Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

The Waxing Captors by Martin Rondell

"We stopped doing gigs on a regular basis in 2005 and at the time I think we were kind of at the peak of the Ipswich music scene," says drummer Tom Raffe.

"It was really going strong with venues like the Pool Club, Drum and Monkey and The Steamboat all really great.

"There were loads of young bands like Charlie Brown, Rosalita, All Or None and some of them aren't around anymore. I know Rosalita are doing very well at the moment, as is James Severy."

The Waxing Captors were put on hold whilst all of the members headed to university, with the very rare gig staged just to keep the cogs well oiled.

With their studies behind them, the band are back playing live shows and have recorded new material.

Was this always the plan?

"It wasn't something we particularly discussed but we always had a good time playing together, people still seem to like us, so we thought it made sense to come back, make another record and play some gigs."

The Waxing Captors, who Tom says are returning "a bit older, a bit wiser and a bit more travelled", will release Working 9 to 5 with My Stylist around Easter 2009.

Their early recordings went hand in hand with their energetic live shows, being raw and unpolished, but the band headed to Old School Studios in Bury St Edmunds on their return - hoping to find a mix between the chaotic sound they're known for and something that's suitable for radio.

"Our first single is going to be released on LAP Records, which is a DIY label run by Jason from The Secret Hairdresser who were really successful in their time and did a couple of Peel sessions.

"We knew he had a studio and liked what he'd done with the bands we'd heard so it made sense to record with him.

"He uses some vintage equipment and really knows his way around the studio and how to get a good sound from everything.

"We used to do home recordings on an eight track, mainly just to save money. We weren't particularly fans of studios because they're so expensive and you're constrained on time.

"Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ recordings allowed us to mess around with things and experiment, which suited us quite well but ultimately the production value wasn't there so that's why we headed back to the studio for this recording."

New recordings and live shows will be welcomed by those who got to see The Waxing Captors first time around, but what can people who were either too young or missed the first coming expect from the band?

"Keyboards, singalong tunes, dancing and a good time. It's fun.

"Not enough bands put the emphasis on keyboards. Rosalita do and look where they are."