ELEVANT is the brainchild of songwriter, guitarist, label boss and musical entrepreneur Michael Edward.

It began as a recording project but has morphed into a three-piece band, and the Liverpool psyche-rock trio are creating a huge buzz on the live circuit with new album, Dreamface.

“Many bands are creating their own record labels and putting out records directly to fans without the need of a middle man, and we are one of them,” said Elevant’s leader Edward, who stages a free gig in Lancashire next week.

“If you’re waiting around to get signed in this world you’ll be waiting for a long time.

“Do it yourself because if you want to be successful then you have to build a scene. It is the only way these days.”

From bone-rattling heavy rock to far out psychedelia; a slice of Krautrock and a dollop of Blues, Elevant tip it all into their cauldron, like musical wizards turning up the ear-bashing volume louder and louder.

“Influences can be simultaneously restrictive and inspiring, but I suppose everyone has touchstones,” added Edward.

“But playing music is the greatest feeling on earth – it is my total passion. I knew from the first moment I picked up a guitar that it was the life for me.

“I learned to play by listening to old blues guys like John Lee Hooker, and spent some time playing in classic rock bands, so there’s a big Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin influence in there.”

Edward reckons it is all about pushing the musical boundaries as far they can go and they certainly deliver the goods with their latest offering, sampling recordings from NASA’s Voyager space ship transmitted in space.

And he adds: “There are points that take cues from Krautrock bands like Neu! and Can, trip hop, grunge, and even Sonic Youth’s use of screwdrivers on guitars.”

Elevant made their debut album in the same style of Nirvana producer Steve Albini, who recorded live as much as possible to capture the spontaneity of a band in full flight.“We did the album in five days, and several songs went down first take,” Edward says.

“The line-up of the band is now more fluid, with members coming and going as they please and somehow it works.

“I hope we’ve really captured it, it feels like it.”

  • Elevant, The Ferret. Preston with support from Deepshade and Duke Mercury, Friday, February 6.

Free entry.