Picture Book

HE IS one of the biggest electronic stars on the planet and tonight thousands of fans will descend on Manchester to see Deadmau5 put on one of his now legendary stage shows.

If his appearance at this summer’s Creamfields is anything to go by it will be quite a spectacle and one woman in the audience will have more reason than most to get excited when that famous mouse head pops up on stage.

Greta Svabo Bech, singer with Liverpool band Picture Book, will be waiting in the wings for one song in particular – Raise Your Weapon, because the vocals on it are hers.


So how did the Scandinavian-born singer end up hooking up with the Canadian Grammy award nominee behind smash hit tracks like I Remember and Ghosts N’Stuff?

“He heard some Picture Book tracks through his label and loved them,” 22-year-old Greta explains. “It’s strange how the web of musical threads intertwine to result in this happening.

“The call came quite out of the blue, he said he had this track he'd been working on but there was something missing and ‘would I be interested in working on it’? I didn’t hesitate in saying yes, to collaborate with someone of his standing so early on in our career was a fantastic opportunity.

“It was so surreal, I was at his show in Liverpool University earlier in the year, then a matter of weeks later I was recording with him,” she laughs.

“I recorded my part in a day and the original track I recorded to was a lot more progressive. So to see the end result be his first foray into dubstep was pretty special too.”

Originally from the Faroe Islands, Greta came to live in Liverpool five years ago to study (“I like to keep a bit of Scandinavia with me all the time, but feel like Liverpool is my home now”.).

She is joined in Picture Book by brothers Dario (keyboards/beats/percussion) and Lorne Ashley (guitar/percussion) and the band’s music has been described as “classic pop songs set to a backdrop of beautifully produced soundscapes, percussion, with guitar hooks to die for and haunting violin solos”.

Tipped as the next big thing to come out of Liverpool, earlier this year the band was snapped up by Seymour Stein and Richard Gotterher, the men behind Sire Records the company responsible for signing the likes of The Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie, The Cure and of course Madonna.

Tonight Deadmau5 aka Joel Zimmerman, will be joined in Manchester by Radio One DJ Zane Lowe and hot dance outfit Magnetic Man. Greta is also hoping to catch up with the star himself.

“I'm going to hook up with him at the gig, which will be fun. To see 10,000 people singing along with me will be something to behold!”


Then it is back to the day job with Picture Book as they play their last gig of 2010 at The Masque in Liverpool tomorrow night.

Greta doesn’t expect to be singing for any other DJs just for the moment, not that she would say no if the mighty Mau5 wants her again.

“I haven't got any other plans right now to record with anyone else as I'm really busy with Picture Book’s debut album next year, but if Joel (Deadmau5) puts another call in I'll be happy to oblige!

"I think we're going to incorporate Raise Your Weapon into our show at the Masque and Picture Book it up!”

Picture Book are at The Masque tomorrow (www.picturebookmusic.com) Deadmau5 plays Manchester Central tonight. Doors open 7pm.
- Liverpool Echo

Shoot me where I stand, but its taken me up until now to attend a Picture Book gig. Having recently signed with Blue Horizons, the prolific three piece (consisting of Greta Svabo Bech, and brothers Lorne Ashley and Dario Darnell) are hot on the lips of fans and critics alike as they wait on the release of their Hospital EP . I was granted a sneaky copy a few days back and have since listened to it with fevered repetition. Its an undeniably catchy effort. All the hallmarks of an accessible electronic record whilst retaining the integrity and unpredictability of an act that could certainly last the course in today’s throwaway industry. And with Dan Grech mixing, you can’t possibly possess the bollocks to suggest otherwise
In the soft glow of the basement, it’s a good ten minutes before the trio take the stage, and there’s a magnetism urging the crowd to the divide that hints at a band whose reputation precedes them. Dressed like a bohemian spin on Red Riding Hood, Greta’s voice is instantly arresting on opener “Your Flavours” and continues to soar throughout, shining particularly on the ethereal lure of “My Love” and the irresistible choruses of “People In Love”. Indeed, the talent she displayed on Deamau5’s “Raise Your Weapon” last year truly comes into its own on the strengths of Picture Book’s original material.
Amidst the triggered elements, it is refreshing to see the songs transition from record in a fashion that recognises the two brothers’ live musicianship. Its a near miracle that Ash manages not to tie himself in a knot as he spins spider-like from guitar to synths to a floor tom and crash and back again with a very watchable freneticism. “Every New Day” and “What You Don’t Say” have twice the kick of a pissed off horse, whilst “Jealousy” and “Sunshine” are quite simply colossal and just as palatable as anything you will have heard from the giants of the genre in the past year or two. Its all held together by the equally versatile Dario who conjures up an impressive cocktail of beats and textures from within his grotto of synths, acoustic and midi drums, laptops and god knows what other wizardry.
The Waters Of Nazareth-esque bite of “Explosions” offers one final hit of techno glory, and in testament to their camaraderie with fans old and new the band invite the crowd to spill onto the stage upon which a pleasant chaos ensues as everyone joins in with whatever loose drum sticks they can find. Its a great close to a strong set, and with a dissatisfied face nowhere to be seen in the whole venue its a sure reminder of the greater attention that Picture Book deserve and shall surely receive in time.
SETLIST
Your Flavours
Every New Day
Jealousy
Sunshine
What You Don’t Say
My Love
People In Love
Explosions - With the Freaks and Ghouls

Liverpool based band Picture Book are made up of Greta Svabo Bech, Dario Darnell and Lorne Ashley. It is difficult to define this band by genre, but put it this way – if Florence and the Machine and La Roux hooked up and had a musical love-child, Picture Book may be the result. Their music is euphoric, electro, up-tempo and dreamy. Greta is the voice, and what an incredible voice she is. Distinctive and unusual, if you suspected her first language as not being English, you would be correct – Greta was born in the Faroe Islands. We’re not alone in thinking Greta’s voice is worth raving about, superstar dance producer Deadmau5 agrees. After being introduced to Picture Book by his record label, he tracked the quirky Faroese vocalist down and asked for her help, which resulted in the trancey/dubsteppy belter Raise Your Weapon.
Picture Book’s music is infectiously uplifting. It’s warm, happy and haunting all at the same time, which is a pretty amazing feat. They have already been snapped up on a five year record deal by Seymour Stein, the co-founder of Sire Records who previously signed incredible artists such as The Ramones, Madonna and Depeche Mode.
In a recent interview Dario stated, “The thing we hate most is going to watch a band who look like that stage is the last place they want to be”. They bring this sentiment to the stage – when they play they create an electrifying atmosphere. Unafraid to take risks, Picture Book have been known to cover The Streets’ Blinded By The Lights and MJ’s Thriller in a live setting. This band is effortlessly cool, they are the kids at the party everyone wants to be friends with and they deserve all the fame and glory that they are undoubtedly going to receive in the near future. - More Than Music