For several years now, we have been blessed, on a nearly weekly basis, with really really good Post-Rock records that have got something to say without saying something. Contradiction? Not at all. Just listen to this premiere of the new Thistle Sifter song here on VoS. If you want to find out more, just read our quick interview with the man behind it and get to know why the whole thing started with an accident!

Pete, this record seems much more concerned about topics outside of your control, more concerned with the outside problems that mankind is facing. Would you say, it took some time after that accident you had in 2020 for you to concentrate on the outside world and to look at the problems of humanity?
I have always been politically active and an avid supporter of environmental charities and animal rights groups. The serious health issues I have had in recent years definitely provided the inspiration for the first two Thistle Sifter albums. I think that it was only a matter of time before more political and environmental concepts took over, as this is something I feel very passionate about.

Can you explain the connection between “Ghost Acres” and modern agriculture?
The track was inspired by numerous books I have read in the last couple of years on climate breakdown, including Regenesis by George Monbiot. Ghost acres represent the real amount of land that is needed to produce the products that we consume. This is something close to my heart and something I personally always try to take into account as a consumer. The confronting imagery used in the “Ghost Acres” video by Dutch visual artist Nici Metselaar highlights the ongoing devastation caused by large scale agriculture and the knock-on effects this has for the climate worldwide, whilst at the same time confronting the viewer with harrowing imagery of the origins of the products Western consumers purchase on a daily basis.

Would you say that agriculture nowadays is a two-sided sword - on the one hand we are able to ensure the survival of mankind and on the other we do not care enough about the inter-connection between mankind and our planet?
In recent decades our food system has become predominantly dependent on global supply chains, reducing the link we have with our food. Nowadays most consumers are not aware of where the majority of their pre-packaged goods come from and the suffering and environmental damage that is caused as a result of their production. We obviously need agriculture to survive, but it is clear that we need to go about it in a different way. Most agricultural land is used for animal agriculture or animal feed, which could easily be rewilded or used to grow other crops if we reduced our meat and dairy consumption.

Which other things influenced you on the way to writing the new record “Forever the Optimist”?
The first two Thistle Sifter albums strongly focused on personal struggles, whereas Forever The Optimist deals primarily with existential issues. The eight compositions touch on themes such as land use, animal rights, cobalt mining in the Congo, climate breakdown, neo-liberalism and the media’s complicity in genocide. Each track on the album is also accompanied by thematic visuals. During the writing process I was heavily inspired by writers Jay Griffiths, George Monbiot, Omar El Akkad and Siddharth Kara.

Are you a notorious optimist?
Far from it! The title of the album is in fact tongue in cheek. I am not particularly positive about the plight of our species and the destruction of our planet weighs heavily on my mind. My partner jokingly referred to me as an eternal optimist and the title seemed to summarize the themes I was working on. Obviously there are elements of hope on the album, but as a father I am concerned about the world homo sapiens have created.

With you being a British ex-pat living in the Netherlands - how do you see your old home nowadays? Can you quickly explain your reasons for moving?
I moved to the Netherlands in 2008, originally to learn a new language and live on the continent for a bit. Following Brexit I realised that it made sense to stay in Utrecht. The situation in the UK is very concerning. The cost of living crisis has led to a massive rise in support for far-right groups, with immigrants being used as scapegoats. I do miss the UK greatly and love returning to see friends and family. With a bit of luck hopefully Thistle Sifter will make it over the English Channel at some point as well.

Let’s talk about the musical side of “Ghost Acres” - the song is a wonderful paradox of wide-open spaces and a very clearly pulsating heartbeat - how difficult is it for you to come up with structures and songs like these?
I am a fan of bands that use interesting time signatures and have always tried to implement this into my own music. “Ghost Acres” definitely has one of the more complex structures on the new album. Once an initial idea is recorded, be it on piano or guitar, then I try to add layers to compliment it. Sometimes very little needs to be added to the initial demo, like the intro to “Ghost Acres”. I have a tendency to want to add too many layers, many of which end up getting scrapped later in the recording process. That was definitely the case after the addition of the string arrangements.

Would you say that Post-Rock in general is beneficial to such complex ideas and contemplations as on “Forever the Optimist”?
One of the most beautiful things about music and art in general, regardless of genre or discipline, is the connection it can create with the listener. Artists I really enjoy in the post-rock genre, such as Godspeed You! Black Emperor or BRUIT≤, have a way of creating an emotional link with the listener through atmospheric layering and complex structures, often intertwined with political or personal topics. This is something I can definitely relate to with my own music.