INTERVIEW WITH OBLIQUE

Earlier this month I was proud to present you Oblique, the perfect synthpopband from Spain? Perhaps, perhaps not…all I know is that their music amused me from the first to the last minute, a sort of perfect marriage between Visage and Ladytron if you want. Enough of my bollocks now, here is what the band has to say themselves….

HELLO, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC THEN?

We’re Gonzalez, German and Sonja. We’re a band fan of synthpop sound with dark reminiscences.

I SUPPOSE YOU’RE AGREEING WITH ME THAT OBLIQUE ARE MAZKING SYNTHPOP BUT IT’S MORE THAN COPYING YOUR IDOLS, NOT?

We love the later 70’s sound and this is reflected in the material used to construct the tracks (analog synths and retro drum machines) but we take all the technological advancement that has been done since then to evolve our sound.

IT IS A BIT STRANGE COS SYNTHPOP USED TO BE CHARTMUSIC TWENTY YEARS AGO, BUT NOW IT’S MUSIC FROM THE UNDERGROUND.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

We think that when synthpop began with groups like Visage, Human League, OMD…everything was innovative and out of season and because of that and many other things, there was a time that endure over the years.
Currently, anymore can create a theme with a computer.
We believe that electronic music (synthpop, electro, etc.) is not so well
regarded by the record labels as any band bearing a guitar or an acoustic drum machine or at least that happens in Spain.

I DISAGREE MIND YOU BUT LOTS OF PEOPLE WILL ACCUSE YOU OF STICKING IN THE PAST, NOT?

As noted earlier, we always evolve our sound and, if you listen our songs, they can be under the influence of the bands we love because we are steeped in that sound but we do not want to be a copy of anyone but have our own sound.

HAVING THAT SAID YOUR MUSIC REFERS A LOT TO 80’S BANDS AND THEN IN PARTICULAR STUFF LIKE JOHN FOXX I THINK….ARE YOU 80’S ADDICTS?

Absolutely, yes!

WITH ALL THE RESPECT THERE IS, YOU COME FROM SPAIN? BUT I CAN’T RELATE IMMEDIATELY SPAIN WITH SYNTHPOP……

Neither can us! The electronic music in Spain never has been well regarded and the bands that are navigating in this current are, if there is anyone, underground.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ACTIVE IN THE MUSICSCENE?

We all come from other bands and we meet each other, unite ideas and form Oblique. We have edited 6 releases since our first album Acapulco in 2003.

YOUR ALBUM WAS CALLED “WITHOUT MAKING NOISE”….THAT NEEDS EXPLANATION….

As we can see that you understand the double meaning, Without Making Noise means that things are going well step by step and with work, perseverance and honesty. It's a positive thought.

HOW STUPID IT MAY SOUND, WHAT ARE YOUR MOMENTS OF “FAME” YET AND WHAT ARE THE GOALS IN THE FUTURE?

Our moments of “fame” are being in the lineup of FIB (International Festival of Benicassim) and playing at the festival with bands like The Killers, Magazine, Gang of Four, White Lies, The Psychedelic Furs, The Horrors, etc. Our goal is a new album (our fourth one) in which we're working right now.


LAST QUESTIONS ARE QUESTIONS I ALWAYS ASK, I CALL IT THE TRADITIONAL ORIGINAL SIN-QUESTIONS…
WHAT’S YOUR FAVE RECORD OF ALL TIME AND WHY?

German: Foxx´s Metamatic, he was a pioneer; and (almost ) all Talking Heads discography. Byrne converted my childhood in something bearable.

Gonzalez: Dare (The Human League) because it began my love for the analog synth.s.

Sonja: Wish (The Cure) because is the first one I could buy and it made me know that I wanted to sing because Robert Smith’s voice impacted me and also did his lyrics.

WITH WHO WOULDN’T YOU MIND BEING STUCK IN AN ELEVATOR FOR 8 HOURS AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO THEN?

German: With Bowie. I would have eight hours to convince him that my band is the best of all.

Gonzalez: I wouldn’t like being stuck for 8 hours with anybody but I’d like to be a couple of minutes with a boss of Spanish music industry and explain to him that they’re not on the right track since a long time ago.

Sonja: I’d love being stuck with Phil Oakey and I asked him to make a duet. I don’t know what would I do with the 7 hours and 59 minutes remaining, hehe!

DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING SPECIAL TO OUR READERS?

We hope to get more followers and exchange views and make our work being known in more countries thanks to reviews and interviews like this.

THANK YOU!!!!!!

Thank you very much! We’ re grateful.

http://www.myspace.com/obliquemusic