japanese msuic magazine 'Loudmouth' has an article entitled 'New British Techno - Isle of Wight' it features Island DJs Mark Marsh and Josh Brent plus the Holistic artistes.
Pat: "It even includes a tourist map, so the Japanese now know abut Butterfly World." (Vic says:I thought I might ask the Japanese students at the college to translate it for us.)
| DELTA T DISCOGRAPHY | |
|---|---|
| Holistic Recordings | |
| Injected Soul | 4 track CD February 1997 |
| Lost Arks | July 1997 |
| Lost Arks (compilation of eight tracks of first two CDs) | October 1997 |
Vic King interviewed Pat Watson, Kate Smith and Olly Bennett from Delta T in Cowes on 25/4/98
Delta T started with Pat and friends in 1989 on the Isle of Wight. They wrote their own material and played over eighty gigs in five years ('92 - '97).
Notable gigs were Warehouse party on the Thames, Salisbury Arts Centre with Freedom AKA, Joiners Arms, Southampton, Ryde Theatre and most of the pubs and clubs on the Isle of Wight plus many excellent outdoor parties/gigs on the Island including Parkhurst Forest Fayre.
Delta T's recent influences come from the age of the DJ, house, funk, jungle, jazz, ambient, reggae and dub. "So much variety so to name a few Zion Train, Tassilli Players, Tricky (first album), Aphex Twin (ambient works), Burning Spear, Brian Eno (production lessons) our friend Max (Brennan) in his various guises and our DJ friends Tony Walton and Mark Marsh.
Pat Watson 21/11/63 Born and lived in London, has lived on the Isle of Wight for the last ten years. Both parents were professional musicians and Pat taught himself from the age of 15. He wrote and played in Goth/Indie bands Masque and Alternative 3 in the Mid 80s. Gigged around London in clubs, pubs and squats, Dingwalls, Clarendon, Comedy Store, Club Dog.
Pat's early influences were from punk and new wave bands, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Third World and Hawkwind. Got interested in recording after recording demo's with Masque in a studio in London. Bought a four track and started from there.
Influenced by dub from setting up sound systems for reggae/dub parties, going to festivals notably Stonehenge Free Festival and Glastonbury in the early 80s, going to live gigs Jah, Shaka, Black Uhuru, Ziggy, Marley, Sly + Robbie and Misty in Roots.
Kate Smith 20/3/74 Born and bred on the Isle of Wight. No musical background self taught with help of friends. Has been playing for three years in Delta T. Kate's musical influences are Bob Dylan, John Lee Hooker, U2, Scratch Lee Perry, Icho Candy, Steel Pulse, The Doors, Michelle Shocked.
Colin Brocquillon 24/11/52 Played some keyboards on the first Delta T EP (Deeprange, Injected Soul, Majestic and Darkside). Has since left Delta T and is now sailing boats across the Atlantic. Jammed with Supertramp in their early years.
Paul Butler 30/4/77 See Paul Butler/Pnu Riff profile
Paul's influences for Delta T: Tortoise, The Beatles, African Rhythms, experimentation and drum and bass/dub.