You may remember Noisettes from the recent (very positive) review that appeared in this space a few weeks ago of their debut album, What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf. Genre labels don’t work that well on their shotgun marriage of neo-soul and garage revival and heaven only knows what else, so you’ll just have to listen to them, which I highly recommend that you do at your earliest convenience.

Noisettes are a trio, of the sort that you might call a “power trio” if they sounded a bit more like Cream and a little less like a gunfight between Jack White and Ella Fitzgerald. You might possibly remember bassist/vocalist Shingai Shoniwa and guitarist Dan Smith from Sonarfly; they’ve since brought in drummer Jaimie Morrison and picked out a more appropriate name. They’re from the UK, which means that everyone on that side of the Atlantic has had a three-month or so head start on the album. But we’ll catch up! Or something…

Dan Smith kindly agreed to answer our Five Questions. For more information on Noisettes, please visit their website and/or their myspace.

1. When historians listen to your most recent CD 1000 years from now, what will they say?

I hope they understood what we were trying to do- they will say it was a strong debut of a good live band- Yet to find a steady plateau on songwriting- Quite ambitious in some parts and there are parts where we slightly over-reach- I think that people would be impressed with the alternate versions of the songs on the album and b-sides because they are quite different from what was on What’s the time Mr. Wolf.

2. If you could play a show with any band/musician living or dead, who would you pick and why?

Led Zeppelin- I think we’d probably get booed because there is a lot of testosterone floating around at their shows but it would be great to see John Bonham play.

3. What is the strangest band-related dream (one of) you have had?

I have a recurring dream where we are playing in this massive room of a big house that is a sort of commune where lots of people live but I’m having trouble getting my equipment set up- Shingai and Jamie are playing on and I’m trying to join them but by the time my guitar works, our set is over!

4. What do your fans look like?

They look like a united colours of benneton ad campaign billboard- All ages, all colours, all genders (all 12 of them!!)

5. What bullshit do you run into at most every show that makes you think “man, this bullshit again?”

D.Js at club nights where we are playing and they play fucking house music or really laddie indie music before we play- also, people being timid and coy.

Bonus Question (of the moment): Please describe the best pair of shoes you can imagine owning.

I want to own a pair size 10 stilletos with red hollowflake metal patches, and bright yellow L.E.D.s running up the length of the heel.

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