IRISH INDIE electronic quartet Codes have been making waves on the domestic music scene ever since they first got together three years ago.
The band - Daragh Anderson (vocals/guitar ), Eoin Stephens (bass ), Raymond Hogge (piano/synths ), and Paul Reilly (drums ) - were formed out of the ashes of Anderson and Reilly’s previous group Lost.
Within months of their first performance together Codes had two independent singles – ‘Edith’ and ‘This Is Goodbye’ - enter the Irish Top 40. Their meteoric rise continued when they were chosen to headline the IMRO Showcase Tour around Ireland alongside Concerto For Constantine and Grand Pocket Orchestra.
In early 2008 they began work in a London studio on their self-financed debut album with Manic Street Preachers producer Gregory Haver. That year also saw them perform a series of dates in Britain and an impressive set at Oxegen. Such was the buzz surrounding Codes and their music that they signed a major deal with EMI Records.
Late last year the band released their much-anticipated album Trees Dream In Algebra to much acclaim. In Dublin described their songs as “soaring alternative anthems” and The Irish Times compared them to Muse and Coldplay. The album was recently nominated for the prestigious Choice Music Prize.
This year Codes are warming up for a hectic 12 months of touring. Indeed, with their spacey post-apocalyptic sounds coupled with Anderson’s soaring falsetto vocals, Codes could well be graduating to the big stage quite soon. However, just a few years ago they were generally overlooked by a record industry that was going through a crisis in confidence.
The band decided to take out bank loans and go the DIY route in order to get their music released.
“We had no real option but to fund the recording of the album ourselves because labels weren’t really signing anyone,” Anderson says. “Because we had nobody breathing down our necks we were able to make the sort of album we wanted to make and we retained our artistic integrity.
“When we got in Gregory to produce he was quite astounded by how far along we were with our sounds. He sort of organised the whole thing and made sure that all the songs came together into a cohesive unit. With him around we didn’t have to think and analyse so much, and we just relaxed and let the music take over. It was great to have his experience in the room.”
Codes songs such as ‘This Is Goodbye’, ‘Starry Eyed’, ‘Guided By Ghosts’, and ‘In Algebra’ have connected with live audiences and have made the music press sit up and take notice. The Tribune describe their music as “Startling, fantastic songs full of force, earnestness, melody, and precision”.
However you are not going to find the band going into any long discussions on what their lyrics ultimately mean.
“Some of our favourite artists such as Radiohead and Muse aren’t really that upfront about what their song are saying,” states Darragh. “Some of the most beautiful lyrics are ones that don’t have an immediate interpretation and have an air of mystery, and we were very aware of that when we were recording the album. We like to have a pretty broad range of subject matter in our lyrics.”
Critics have made reference to Muse and other such bands in the past when writing about the Codes’ sound.
“It’s always amusing when we get compared to huge stadium rock bands because we’re not quite at that level yet,” the Codes’ lead man says. “I think it’s flattering though because we’re not being likened to other Irish acts so maybe that’s an indication that we’re offering something that’s a little bit different. I’m happy with that.”
Codes will line up among the cream of Irish music talent next month when they perform at the Choice Music Prize live event in Vicar Street on March 3. It is a fitting barometer to assess how far they have risen in such a short time.
“It’s such an honour to be nominated and be alongside names like Bell X1 and Glen Hansard of The Frames,” Anderson enthuses. “I’ve been going to see those bands for years and it’s almost surreal to be in their company. We haven’t heard every single album that’s been nominated, because we’ve been on the road, but the band feels both surprised and honoured to be on the list.”
Another big gig Codes have on the horizon is an appearance at the HMV Next Big Thing music festival in London. The event runs throughout February at venues such as The Borderline, Heaven, and The Jazz Café.
“Hopefully it’s not the kiss of death,” Darragh says with a chuckle. “I suppose it’s one of those things that you just do and you take it with a pinch of salt. It’s not the first time we’ve played London so we’re prepared.”
Early in their career Codes played support to the then relatively unknown The Script and have since watched their progress with interest.
“We’ve nothing but respect and admiration for those guys,” Anderson says. “They were so welcoming and accepting of our band and it was a great opportunity to play with them.”
Codes play Strange Brew at the Róisín Dubh on Thursday February 25 at 9pm. Support is from Delays. Gugai will be DJing afterwards. Tickets are available from the Róisín Dubh and Zhivago.
