Thousand Yard Stare
Thousand Yard Stare on “Neither Right here, Nor There”
Vocalist Stephen Barnes discusses the band’s new profession spanning boxset
Jun 26, 2025
Internet Unique
In an period the place umpteen bands from the eighties and nineties have reformed, it’s ironic that three of essentially the most profitable reunions from the previous decade – Journey, Slowdive and Thousand Yard Stare – are all linked collectively by one occasion: the 1991 Slough Pageant.
Nevertheless, whereas Journey and Slowdive originated from Oxford and Studying respectively, Thousand Yard Stare’s dwelling territory was Slough. Having initially shaped in 1989, Thousand Yard Stare launched two albums (Arms On and Mappamundi) and a handful of EPs to various ranges of important acclaim earlier than calling it a day in 1993.
Twenty-three years later, the band bought again collectively for what was initially meant to be a one-off gig in London. Nevertheless, songs had been written, new EPs launched and earlier than they knew it, an album was prepared (The Panglossian Momentum) which many critics and followers have labelled the band’s most interesting assortment of works thus far. A fourth album adopted in 2022 (Earthanasia) turning the equilibrium full circle so it’s becoming that the band have lastly seen match to launch an anthology-of-sorts within the form of Neither Right here, Nor There, which got here out earlier this month (Friday sixth June) and acquired a rip-roaring 9/10 on these very pages.
For the present line-up of the band – unique members Stephen Barnes (vocals), Giles Duffy (guitar), Sean McDonough (bass) and Dominic Bostock (drums) alongside newer acquisition Floyd Foreman (guitar) – it serves as a succinct documentation of Thousand Yard Stare’s two very separate and distinct eras (1989-1993 and 2016-the current), so it was an absolute pleasure to not too long ago meet up with frontman Barnes to debate Neither Right here, Nor There and likewise the progress of bass participant McDonough, who was not too long ago identified with prostate most cancers.
Dom Gourlay (Below the Radar): Thousand Yard Stare bass participant Sean McDonough was not too long ago identified with prostate most cancers. How is he doing?
Stephen Barnes: Sean’s good. He’s doing nicely. The remedy has gone because it ought to have finished. I do know he’s doing nicely as a result of he’s on all of the What’s App teams consistently! Every little thing’s wonderful, mentally he’s good. He’s a really resilient man, and he works in and round hospitals anyway when he’s not enjoying music so it’s not a very unfamiliar place being out and in of hospital. It’s only a case of checking over the following few weeks whether or not the whole lot has been eliminated which we should always know in time, however the medical doctors appear very assured. Sean’s in actually good spirits – he even mentioned we may have finished the tour after all of the day after the operation!
That’s nice to listen to. Prostate most cancers may be very prevalent in males round our age group and I feel it actually strikes a chord when somebody you understand is identified with it.
While you see statistics like one in eight males have been identified with it and somebody you’re very near finally ends up being one these “one’s” then it begins to essentially hit dwelling. Its good to see bands doing fundraisers for prostate most cancers – there’s one occurring in Norwich. We’ve been very cautious to not make it into a giant drama that considered one of our band members has most cancers. Sean wouldn’t need that anyway. He wished to place a message out as an alternative, which I feel was the fitting resolution as we’re fairly shut with our fanbase. I’d liken Thousand Yard Stare’s followers to ultras of a small soccer membership relatively than Manchester United.
Transferring onto Neither Right here, Nor There, how did that come about?
It’s in all probability been in my thoughts for fairly a very long time. I can’t actually name it a “Greatest Of” or a “Biggest Hits,” however I felt we wanted one thing on the market that represented each eras of the band. It got here from a dialogue I had with the band at rehearsals. We had been speaking about what number of outdated songs ought to we put within the set in comparison with the newer ones, and it resonated with me having seen a variety of bands who’ve been round for a very long time which have additionally had that conundrum when a brand new album comes out. Everybody appreciates you’re selling a brand new album however please don’t play simply that tonight, play among the ones we all know as nicely. And we had been speaking about it, even to the purpose of getting a bit blended as much as which eras among the songs had been from! Once we play reside, I do suppose it’s fairly onerous to inform the distinction between our outdated songs and the newer ones. You wouldn’t know except you had been a fan. We realised there have been a variety of similarities between the 2 eras, so Neither Right here, Nor There happened to have a good time each.
Clearly we’re a special band now – there’s a twenty-three-year hole – we’re completely different folks. However we all the time mentioned firstly we would like this to intrinsically be Thousand Yard Stare in what we do. We wished to maneuver it on, attempt some various things, work with completely different folks, usher in new sounds, and so on. In order that’s the place it began, and we thought perhaps its simply time to convey all this collectively. I’d began tinkering with the thought of constructing an album blended of the 2 eras collectively, and it labored OK, however simply didn’t really feel fairly proper. I wished to try to inform the total story, so simply hit on the thought of blending these two eras and known as it Neither Right here Nor There, as a result of I fairly favored the thought of a self-deprecating title. Additionally, as a result of it summed up each eras fairly nicely. Neither Right here being the present period, and Nor There being the unique period each alludes to the very fact we by no means actually fitted into what was occurring again then and we don’t actually slot in with what’s occurring now both. We’re neither right here nor there, simply floating someplace in between. So, that’s how it began. I didn’t actually realise what I used to be taking over placing all these items collectively. I believed it might be fairly simple however it turned a little bit of a job and ended up taking six months to place the entire thing collectively.
With a lot materials to select from, how did you arrive on the ultimate tracklisting?
It was very Brian Clough relatively than a democratic vote. All of us had an extended chat about it then determined I used to be proper all alongside! It was very troublesome truly. Perhaps not a lot with the newer period, as a result of that units itself. However definitely, with the older stuff, it’s important to put your self again in that period a bit bit in your thoughts. It undoubtedly doesn’t characterize my favorite fourteen songs from that interval. I feel it simply represents that interval, so the very fact we’ve bought sure b-sides on there, a few tracks folks in all probability weren’t anticipating off Mappamundi on there. It’s actually essential that it summed up an entire period, so our first correct launch “Wonderment” is on there. Clearly the important thing singles are on there, however I additionally felt the necessity to make it characterize the entire of that period. It was an up and down period for us in a variety of methods, that’s why I didn’t need to name it a “Greatest Of.” It was extra about capturing a snapshot of that period. Initially, I used to be going to do it chronologically however it simply didn’t run very nicely, and if it doesn’t run nicely its bought to be modified. In order that’s how we arrived on the songs in the long run.
A number of the various recordings are actually attention-grabbing such because the pastoral variations of “No Rating (A.E.T.)” and “Tragedy No. 6”. Have been they recorded fairly not too long ago?
They had been each recorded final 12 months. The band are all unfold across the nation these days so we do a variety of writing over the web earlier than we get in a room. We talked about re-recording “No Rating (A.E.T.)” if we may afford it. At first I believed is there any level in re-recording it? It’s what it’s. It nonetheless sounds wonderful now. So, I bought speaking to Giles (Duffy) about perhaps doing a semi-acoustic model of it and we ended up doing a mid-paced model. It was mendacity round for a month as I nonetheless wasn’t positive about it, then I performed it by means of my headphones sooner or later and thought it had this different really feel to it that track all the time had. It’s a hoedown, a track folks usually soar up and right down to. It’s about an deadlock between two folks that’s by no means going to get sorted. So, I believed relatively than simply redo that, why not do it in a approach that focuses on the opposite sentiment of the track. Which isn’t the unhappiness of it, however extra the resignation that that is the best way its going to be. The pastoral model got here from that. Off the again of that we did “Tragedy No. 6” as nicely which I believed simply leant itself to that fashion.
I feel the inclusion of “Helstone,” “When The World Was Spherical” and “Sunday Invented” off the Easter 89 demo cassette is a vital chapter of the band’s historical past. How did it really feel going again by means of your earliest cassette demos and listening to these once more?
I didn’t suppose we may do a historical past of the band with out having the place it began. For me, having had a 23-year hole between the 2 eras and leaving all of that behind in 1993, I didn’t consider it in any respect for twenty years. I simply parcelled it away. So, truly going again in and actually digging deep again into these items was fairly emotional truly. I had emotions I didn’t suppose I’d have. Whether or not that’s outdated images or opinions in addition to listening to the recordings. Then we discovered an Easter 89 cassette, which is the one factor that exists from these recordings. You must keep in mind, these had been recorded within the analogue days when the whole lot ended up on tapes. Listening to that cassette introduced a variety of reminiscences again to me. I keep in mind even making the covers of the cassette, which had been photocopied. The wording is all finished in Letraset as a result of we didn’t have computer systems again then and it’s all wonky. It’s bought my mum and pop’s outdated cellphone quantity on it. It’s actually fairly harmless and old fashioned in so some ways. We did it on a C15 cassette which had been those you got for pc video games however had been additionally excellent for recording three tracks. So, I discovered a replica and thought let’s have a hearken to this. It hisses in all places and sounds wonky, so determined to document it right away whereas enjoying it all over, and it actually broke! The tape broke, which you’ll be able to truly hear on the finish of “Sunday Invented.” In any other case, that may have gone eternally, so at the very least we’ve bought it down. I feel if anybody has been part of this journey at any level and even all of it that we’ve been on, they’re actually essential recordings. As twee and naïve as they’re, they’ve their very own attraction. We’ve by no means actually had piles and piles of demos. I do know that’s how some bands function however we’ve all the time finished issues by course of. Most issues get jettisoned earlier than they even get in a room. We don’t have a variety of demo recordings to placed on right here that say right here’s one thing we tried.
There’s additionally a few beforehand unreleased cowl variations on the boxset – “The Cedar Room” by Doves and “Is This The Life” by Cardiacs. When had been they recorded?
We recorded “Is This The Life” not too lengthy after Tim (Smith, Cardiacs founder) handed away. On the time we felt it wasn’t one thing we actually wished to launch. To be very clear, Tim was a giant a part of this band within the early days. Not less than considered one of us wore a Cardiacs t-shirt at just about each gig we ever performed, even to this present day. The bizarre factor about Cardiacs is that they had been in all probability the one band all of us agreed we beloved. Plenty of bands once they get collectively don’t all the time essentially like the identical issues. Good bands include completely different flavours. Close to “Is This The Life,” we selected the simplest Cardiacs track to cowl and I assume if there’s any entry level to a band like that it’s the track you’d suggest folks hearken to. We’ve by no means been massive on doing cowl variations. It’s not one thing we’ve ever actually finished apart from “Spacehopper” by Julian Cope on the b-side of “Model Of Me.” If we felt that it match into our canon and that artist had influenced us indirectly then it made sense to do a canopy, however I simply suppose the euphoric nature of “Is This The Life” stands out. Even at the moment, it sounds prefer it was recorded yesterday. It was a bit scary doing it, however I feel we’ve finished an OK model. It’s a demo actually that’s been tarted up a bit, however I feel now was the time to point out our recognition of Cardiacs and Tim particularly as a part of the story. This entire factor was put collectively to try to be a narrative. All the weather which have gone into making this band over two completely different eras. Now’s the time to go this track was big for us so right here’s our model.
“The Cedar Room” cowl was completely right down to me! Its considered one of my favorite songs of all time. I feel it matches in with what we’re all about, particularly this second period. It’s definitely been very influential to me. I got here throughout that track throughout the intervening years between the 2 eras after I labored in music PR, and we’d have folks coming in on a regular basis as we labored with massive labels and a man got here in with this twelve-inch, white label vinyl and mentioned we’re seeking to put this out, do you need to have a hear? It was “The Cedar Room,” and I didn’t breathe for 5 minutes and thirty-seven seconds or nevertheless lengthy it’s. At that second I mentioned that is simply wonderful, who’s it? And after I came upon it was the blokes from Sub Sub that actually blew my thoughts, so I ended up being obsessive about them fairly early on. There’s one thing superbly ethereal about Doves. They’re my favorite band of that period together with Tremendous Furry Animals. I didn’t resonate with a variety of Britpop a lot. It was the issues on the sides that glistened for me, and a band like Doves simply appeared to return from a better stage. I like that track and managed to influence Giles to do it, so it’s a really thrown collectively demo that was recorded within the second however I keep in mind actually having fun with simply singing that track.
Concerning the timing of Neither Right here, Nor There, why now and can there be a follow-up?
Why now? I feel we got here to the conclusion that we’re on the finish of a cycle. I’m not essentially saying it’s the top of the whole lot however… the whole lot that we wished to attain once we got here again. Properly, we didn’t have a plan. We weren’t coming again apart from to play one present. That was the plan! Then it began to collect momentum, and we had a really clear algorithm about how could be and if it continued we’d have to put in writing new music and put information out. With all due respect that simply play their outdated songs on a regular basis, I actually couldn’t do this. I must really feel we’re current placing out new information. That’s what amazes me typically with bands that simply stick with it enjoying their outdated materials. Absolutely they’re older, wiser, higher musicians? They’ve definitely bought higher tools out there to them now. It’s not that onerous to make higher sounding information now than it was prior to now. There’s higher entry to the whole lot they could want. It was an absolute precedent of ours that we needed to maintain placing out new music. The Panglossian Momentum was an album I all the time wished to make. It was the document in my head for years. Once we ended the primary time it was fairly abrupt. I feel all of us felt dissatisfied with a variety of issues. The second album was very rushed, which is what occurs whenever you get pushed into doing issues. Trying again even to Mappamundi, which I genuinely didn’t hearken to ever till 2015 as a result of I believed it was a horror present. It does have some good moments and a few of these songs have develop into staples within the reside set. I feel we characterize it pretty on Neither Right here, Nor There relatively than simply sticking with the extra favoured Arms On interval. It was crucial we had each durations on there. So, I assume in some ways, what was in my head has been a sluggish burner for 20 years. We had the chance to do it however with new issues added in as we’ve gone alongside. I additionally suppose we’re far more aligned musically than we had been again within the day, significantly me and Giles. I used to be a foppy indie child and he was a bit extra of a rocker. However that may work very well. I’m not evaluating us to them in any approach however a bit just like the Morrissey and Marr scenario. Generally these issues can work, for a interval anyway. But it surely’s very unusual that musically we’ve develop into very shut in what we actually like.
Might it have carried on? I feel if we’d taken a 12 months off in 1993 we in all probability would have carried on. I feel we’d have made a extremely nice document that in all probability would have appeared like The Panglossian Momentum. It’s righting a flawed. That’s all it was about for me. That’s the document, that’s the document I all the time wished to make, there it’s. Take it, depart it, it doesn’t matter now. I’ve put that stamp down. That is the document that’s been in my head, and doubtless has been in my head since 1993.
A number of bands from that period who’ve since reformed have mentioned the identical factor. Had we been capable of take a 12 months out relatively than launch that second or third album we’d have nearly definitely continued, which suggests the strain younger bands are put below – significantly when signed to main document labels – is so intense it usually breaks them.
It’s simple to say whenever you look again. You’re very younger and naïve about the whole lot however its very clear wanting again at what was occurring on the time that we weren’t making information for us or our followers any extra. It was for a corporation. I’m not decrying that. We signed a deal and so they gave us plenty of actually nice issues as nicely however didn’t actually know the place we fitted in. Which I feel occurs to plenty of guitar bands. There have been a variety of bands in our period that made one or two albums then disappeared. If I look again to the early days we had been simply wide-eyed youngsters that didn’t actually know how one can make information so gave it a attempt. I used to be going to raves so once we did “Wonderment,” I wished it to be a repetitive factor time and again. It simply builds then drops, then builds, then drops. Like all of the songs I used to be listening to after I was out, then I did a bit vocal bit within the center. I keep in mind listening to this acid home track that had this actually unhealthy vocal within the center and considering I need to do this. It’s actually odd as an indie band, however that’s the place my head was at for that track. We had full freedom and didn’t have to fret about managers or document labels or press or specific timescales or something. However you then get put in that machine scenario. No, you set your self in it. Let’s be honest. We willingly walked by means of the door, and it’s a really completely different paradigm. You at the moment are making merchandise. What’s been beautiful about coming again and doing it once more is we’ve had full management. We’ve had plenty of alternatives to work with labels, administration firms, brokers and we’ve mentioned no. Not as a result of we need to be seen as this cool DIY band, however as a result of it’s a lot simpler whenever you’re in full management of the whole lot. We are able to take a bit extra time, we haven’t over-advertised ourselves or tried to
begin a brand new profession. We’ve all bought jobs and lives and households. We simply wished to please ourselves and the individuals who care, which was just about the entire agenda of why we began within the first place. The liberty to make selections has been a very powerful factor in regards to the second period. It has actually been about making music for us. It’s not been about enjoying massive phases, touring and the adulation that goes with it. It by no means has been. Perhaps if we had finished rather a lot we’d have beloved it, however the fact is we simply wished to make the information that we wished to make. Freedom has been the most important issue for us, and I genuinely suppose it’s a privilege to have that freedom to make the information we need to make.
What does the long run maintain for Thousand Yard Stare? The reside reveals have been rearranged for subsequent 12 months whereas Sean recovers. Is there going to be one other document?
I can’t say. I don’t know. If it doesn’t really feel pure to make new information then we received’t. I didn’t anticipate to make Earthanasia after The Panglossian Momentum. I believed we had been finished however then songs stored coming alongside and it become one other album, so I undoubtedly couldn’t rule that out. It felt like we’d balanced that period out. I feel our story may be very distinctive in how issues have panned out, particularly having these two very distinct eras separated by a twenty-three-year hole. For me it felt prefer it had actually balanced itself at this level. So, is that this the top of one thing? It’s the finish of an period for positive. What we’ve finished now to what we did then balances the whole lot out 50-50. Now’s the time to place a full cease spherical it. We’re not going to separate up, however realistically touring is much more troublesome. We did announce that as our final tour and lots of people took that flawed and thought we weren’t enjoying once more. I’m positive we’ll undoubtedly play some reveals once more. The mantra is maintain it alive so we’re not going away. However we’re not making any guarantees to ourselves that we’re protecting it stepping into any capability at this stage.
What would you want Thousand Yard Stare to be remembered for? What would you wish to be seen as your epitaph?
If it was an epitaph on a gravestone it must say, EVERYTHING WE DID, WE MEANT IT. We’re very privileged that folks nonetheless care. It’s truly fairly astounding. It’s fairly onerous to get my head round as a result of I parked that for twenty-three years, whereas a variety of our followers didn’t. Assembly folks and listening to their tales about once they first heard our music or final noticed us play reside has been one of the vital heartwarming issues about bringing Thousand Yard Stare again. Somebody informed me they’d birthed their little one to “Seasonstream.” Did you truly do this!?!? I feel we’re fairly a humble band, however each band does have a little bit of ego and it’s good to know that what you’ve finished resonates with different folks as a lot because it does to us. I’ve this dialog with my college students quite a bit. What’s creativity and what’s artwork? The unanswerable query. When I’ve a scholar that finds it very troublesome to complete a track, I inform them what you create can not all the time be excellent. Since you’ll need to change it the following day irrespective of how far you go. The beauty of artwork and about music, is that after you let it on the market it then takes on a lifetime of its personal. It turns into one other set of artwork, and as soon as folks cease to touch upon it, use it, cowl it, quote from it, copy from it, the track or the piece continues to evolve. So, what “No Rating (A.E.T.)” was in 1991 to what it’s now, it’s developed. The idea of the track continues to be the identical, however what folks really feel about it and what it means to them has developed and altered. That’s why you’ll be able to put these two eras collectively. It doesn’t actually matter, and you’ll interpret the track from what it meant in 1991 otherwise you may need solely heard it six months in the past in a very completely different context. It may well exist in each these paradigms, and that’s why I wished to place a bridge between these two eras. I name it the daddy and son that meet up between the 2 eras. That’s how I’ve all the time seen it. It’s a privilege to make music and all the time do not forget that, so benefit from the course of.
For extra info on Thousand Yard Stare together with rescheduled tour dates and the place to buy Neither Right here, Nor There go to the band’s Official Web site
