Last updated 11:45, Thursday, 07 August 2008

When the front-man’s a drummer, you know you’ve found an unusual band. But Galchen don’t need a singer to get the crowd going. Listeners are hypnotised with swirling, sample-heavy soundscapes on guitar, bass and drums.

Galchen: ‘We take it in a different direction to Mogwai’

Like a bouncier, more joyful Mogwai, they flood the senses with lights, visuals and sheer volume. But as bassist Paul Gallagher explains, not all post-rockers are the same.

“It’s an easy comparison to make – we’re both instrumental bands from Glasgow,” he says. “But I think we take it in a different direction, especially in terms of tempo.”

Galchen got together in 2005, when Paul started making music with school friend Alan Cochrane. Their name, a blend of nicknames Gal and Chenzo, wasn’t entirely down to choice.

He says: “Being called Gal is one of those things that has stayed with me since primary school. Our mutual friends decided to call us Galchen, and we were stuck with it.”

After a long search for a drummer, Paul met Peter Kelly at the studio he owns in Glasgow.

“We recorded this college band, and the drummer was amazing. So I stole him,” he says. “But he’s really good, so he gets a lot of bands chasing after him.”

On stage, Peter forms the centrepiece, with guitar and bass on either side. Without a singer, the focus is entirely on the music.

Paul says: “It was definitely a choice. It’s nice to write music and not have to find a role for a singer.”

The decision brought its own advantages, especially on the international front.

“I think music can touch anyone, and there are no language barriers. We played in Germany last year, and it was really nice to be in a different country where lyrics don’t matter,” he adds.

Visual displays form a big part of their performances, created by artist Gail Simpson.

“She uses samples of video footage she’s taken herself. She’s really into photography,” says Paul.

However, the band work just as well on the radio. Championed by Radio 1 DJ Vic Galloway, they were recently invited to play live on his Radio Scotland evening show.

Currently unsigned, they self-released The Red Dot EP in 2007. It sold well, but Paul is unsure about the prospect of a record contract.

He says: “As much as it would be nice to have a label supporting you, the industry is changing a lot in terms of how people get ahold of music. We do take the band quite seriously though.”

For the time being, they are concentrating on a hectic live schedule. Fresh from performing at July’s Wickerman festival, they are due to play the Hydro Connect festival later this month.

In the past, they have supported Belle and Sebastian, !!! (Chk Chk Chk) and Union of Knives. “It’s all about just enjoying it,” he says. “We like our sets to be quite exciting and maybe take people somewhere for half an hour.”

Their audiences tend to be a mixed bag of hip young students and older musos. But in spite of their growing popularity, the band are keeping their day jobs.

Paul says: “I think it’s extremely hard for a group of musicians to earn enough to live on. You need to be pretty successful to live solely off your music.”

On Saturday night, Galchen are playing at Spirit Bar, Carlisle with local band Burn the Negative. So, do they plan to conquer the world? “No, just Carlisle will do,” says Paul.

Tickets cost £4 on the door. For further information, call Spirit on 01228 599188.