Moqsha - Interview The mood is kind of upbeat yet sombre at the same time. England has just crashed out of the European championships and Owen of Bristol-based Moqsha doesn't know whether to laugh or cry. The late arrival and accomplice to this interview, Cheyne (bass) doesn't have much sympathy for his fellow band member due to a general dislike of anything associated with the beautiful game.

However, it's not just the state of the English game that is troubling keyboard player Owen. More importantly, it's the present condition of the music scene that's weighing heavily on his mind which is clear to see as he constantly cuts himself short during sentences to gaze out across the water to think of his next line of discussion.

"It can't," protests Owen when I suggest that perhaps we are witnessing the death of rock & roll. "Music has been around for centuries. It is the only thing that produces so much original stuff. Imagine going back to the seventies when people were listening to Pink Floyd and thinking it's really different. Imagine playing those same people some hardcore techno now!" Moqsha genuinely believe that they can push the boundaries of music even further with an experimental guitar sound that is already proving hard to define.

"I have tried to define our sound," says Owen, "but it took me at least two minutes! We have been compared to Massive Attack, The Doors, Joy Division, Moorcheba, and The Cure. We have the same core ideas about music, but our influences remain different."

"You would really have to listen to it," mentions Cheyne with a tone in his voice that suggests he's struggling to define Moqsha's sound himself. "Most bands you can label indie or whatever. With Moqsha it's a bit more difficult."

With tentative plans to enter the studio to record a mini-album before embarking on more live dates, Moqsha are prepared to build their status on the right sort of recognition rather than rely on the hype of the music press to shape their destiny.

"Look at Toploader - they're appalling, the guy can't sing! But they're now considered the new band of alternative music which the music industry has decided for them," says Owen with more than a hint of frustration.

"The music should be strong enough to market itself," comments Cheyne, "because once you start thinking in monetary terms rather than concentrating on the actual music then you will be thinking about what you can buy"

"Then I can slip this into Zoë Ball's pocket," interrupts Owen with much laughter as he hand gestures an imaginary portion of cash into the pocket of the vivacious TV presenter.

Bribes are something Moqsha will not have to rely on because like their fellow Bristol peers who have developed a career on the strength of the music and, in the process, emerged as genuine innovators - something which cannot be achieved on a diet of superficial beliefs cooked up by the music press - Bristol could be witnessing another addition to that already healthy roster of bands.

(Nathan Haines)