Artery are making their Mark again

A packed Boardwalk and a full hall at fan Jarvis Cocker's Meltdown festival in London – catalyst for the comeback – confirmed Mark Gouldthorpe had made the right decision. More significantly it suggested Artery had life expectancy beyond a one-off gig.

"It's better than it was," says the frontman clutching a coffee. "I think because of time. You cannot take away from the original thing but it has taken on a new vitality. The songs are quite timeless – you can drop them anywhere in time.

"The Boardwalk gig was really good, with a line-up that was not the actual original line up but people who had been in the band at some point. It was good to step out and do a new version of old songs, in a new format. We're all still dead keen."

So, no surprise the band are back for more a week on Saturday when they play Corporation, the Milton Street venue that was still an industrial building when they put the brakes on their career.

Mark now runs his own hair salon but his passion for the expressive, arty music that made Artery one of Sheffield's most touted and a John Peel favourite in the late '70s/early '80s is evident. Reviving a setlist that includes such truculent gems as Afterwards and Diamonds In The Mine reminded Mark why he got into music in the first place.

But 20 years on it is clear Artery raised eyebrows because they majored on canny, instinctive musicianship and intelligent songs. "We can get more out of it now, though," says Mark, who brought together a collective of previous members including original bassist John Clayton, whose sons play in current touted acts Avida Dollars and The Yell, Garry Wilson (drums), Murray Fenton (guitar) and David Hinkler (brother of original keyboard player Simon, later of The Mission and Pulp).

"Life experience and the fact everyone can play their instruments better... the songs had a slightly different slant on them this time, particularly Afterwards. It was more hypnotic than it was before and people said it was ahead of its time with its hypnotic bassline back then."

Artery's music had a passing resemblance to Joy Division. And maybe the current appetite for Artery can be further fuelled by the renewed interest in Ian Curtis's music boosted by the film Control. But the likes of newer acts Editors and Maximo Park can be heard in there.

"Artery was around just as Joy Division had gone, but I was never that into them so if there are similarities it is coincidental. In fact, I don't remember any of us being into them."

One obvious reason for the comparison is Mark's erratic stage presence over actual vocal ability. "I'm not a singer," he admits, "I'm more of a performer. I find it hard to hold a tune, but it's the attitude towards the performance.

"The music has been quite clever. It's not the fact I've got a song to sing, it's that I've got a statement to make.

What do you think? Post your comments below. When I get on stage it’s a different bit of me that only exists in that one place.”

Artery recorded their comeback performances for a live album planned for the new year. An early listen suggests it’s a fairly warts and all ear witness account of a band clearly glad to be back.

“I got really drunk in London before the gig but held it together because we’d rehearsed it well. You can hear me slur, but I just enjoyed myself. “After his performance, Jarvis said to the audience ‘I don’t want you to go home’ so up to 2,000 people were there. I thought this was a real test because people did not know who we were. I made a point of looking for it, but nobody moved away. It was probably the biggest audience we’ve ever had.”

Artery are finishing mixing the album at AVEC in the city centre, where Jarvis did some of his solo album, before pursuing new material. They’ve also been filmed by the team who put together the 2001 documentary Made In Sheffield, a previous sturdy reminder of Artery’s heyday.

“Since then the songs have matured because we’ve had a chance to listen back again,” concludes Mark, who adds: “We’re working on a new single as well.

“It’s called Standing Still, but it’s not about us standing still.”

Clearly not.