Image courtesy of James Cruickshank

James Cruickshank, acclaimed keyboardist and guitarist from The Cruel Sea chats to Australian Guitar on the eve of the band’s Australian tour.

The Cruel Sea – an awesome, Australian band with a very unique sound. Is this a uniquely Australian sound – if so, what makes it that way?
The biggest contribution is Danny Rumour’s guitar architecture. His instrumentals were instrumental in forming the early template of the sound, that strange combo of  desert and  tropics with a hint of Redfern … he was the seed we grew from.

Acoustic or Electric – you seem to be equally adept at both, and quite often playing one more in the manner you’d expect the other to be played in. Do you have a preference? What (if any) difference is there between one and the other to you?
Well if you want to have a quiet conversation then you need an acoustic. If you want to yell at each other then you better plug in.

I have seen you playing a solid body reso-guitar quite often. Why have you come to be associated with this axe rather than, say, a telecaster?
It’s a sound that comes straight of the bat. You can plug it direct to a PA and it sounds great, so no heavy lifting of amps is needed. It’s got a rusty croak in its voice that appeals to me – and you have to wrestle with it - a man’s gotta struggle against something.

Okay James, you are a pretty earthy sort of guy. When it comes to the recording studio, are you fervently analog, or a Pro-Tools man, or is there a balance somewhere in between?
Analtools maybe?  … and whatever is appropriate. Working alone, Pro-Tools is quick, easy and cheap and maybe that’s the sound you’re going for … but in the end, a good microphone ain’t going to make you sing better.

Your reviewer’s favourite gear question. I have only so much money for gear. If I want to sound great, do I sink my hard earned cash into an outstanding guitar, or a great amp?
I saw T Model Ford play through an off-the-rack Strat through a Roland JC 120 – and it still sounded like T Model … expensive shit is just that – it won’t make you play better.

Do you think there is a distinctive “James Cruickshank Sound” that you have developed throughout your career? What is your secret weapon in this case?
Well that’s a secret but  if you really want to find it I suggest digging up my solo records: Hymn For Her,  Note To Self and Hello Human – available on Vitamin Records.

So, Cruickshank on the road. What must absolutely come on the road with you? Is there a JC security blanket along the lines of Keith Emerson’s fabled Persian Rug?
I wouldn’t recommend using rugs on the road and I never go anywhere without a sommelier.

Your approach to guitar is a bit hard to categorise – not really a Fender man, and not really a Gibson man – has this been a conscious decision to avoid the usual pigeonholing that sometimes accompanies playing such guitars? Is this something all young players should be thinking about?
The kids have enough to think about – I don’t want to confuse them anymore.

You have shared the stage with some pretty legendary figures – is there anyone you’d crawl over hot coals for the opportunity to play with?
… Satan?

It seems the perennial complaint of musos that the “music scene just isn’t what it used to be…” Is this the case, or is it just that (relative) newcomer’s expectations (such as actually being paid to do gigs) are too high?
I think festivals have sucked a lot of juice out of the pub scene, but there is a move toward a more music-based venue as opposed to a drinking venue with music attached to help you drink more – I’m thinking of places like Camelot in Sydney…

John Wardle is currently sticking needles into the Federal Government and the Arts Council about the  zero contribution to funding assistance for anything other than classical music – should we worry about this, or is it somehow essential that rock/alt/country/roots/whatever music remain “rebel music” – does it have to be somehow operating on the outside of the mainstream?
Hard times make people use there imaginations. Some music will continue to be made by people outside of the usual consumer outlets. Government-funded art doesn’t sound too exciting. We had the dole growing up so that was government-funded art I guess … this is not really the answer.

You have had a long and very distinguished, not to mention successful career as a musician – is there any project you have been involved in that, should have gone ballistic, yet for some reason just didn’t?
If you are only interested in outcomes join an advertising agency. They need you.

It’s probably not the world’s best kept secret that Tex is pretty seriously into goat husbandry (or at least he was last time I looked) – any essential animal contributions to the Cruickshank Household?
I used to have an 8 foot python living in the ceiling of my shack in Coorabell. I called him Monty of course.

James, thanks for giving us your time. Lastly, why do you do this? Is becoming a professional musician a choice you’d recommend to people, or should they stick to being the accounts receivable clerk with a Stratocaster?
Sometimes turning the thing you love into a job to pay the bills just kills the love – if it still gives you goosebumps then don’t stop.

http://www.jamescruickshank.com/index.html

The Cruel Sea tour kicks off at The Metro in Sydney on Friday 18 November.

The Cruel Sea
Fri 18 Nov 2011
@ The Metro, Sydney, Australia
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The Cruel Sea
Sat 19 Nov 2011
@ Golden Days Festival 2011, Coolum, Australia
with Xavier Rudd, The Beautiful Girls, Jeff Lang + more
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The Cruel Sea
Thu 24 Nov 2011
@ Prince Of Wales, St.Kilda, Australia
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The Cruel Sea
Fri 25 Nov 2011
@ The Gov, Adelaide, Australia
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Images: Courtesy of James Cruickshank