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
Net Unique
In an period the place umpteen bands from the eighties and nineties have reformed, it’s ironic that three of probably the most profitable reunions from the previous decade – Journey, Slowdive and Thousand Yard Stare – are all linked collectively by one occasion: the 1991 Slough Competition.
Nevertheless, whereas Journey and Slowdive originated from Oxford and Studying respectively, Thousand Yard Stare’s house territory was Slough. Having initially shaped in 1989, Thousand Yard Stare launched two albums (Palms On and Mappamundi) and a handful of EPs to various ranges of essential acclaim earlier than calling it a day in 1993.
Twenty-three years later, the band received again collectively for what was initially meant to be a one-off gig in London. Nevertheless, songs have 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 up to now. 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 obtained 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 lately meet up with frontman Barnes to debate Neither Right here, Nor There and in addition the progress of bass participant McDonough, who was lately recognized with prostate most cancers.
Dom Gourlay (Beneath the Radar): Thousand Yard Stare bass participant Sean McDonough was lately recognized with prostate most cancers. How is he doing?
Stephen Barnes: Sean’s good. He’s doing effectively. The therapy has gone because it ought to have accomplished. I do know he’s doing effectively as a result of he’s on all of the What’s App teams continuously! Every little thing’s high-quality, 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 every little thing has been eliminated which we must always know in time, however the docs appear very assured. Sean’s in actually good spirits – he even stated we might have accomplished 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 recognize is recognized with it.
Whenever you see statistics like one in eight males have been recognized with it and somebody you’re very near finally ends up being one these “one’s” then it begins to essentially hit house. Its good to see bands doing fundraisers for prostate most cancers – there’s one taking place in Norwich. We’ve been very cautious to not make it into an enormous drama that one among 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 suitable choice 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.
Shifting 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 have 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 numerous 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 a few of the ones we all know as effectively. And we have been speaking about it, even to the purpose of getting a bit combined as much as which eras a few of the songs have been from! Once we play dwell, I do suppose it’s fairly exhausting to inform the distinction between our outdated songs and the newer ones. You wouldn’t know until you have been a fan. We realised there have been numerous similarities between the 2 eras, so Neither Right here, Nor There happened to have a good time each.
Clearly we’re a distinct band now – there’s a twenty-three-year hole – we’re totally different folks. However we at all times stated at the beginning 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 totally different folks, herald 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 creating an album combined of the 2 eras collectively, and it labored OK, however simply didn’t really feel fairly proper. I wished to try to inform the complete 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 appreciated the thought of a self-deprecating title. Additionally, as a result of it summed up each eras fairly effectively. Neither Right here being the present period, and Nor There being the unique period each alludes to the actual fact we by no means actually fitted into what was occurring again then and we don’t actually slot in with what’s taking place 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 up placing all these items collectively. I assumed it will be fairly easy but it surely 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 remaining tracklisting?
It was very Brian Clough relatively than a democratic vote. All of us had a protracted chat about it then determined I used to be proper all alongside! It was very tough really. Possibly not a lot with the newer period, as a result of that units itself. However definitely, with the older stuff, you need to put your self again in that period a little bit bit in your thoughts. It undoubtedly doesn’t symbolize my favorite fourteen songs from that interval. I feel it simply represents that interval, so the actual fact we’ve received sure b-sides on there, a few tracks folks in all probability weren’t anticipating off Mappamundi on there. It’s actually vital 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 symbolize the entire of that period. It was an up and down period for us in numerous 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 but it surely simply didn’t run very effectively, and if it doesn’t run effectively its received to be modified. In order that’s how we arrived on the songs ultimately.
A few of the different recordings are actually fascinating such because the pastoral variations of “No Rating (A.E.T.)” and “Tragedy No. 6”. Had been they recorded fairly lately?
They have been each recorded final 12 months. The band are all unfold across the nation these days so we do numerous writing over the web earlier than we get in a room. We talked about re-recording “No Rating (A.E.T.)” if we might afford it. At first I assumed is there any level in re-recording it? It’s what it’s. It nonetheless sounds high-quality now. So, I received 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 music at all times had. It’s a hoedown, a music folks usually bounce up and all the way down to. It’s about an deadlock between two those who’s by no means going to get sorted. So, I assumed relatively than simply redo that, why not do it in a manner that focuses on the opposite sentiment of the music. 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 effectively which I assumed 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 might 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, really going again in and actually digging deep again into these items was fairly emotional really. I had emotions I didn’t suppose I’d have. Whether or not that’s taking a look at outdated pictures or evaluations in addition to listening to the recordings. Then we discovered an Easter 89 cassette, which is the one factor that exists from these recordings. It’s important to keep in mind, these have been recorded within the analogue days when every little thing ended up on tapes. Listening to that cassette introduced numerous reminiscences again to me. I keep in mind even making the covers of the cassette, which have been photocopied. The wording is all accomplished in Letraset as a result of we didn’t have computer systems again then and it’s all wonky. It’s received my mum and pop’s outdated telephone quantity on it. It’s actually fairly harmless and old skool in so some ways. We did it on a C15 cassette which have been those you purchased for pc video games however have been additionally excellent for recording three tracks. So, I discovered a duplicate and thought let’s have a hearken to this. It hisses everywhere and sounds wonky, so determined to report it right away whereas enjoying it throughout, and it actually broke! The tape broke, which you’ll be able to really hear on the finish of “Sunday Invented.” In any other case, that may have gone endlessly, so no less than we’ve received 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 vital recordings. As twee and naïve as they’re, they’ve their very own appeal. We’ve by no means actually had piles and piles of demos. I do know that’s how some bands function however we’ve at all times accomplished issues by course of. Most issues get jettisoned earlier than they even get in a room. We don’t have numerous 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 have 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 an enormous a part of this band within the early days. No less than one among 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 have been in all probability the one band all of us agreed we beloved. Lots of bands once they get collectively don’t at all times essentially like the identical issues. Good bands include totally different flavours. Almost about “Is This The Life,” we selected the best Cardiacs music to cowl and I suppose if there’s any entry level to a band like that it’s the music you’d advocate folks hearken to. We’ve by no means been massive on doing cowl variations. It’s not one thing we’ve ever actually accomplished 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 not directly then it made sense to do a canopy, however I simply suppose the euphoric nature of “Is This The Life” stands out. Even in the present day, it sounds prefer it was recorded yesterday. It was a bit scary doing it, however I feel we’ve accomplished 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 complete factor was put collectively to try to be a narrative. All the weather which have gone into making this band over two totally different eras. Now could be the time to go this music was large for us so right here’s our model.
“The Cedar Room” cowl was completely all the way down to me! Its one among my favorite songs of all time. I feel it suits in with what we’re all about, particularly this second period. It’s definitely been very influential to me. I got here throughout that music in the course of the intervening years between the 2 eras once 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 stated 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 stated that is simply wonderful, who’s it? And once I came upon it was the fellows from Sub Sub that actually blew my thoughts, so I ended up being obsessive about them fairly early on. There’s one thing fantastically ethereal about Doves. They’re my favorite band of that period together with Tremendous Furry Animals. I didn’t resonate with numerous Britpop a lot. It was the issues on the perimeters that glistened for me, and a band like Doves simply appeared to come back from the next stage. I really like that music 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 music.
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 every little thing however… every little thing that we wished to realize after we got here again. Effectively, 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 assemble momentum, and we had a really clear algorithm about how can be and if it continued we’d have to jot down 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 have to really feel we’re current placing out new information. That’s what amazes me typically with bands that simply keep it up enjoying their outdated materials. Certainly they’re older, wiser, higher musicians? They’ve definitely received higher tools accessible to them now. It’s not that arduous to make higher sounding information now than it was previously. There’s higher entry to every little thing they could want. It was an absolute precedent of ours that we needed to hold placing out new music. The Panglossian Momentum was an album I at all times wished to make. It was the report in my head for years. Once we ended the primary time it was fairly abrupt. I feel all of us felt dissatisfied with numerous issues. The second album was very rushed, which is what occurs if you get pushed into doing issues. Wanting again even to Mappamundi, which I genuinely didn’t hearken to ever till 2015 as a result of I assumed it was a horror present. It does have some good moments and a few of these songs have turn out to be staples within the dwell set. I feel we symbolize it pretty on Neither Right here, Nor There relatively than simply sticking with the extra favoured Palms On interval. It was essential we had each durations on there. So, I suppose in some ways, what was in my head has been a gradual 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 have 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 rather well. I’m not evaluating us to them in any manner however a bit just like the Morrissey and Marr state of affairs. Generally these issues can work, for a interval anyway. Nevertheless it’s very unusual that musically we’ve turn out to be very shut in what we actually like.
May 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 very nice report that in all probability would have appeared like The Panglossian Momentum. It’s righting a incorrect. That’s all it was about for me. That’s the report, that’s the report I at all times wished to make, there it’s. Take it, depart it, it doesn’t matter now. I’ve put that stamp down. That is the report that’s been in my head, and possibly has been in my head since 1993.
A number of bands from that period who’ve since reformed have stated 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 stress younger bands are put below – significantly when signed to main report labels – is so intense it usually breaks them.
It’s straightforward to say if you look again. You’re very younger and naïve about every little thing 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 an organization. I’m not decrying that. We signed a deal they usually gave us a number of actually nice issues as effectively however didn’t actually know the place we fitted in. Which I feel occurs to a number of guitar bands. There have been numerous bands in our period that made one or two albums then disappeared. If I look again to the early days we have been simply wide-eyed children that didn’t actually know the way to make information so gave it a attempt. I used to be going to raves so after we did “Wonderment,” I wished it to be a repetitive factor over and over. It simply builds then drops, then builds, then drops. Like all of the songs I used to be listening to once I was out, then I did a little bit vocal bit within the center. I keep in mind listening to this acid home music that had this actually dangerous vocal within the center and pondering I need to do this. It’s actually odd as an indie band, however that’s the place my head was at for that music. We had full freedom and didn’t have to fret about managers or report labels or press or specific timescales or something. However then you definately get put in that machine state of affairs. No, you place your self in it. Let’s be truthful. We willingly walked by means of the door, and it’s a really totally different paradigm. You at the moment are making merchandise. What’s been pretty about coming again and doing it once more is we’ve had full management. We’ve had a number of alternatives to work with labels, administration corporations, brokers and we’ve stated 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 if you’re in full management of every little thing. 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 received 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 choices has been a very powerful factor concerning the second period. It has actually been about making music for us. It’s not been about enjoying massive levels, touring and the adulation that goes with it. It by no means has been. Possibly if we had accomplished quite a bit we would have beloved it, however the fact is we simply wished to make the information that we wished to make. Freedom has been the largest 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 dwell reveals have been rearranged for subsequent 12 months whereas Sean recovers. Is there going to be one other report?
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 count on to make Earthanasia after The Panglossian Momentum. I assumed we have been accomplished however then songs stored coming alongside and it became 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 accomplished now to what we did then balances every little thing out 50-50. Now could be the time to place a full cease spherical it. We’re not going to separate up, however realistically touring is much more tough. We did announce that as our final tour and lots of people took that incorrect and thought we weren’t enjoying once more. I’m positive we’ll undoubtedly play some reveals once more. The mantra is hold it alive so we’re not going away. However we’re not making any guarantees to ourselves that we’re retaining it getting in 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 really fairly astounding. It’s fairly exhausting to get my head round as a result of I parked that for twenty-three years, whereas numerous our followers didn’t. Assembly folks and listening to their tales about once they first heard our music or final noticed us play dwell has been one of the heartwarming issues about bringing Thousand Yard Stare again. Somebody informed me they’d birthed their youngster to “Seasonstream.” Did you really 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 accomplished resonates with different folks as a lot because it does to us. I’ve this dialog with my college students rather a lot. What’s creativity and what’s artwork? The unanswerable query. When I’ve a scholar that finds it very tough to complete a music, I inform them what you create can’t at all times be excellent. Since you’ll need to change it the following day regardless of how far you go. The beauty of artwork and about music, is that when 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 music or the piece continues to evolve. So, what “No Rating (A.E.T.)” was in 1991 to what it’s now, it’s advanced. The idea of the music continues to be the identical, however what folks really feel about it and what it means to them has advanced and adjusted. That’s why you possibly can put these two eras collectively. It doesn’t actually matter, and you’ll interpret the music from what it meant in 1991 otherwise you may need solely heard it six months in the past in a very totally different context. It will probably 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 at all times seen it. It’s a privilege to make music and at all times keep in mind that, so benefit from the course of.
For extra data 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