Mr Hermano have just played in the brilliant sunshine to a broadly smiling, if largely prostate, crowd. Meeting founder member Ben Mitchell and singer (and Mitchell's wife) Billie Godfrey shortly afterwards, the mood is joyful. Isn't it disheartening having so many people not dancing? "No not at all!" Billie enthuses, "The way I listen to and appreciate music, I can be just sitting there and still really enjoying it. A few people got up and danced for the more clubby tracks, which is great, that's what they're there for. It's just great to see everyone enjoying it." Mr Hermano have been together in some form for the best part of five years. The first collaboration was a version of John Coltrane's "Naima" - Ben Mitchell joined forces with Chris Fleming (Laws of Motion) and brother Rob Fleming (Circus Promotions), promos were circulated some time later, and in true record-trade style it came out in Japan before it was finally released here two years ago. In between committing that track to tape and actually getting it released they managed to record two full albums… But the Naima session, more than spreading the Hermano word, allowed them to consolidate their ideas and musical vision. A manifesto was drawn up to emphasise the soul in music and bring some attention back to composition, melody and live instrumentation. Bemoaning the state of many current commercial releases ("They'll just put the singles near the start, then a few OK tracks, and then all the extra, "bonus" filler tracks at the end…"), Mitchell emphasises the importance of dynamics and shape, of making an "album experience:" "Once we've got a couple of tracks down, or even just ideas in our heads, we'll be able to see where the album's going... which tracks will be going at the beginning or the middle... Often the best/ strongest composition is the one we put at the end... or the beginning." DJing is still an essential part of the process. The reactions of crowds are an invaluable measure of the music - seeing the music in action has kept the studio projects going in the right direction - "I'll be out Djing all weekend and then come back into the studio on Monday full of ideas". It also keeps them from getting stuck in a particular time: "You can't get 'stuck in a year'. You may produce an album that you're really happy with and is successful… You finish an album and for a while it becomes like your best friend, but you have to keep moving... I'm still really enjoying promoting the current record, but come the end of the festival season, we're probably going straight into the studio to record the next album." So, what about the name? It was originally destined to be Mi Hermano (my brother), and everyone was pleased with the choice. Alas, one day the details had to be faxed to designers and Mi was misprinted at the other end as Mr, and so it was ever after. Ben and Chris were most upset to begin with but came round to the idea, liking the concept of giving the music "a personality, but you can't see it". Whatever the secret, it's working, and with the success of "Free as the Morning Sun" both as an album and a track that's been collared for roughly 100 compilations, Mr Hermano are going form strength to strength. Words: Marilyn Kahan