Last month, Super Extra Bonus Party returned with ‘The Corpse’ - the first track to be released from their forthcoming album ‘Late Nite 99’, due for release on September 29th.

Sounding like a lost cut of 1970s psychedelia, the track wears its eccentricity on its sleeve and sees the Choice Prize-winning Irish band - returning with their first new album since 2009 - pull their eclecticism in surprising new directions. 

To mark their comeback, we caught up for a chat with Stephen Fahey from the band.

1. What’s the music that you listened to growing up, that you still listen to today?
Unfortunately, a lot of the music that informed and excited my early teenage mind has faded with time. The energy of The Prodigy, the beautiful harmonies of The Stone Roses and the simplistic aggression of bands like Nirvana all played pivotal roles in shaping my musical taste, but I don't find myself going back to them these days. Albums that I heard over 20 years ago and still mean a lot to me would be Mic Christopher's ‘Skylarkin’, ‘Fantasma’ by Cornelius and ‘Radiator’ by Super Furry Animals. These albums bring me back to a certain time and place but also propel me forward when I listen to them, and I still listen to them at least once a month.

2. In three words, describe the minute before you walk on stage.
All Together Now......

3. How do you wind down after a gig?
It's been a while since we've played actually, but we generally all wind down together. We enjoy being with our friends and family, and meeting new people at shows is always a real upside to being out performing.

4. What’s the one song (by another artist) you wish you’d written or recorded first?
The first one that comes to mind would be ‘Disorder’ by Joy Division. I would consider myself a sensitive and emotional type of person and this song has the tools to instantly lift my skin and head straight for the tear ducts every time. I think the tune embodies the mythology of Ian Curtis and Joy Division in a way, and the guitar riff played on the Shergold is just so simple and amazing.

5. What is your pet peeve?
Teapots that don't pour properly and spill everywhere. Goodnight!

6. Name one record, one book and one film that everyone should hear / read / see.
‘Archive Material’ is an amazing album by Silverbacks, the grooves and vocal performances speak for themselves. I'm reading Peter Frankopan's ‘The Earth Transformed’ at the moment. It's an amazing insight into the impact of climate change on civilisations over the course of history. It's a beautiful reminder of the knowledge that we hold within and how our history can teach us important lessons about how to care for our planet and each other. And finally, The 1993 smash hit ‘Hocus Pocus’ is a strong reminder that a) love always prevails, b) talking cats are helpful and c) any lighting of the Black Flame Candle, recreational or otherwise, will cause hassle.

7. Pick the director and lead actor(s) for a biopic about your life.
Tim Burton would direct because I love his aesthetic. ‘Parks and Rec’-era Chris Pratt would play me. That character is a decent reflection of a good portion of my life. I think it would make a good combination. 

8. You’re ordering take-away, what do you get?
Chicken curry, fried rice and chips. No need to mess around.

9. Describe your perfect day off.
Wake up - 2 cups of coffee - podcast - my wife and I walk our dog Bonin down in the Sliabh Bloom mountains - water the polytunnels and veg patches - Indian food for dinner would nice - eat outside because my wife Dee loves that - strum guitars on the couch - accumulate an hour of simple daydreaming along the way - lay on the couch with my beautiful family.

10. Tell us, in one sentence, why we should come to your next gig (whenever it may be.)
We'd love people to come because we're honest noise makers who are full of beans and machines. And we'd love to meet you.

BONUS QUESTION: Recommend a podcast and tell us why we should subscribe to it.  
I always look forward to ‘Empire’. I'm a big history fan and this pod focusses series by series on different Empires from the British in India, through to the Ottomans, etc.. It gives amazing detail about the past and they always have really informative and interesting guest historians on.

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'The Corpse' is out now. Super Extra Bonus Party release new album 'Late Night 99' on September 29th.