INTERVIEW WITH SPECTRA*PARIS

Well Elena, I guess everybody’s wondering….why did you decide to put out an album with christmassongs?

Elena Alice Fossi: it’s a old dream coming true. I guess that every Christmastime to come I’ll be re-issueing such an album, perhaps including some new things, kind of work-in-progress. I wanted to do a kind of “classic”, mainly for myself, as I’m a bit bored with listening to Christmas albums made by others which sound totally uninspired and commercial-only.

I always thought christmassongs are not that cool, you know…

EAF: I agree with you, as too many times Christmas songs are just a “job” for people to make some money. People whom are absolutely alien to certain atmospheres. That’s just the reason why I want to show my own interpretation of Christmas, which sound different enough to other stories, I think.

How did you come to that idea?

EAF: I noticed that Christmas is usually seen as a one-way thing... some love it and some hate it. Christians are often turning it into a sugary event and antichristians love to destroy this period’s atmosphere by means of blasphemy, grotesque images, and same old satanic boring stuffs. My Christmas is a magic event, filled with angels, monsters, killers, saints, demons. My Christmas is “Lucifer and the Archangel Gabriel playing chess in the lost night of another universe”. My Christmas is neither a good nor a bad thing. It’s just an unearthly thing.

The sole bad thing about christmasalbums is that you can only play them then….or do you think it’s okay to play it in summertime?

EAF: well, after all, my album is not an ordinary Christmas songs container. Many songs have not that much to do with Xmas: let’s say I found them fit to the project. So, 8 of the 10 songs can be absolutely listened at 40 degrees temperature... I guess they’d help in turning hot annoying summer into something fresher, with some help from a tasty ice-cream!

Are there christmas albumsout you like yourself?

EAF: Not exactly. Let’s say I prefer making compilations which include some songs I like. Globally, it’s rare that a whole album, whether including Xmas songs or not, goes to really fulfil my expectations.

If father Christmas comes knocking at your door, what will you tell him?

EAF: I’m dead. You arrived too late.

It can be me but I think Christmas can be quite depressive as well….

EAF: it’s possible that Christmas becomes a kind of a nightmare, sometimes. As for myself goes, I must say that in the last years I find that event more positive. It’s for me an occasion to celebrate the birth of a great person I totally respect the memory of.

Any special presents in mind?

EAF: a SAR-21 painted pink would be cool! But I guess I’ll gladly shift with a bottle of Louis Roederer...

Apart from the christmasalbum, what other plans are there in store from Spectra*Paris?

EAF: well, we’ve just released 2 new studio albums, so time has come to increase the SPECTRA*Paris activity on stage. Me, Alessia, Marianna and our collaborators are ready to go and in the beginning of January we’ll be doing a mini-tour Germany and Switzerland. It’ll be a mix of full-lenght shows and short showcases, then we’re gonna make a Eurotour around April, I suppose. Some of those concerts will be filmed, as we’re planning the release of a DVD/Blue Ray including live songs and special contents. Furthermore, a single might come out in Springtime.

Thank you Elena, any wishes for 2011?

EAF: I wish both SPECTRA*Paris and Kirlian Camera had a faboulous year, the best ever!

INTERVIEW WITH PORTION CONTROL

HELLO JOHN, IT FEELS GREAT TO INTERVIEW A PIONEER AND A
LEGENDARY MUSICIAN. DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS ONE?

No. We were around at the beginning of the industrial/punk electronic music movement
and continue to create electronic music today - so we have a long history
and experience which means we are labelled as pioneers

IT MIGHT BE BECAUSE I’M GETTING OLD BUT EVEN IF I THINK THERE IS
TODAY TONS OF GREAT MUSIC, I GET THE FEELING THAT THERE’S
NOTHING NEW BEING MADE….
DO YOU THINK THAT TOO AND HOW COME YOU THINK?

I agree that lots of music fails to take risks nowadays as sales of product diminish I think
this will only get worse. Groups have to rely on live performance and much music is
created with this in mind. It is certainly much easier and cheaper to create music now
than it has ever been which in turn creates lots of competition

IF I SEE PORTION CONTROL, THEN I AUTIOMATICALLY THINK OF ALL
THOSE OTHER ELECTRONIC BANDS WHO WERE SO INFLUENTIAL….
FROM CABARET VOLTAIRE TO PSYCHIC TV TO…
WAS THERE SOMETHING LIKE A SCENE IN THE SENSE THAT YOU KNEW
EACH OTHER?

Yes, certainly in the early 1980’s most bands were linked in some way or other. We had a
flat and modest studio at 319 Kennington Road, South London within a few miles radius
SPK, Lustmord, Nocturnal Emissions, Chris and Cosey and Funky Porcini lived...and we
all knew each other reasonably well

BACK THEN THE GUITARBANDS HAD JOHN PEEL.
I KNOW YOU DID A SESSION BUT WAS HE IMPORTANT FOR THE
ELECTRONIC SCENE?

John Peel was vitally important to the electronic music scene as well as the dub scene
he played our singles and we were privileged enough to record a peel session. I
discovered lots of music through his shows which i often taped and passed to my friends

BUT HOW WAS THAT FOR ELECTRONIC BANDS? WAS THERE ACTUALLY
ANY COVERAGE AT ALL? I MEAN YOU ARE LEGENDARY BUT IF YOU SEE
ALL THOSE OLD FOOTAGES…THAT ALL SEEMS TO BE QUITE OBSCURE,
NOT?

The whole industrial, wild planet electronic music movement was always small in
England with most bands playing across Europe for any recognition at all. The movement
was about obscurity the music was often difficult and never translated into any sort of
commercial success easily

YOU CALL YOURSELF ELECTROPUNK, SO I GUESS THE PUNKATTITUDE IS
OF GRAT IMPORTANCE, NOT?

We grew up out of post punk in the UK. The idea that anyone could form a group. This
doesn’t seem so unusual now at all but back then it took punk and post punk to really
open the floodgates to music creativity again

YOU’VE BEEN NAMECHECKED BY LOTS OF ARTISTS WHO HAPPEN TO BE
MILLIONAIRES NOW.
HOW DOES IT FEEL….I MEAN IN A HONEST WORLD, YOU SHOULD HAVE
BEEN HOSE MILLIONAIRES!

Commercial success has never been a driving aim and we do not profess to being
musicians. we have aimed to create uncompromising electronic music and single
mindedly set about this goal. Of course we would have appreciated being better rewarded
but we also took a long break to raise families etc

HISTORICALLY SEEN YOU INVENTED THE SAMPLING IDEA.
CAN YOU TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT THAT?
I MEAN, WAS THAT FOUND BY COINCIDENCE OR….?

In about 1980 we heard about a sampling system called ‘greengate’ powered by an apple
ll computer and bought one of the first of these to be made commercially available. From
this we learned the basic principles of sampling and the technology was set to accelerate
We then progressed to the akai s900, s950 and finally our pride and main workhorse the
s1000.

YOU KNOW, JOHN? I MISS THAT IMPROVISING THING THESE DAYS IN THE
MUSICSCENE….
IT ALL SEEM TO BE SO MANUFACTURED NOW….

commercial pressure seems to apply automatically now. i think the naivety of the music
industry allowed real creativity to occur but with that learning process disappearing
creativity suffers. as was mentioned earlier taking risks is much harder now

SOMETIMES THEYSAY THAT WITH TODAY’S TECHNIQUES, EVERYONE CAN
MAKE MUSIC….
I SAY TRUE, BUT IS IT GOOD MUSIC?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

i think having the ability to create music being so readily available is a good thing
it is the punk spirit - but of course the downside is that it floods the market with copycat,
manufactured stuff. good stuff will always be around it just takes more effort than people
are willing to invest

YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE DOWNLOADGENERATION…I MEAN YOU
BELONG TO A SCENE FROM WHICH THE RELEASES ARE WORTH A
GOLDMINE!

again we have always pushed for the progressive edge and so we certainly embraced the
software side of music production early on as we did with sampling etc. most recently
i’ve looked at using apps like nanostudio and beatmaker for music creation. however
many people, including many to young to have been involved at the time - still want to
own the original vinyl versions from the scene. i am happy with downloading although it
does undervalue the product

DO YOU FOLLOW THE MUSICSCENE YOURSELF?

not really although of course we meet other bands when we play

THE MOMENT YOU WENT ON A MAJOR, LONDON RECORDS, YOU WERE
GONE.
PURE COINCIDENCE OR DID THE MAJORTHING NECKED YOU IN AN
ARTISTIC SENSE?

the major label thing just never suited our personalities, we were just not confident
enough nor did we like the immediate concentration on commercial viability and profit
we had been independent and self contained for to long... this period was our unhappiest
and least productive. If you look back at the independent left field electronic acts that
went to major labels few if any succeeded

I ASK THIS TO EVERYBODY…WHAT’S YOUR FAVE RECORD OF ALL TIME
AND PLEASE STATE WHY…

the pop group Y, when this came out we hadn’t heard anything like it before. it was
produced by dennis bovell so had loads of volume spikes, low end, feedback and dub
reverbs and delays along with inventive dance oriented tracks and edgy intelligent
vocals. To top it all it came out of Bristol that, at the time, was a UK city smouldering
with unrest....

YOU SOON WILL BE ON THE BIMFEST. WHAT CAN THE AUDIENCE EXPECT?

we have been refining our live set [threat] to be as forceful as possible so expect pure
sequenced electronics with plenty of bass, deans vocals, a new set of visuals mixed live
into the output.... and a few surprises, of course

INTERVIEW WITH XMH

Can you tell us what XMH actually means?

XMH is the short term for Xenomorph which is the name of the alien from that same movie. Being a sci-fi fan I was fascinated by that name but having a look on the net we soon found out that there are already bands around who had the same idea.
I decided to take the first and last letter and the one in the middle and that’s the sole explanation XMH has….

You just have released your latest cd “State of muind” and this could be the cd that will make it….I only see positive reviews!

And that makes us very happy indeed! The big papers like Sonic Seducer, Zillo, Gothic, Negatief and so were all wild about our release. We put a lot of work in”State Of Mind” and the positive response is like a reward for the hard work that’s been done.
Of course it’s great for making our name a bit more known. I really do hope that our sound reaches as many ears as possible and that it will open new doors to us. The only way we see is the one forward!

But being part of the scene means working very hard….what motivates you?

I know it sounds like the biggest cliche there is but my biggest motivation is the love for music and my wish to become a better musician.
Of course it is really motivating seeing people are reacting on what we’re doing and for achieving that you have to develop yourself constantly. The hard work is something I accept, nothing annoying at all….

Just like every band in the genre I guess you have Germany and Belgium in mind…

Especially the reactions from Germany are positive, even more as we ever wished for. Belgium isn’t that great for the moment as things go rather slowly but everything we get is positive as well. You see we’re not complaining at all!

When I was looking at some information on the net about your band I noticed some local reviews who have to ridiculize the whole scene though…. Howx do you react to such things?

Most of the times I don’t care about such reviews. But I must say that it is a shame that it are those who are complaining that the scene is dead are also those who do anything to slash it down. All they do is complaining instead of bringing up some good alternatives.
It looks like they are looking for something to slash down as if they are looking for things to blame.

There are some bands from Holland which are very big from Within Temptation, Grendel to Clan Of Xymox…but it feels like there is no scene over there.

There is a scene in Holland you know. But comparing it with other countries, I tend to say the public is much younger. Honestly said it’s not that very well accepted by the big audience even if our country is famous for being open minded.
Maybe it’s because of that you think there is no scene, but there is one believe me…

XMH is compared quite a lot with Suicide Commando….

Of course I can’t say this isn’t true at all. Suicide Commando is in our genre such a long active band and of course they influenced us, so I am sure you will hear some comparisons too.
But we did it without wanting to but XMH is part of a scene in where such comparisons are inevitable.
Having said that, if they wanna compare us with acts that has been so long in the scene then that’s fine by us!

Where do you find your inspiration?

A bit from everywhere in fact. Films, movies, news, personal things of course other music in every possible genre.

I read once that you started the band because of the love for Hocico and now you’re sharing the stage with Erk and Rasco. How does that feel?

Well, XMH came later and Hocico is a reason but of course not the main reason. I used to play in several metalbands but it was thanks to Hocico that I got into the electronic scene and so far I still have lots of respect for them.
Knowing that I will be with them on stage in both Antwerp and Rotterdam gives me a good feeling, yeah……

What’s your fave record of all time and please state why….

Really too many to come up with one. I love music no matter which genre. It really depends on my mood which record I will state as my fave.
If you should ask me now then I go for “Navras” by Juno Reactor.

What can the audience expect from the show you’ll be doing in Antwerp?

An explosive show at where you foot will command you to dance.

And the last words are yours….

Come to Antwerp at 12th November, be free, become fan, buy or music, send spam around the world that we’re genius…but serious now : please come and enjoy Hocico but be sure to be early so you don’t miss our show and we can drink a beer during Hocico.

INTERVIEW WITH HOROLOGIUM

Dear Greg, what does industrial music mean to you?

Hello! Industrial music stands for creative freedom and lack of musical borders. It allows me to express myself freely, to decide what is right and what is wrong for me from A to Z, be it musicwise, productionwise etc..

Everything seems to go away but industrial music seems to be standing for decades, how come?

Good question. I guess what you mean is that other genres of music usually have their five minutes of popularity and then they go back to their garages, their underground etc. Look what happened to punk rock for instance. But industrial music has always been here in the underground and has never become really popular, which is good of course. It’s the kind of art that is, so to say, immune to . And that is what makes it so strong and everlasting.

I always tend to say that industrial music is perfect for my imagination as I can create everything with it what I want….

I guess that depends on one’s own imagination, but I do agree basically. I’d say that classical music/film scores and dark ambient stimulate imagination a lot. Like I said before, it’s the music that deconstructs all borders, schemata and ‘being used to’ aspects. Long live industrial music.

How did you get involved with that sort of music?

In the mid-90s I discovered Cold Meat Industry through some metal magazine. Then a bit later I also watched a Merzbow video and that’s when I got hooked.

The industrial scene has masses of releases, there used to be a time when there was an overflood from tapereleases but now with the new techniques everybody seems to make stuff. How do you follow all this?

I don’t follow at all. I keep myself busy trying to listen to all the great bands I already know. I rarely find good music from new artists and instead of wasting my time I try to focus on some well-known bands/projects.

This might be less funny to say but if everyone is making music, it also means lots of crap comes above.
Isn’t that extra hard for serious bands to deal with it?

The crap is no problem at all for serious bands. Well established artists will always find it easy to release their music and get through. In my opinion it is more annoying for label owners. Imagine how time consuming listening to all this must be.

Does it interest you in which form (vinyl, cd, mp3, tape) music is presented?

Of course. A release is not only the sound, or at least it shouldn’t be. Artwork, packaging, the way you promote the release – all these factors count as well for the overall impression that you get. I love vinyls and I feel nostalgic about tapes, they were my youth. Mp3 is fine as an introduction to the actual release on CD/vinyl/tape, but I feel it’s not a complete release if without any tangible object.

You are the man behind Horologium, I guess that’s not the only band you are/were involved with….

Horologium is the only project that really matters to me at the moment. I have lately started working with Marcin of [haven] on a more idm/breakcore oriented band and I hope you’ll soon be able to listen to our music.

Poland seems to have a quite vivid scene with lots of bands, but I guess it’s better to keep my foot on the ground : I guess it’s rather very underground as well?

It is indeed. But is that bad? What makes me more anxious is that without few exceptions people in Poland tend to play the same stuff over and over again. Dark ambient that we all heard dozen of times or plastic sound of synthetic orchestra – that’s usually the case. However, I was quite impressed recently by Polish project named K.

Honestly said I tend to follow the scene (from pop to Indus) in East Europe for quite a while, but it’s only since recently (some exceptions not counted) that there are so many good bands around.

I don’t follow pop scene, but there have been many industrial artists that appeared in recent 10 years after the inception of Beast of Prey Records in 2000. This was a great impulse for young artists to start their own projects.

When I heard Horologium’s latest offering, I got silent inside as it was rather morbid and creepy.
Do you feel as such too?

I assume you mean “A Handful of Dust & Ashes”? This is actually a reissue of my music from 2005 with some additional live tracks. Everyone perceives music in one’s own way, so it’s kinda hard for me to relate to your feelings. As a matter of fact, listening to “A Handful of Dust & Ashes” makes me nostalgic and serious.

What’s the most important thing for you : the story behind the music or the music itself or are the two not to be seperate?

I can listen to, say, End.user without thinking about the story behing the music, and that’s just great, but for some artists, including Horologium, these two fields are not to be separated. So if you mean my own music, I’d say both are very important.

Apart from being musician, you also do run Ur Muzik-label. How would you describe this label?

I run Ur Muzik with my wife Olga. We release music that we enjoy. We hope people will enjoy our releases too. Let the music speak for our label. It speaks best.

How does it work. Are you in search of musicians/releases or come they knocking to your door?

It’s 50/50 actually.

Is anything possible on the label or is there stuff you absolutely do refuse?

On the one hand, I would say that anything is possible. Anything that I find interesting. On the other, it’s less probable I would publish some christian pop crap instead of some interesting neofolk release.

Who has a record company in times where the musicindustry is in crisis?

If it’s not about making money, what’s the problem? People like me still enjoy listening to CDs and some other people enjoy releasing them. Who cares about the rest? Again, it’s about fun and passion, not business. Financial crisis doesn’t have much to do with it, at least in my case. Some other labels might find it difficult, though.

Is there anything special in mind you would like to release?

There definitely are some bands and albums that I would love to release, but let’s not talk in vain. I think that dreams are supposed to come true and I hope I will one day release what I intend.

What’s your fave record of all time and please state why…..

Sorry, but there are so many of them it’s really hard to pick up only one. It would be unfair.

We leave the last words to you…..

Thank you very much for the interview, which I enjoyed a lot!

INTERVIEW WITH THE BOLLOCK BROTHERS

FOR SOME THE BOLLOCK BROTHERS ARE AN INSTUTION, DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS AN INSTITUTION?

Us an institution, really, do some see us this way, should I ask ARNO to answer this, no, not really Mr D


YOUR FIRST ALBUM HAS BEEN THE ONE WITH THE SEX PISTOLS.
WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN THIS ALBUM?

Our first album was the Last Supper, followed by the four horsemen of the apocalypse, never mind came later, we choose this as we felt the bite coming from our Electro Influence, some say we were the very first, done at the studio of John Komgas, cc happy mondays etc


I RECENTLY SAW JOHNNY LYDON WITH PIL. APART THAT IT WAS A GREAT SHOW, I FELT SORRY FOR HIM…I MEAN, THIS ICON HAD TO BEG THE AUDIENCE TO LISTEN TO HIM.

John Lydon remains a genius, but living in the USA has done whats left of his nut in, and being married to NORA whos edad is the ass Chef of Der Spiegel mag in Germany, we we’re mates untill my brother smacked a polieceman in Dublin(off duty guard) rotten got caught, and banged up in Mountjoy prison


TALKING ABOUT PUNK. WHAT DOES PUNK MEAN TO YOU?

Punk means seeing the kids at Bim fest and Peter flogging his cds with his lady, and me in the bar with a nice lady from west Flanders laughs


TECHNICALLY SPOKEN YOU’RE NOT A PUNKBAND BUT IN SPIRIT I THINK YOU ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST PUNKBANDS EVER, AGREE?

total agreement


YOU WORKED WITH MICHAEL FAGAN, I AM SURE THAT MUST HAS GIVEN YOU SOME ENEMIES….

Michael Fagan, god save the queen, wow enough said here Mr D


NOT TO SPEAK ABOUT MANY RELIGION-SUBJECTS YOU MAKE PARODIES OF…
JUST BECAUSE IT’S FUNNY OR IS IT A REAL HATE TOWARDS CHRISTIANITY?

Ever thought that I LOVE christianity Mr D, I do, the old testament in the bible is fabulous, Abraham with his son, Joseph in Egypt, Moses parting the red sea, Joshua, where can one read anything like this



IN ALL HONESTY I DON’T KNOW IF I BELIEVE IN GOD OR NOT, BUT IF THERE IS ONE HE CAN NOT LET AN EX-HITLERJUGENDMEMBER BE THE LEADER OF THE CHURCH.
I KNOW YOU CRITICIZE IT, BUT DO YOU EVER THINK YOURSELF IT COULD HAVE COME SO FAR?


Total belief in God, absolute, might be a wild lad, but this will NEVER falter, Dieier, my dad was FIVE yrs in a camp in Poland, taken at Dunkirk, they were the poor sods that had to hold up Rommel, the French in total dissarray, he was freed by the yanks, belief in god and Churchill was got him through, Ill get to you pope question in a min




YOU WERE CONTROVERSIAL AS THEY SAY, BUT IN ALL HONESTY : I THINK THIS WORLD HAS BECOME SOOOOOOOOOO SOFT.
I MEAN IMAGINE DOING NOW A SONG ABOUT ALBERT SPEER.

Albert Speer, the first person to enter Hitlers bunker after the russians had a field day there was a Irish Ameriican called J P Odonnell, related to us by Irish ancestory, got the chance to speak to him, saw his interview with Speer, that’s what made me write the song, Albert is back laughs



GREAT YOU CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION…SO MANY BANDS ARE LAME T0DAY!!!!!!!!!

Yes the bands are lame today, why, so much drugs available, once u guys clodes the borders the cartel had a field day, no more Bollocks left in the musicians, its lets say getting like football shite


AND AS UBERPUNKS, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE RECORDINDUSTERY THAT IS ON ITS KNEES AND FREE DOWNLOADING THAT IS RISING?

Well on the industry let me say this, Im suing our record company at the moment, ca va, on downloading, not such a bad thing


ONE OF YOUR ANTHEMS MUST BE “HORROR MOVIES”. SO SIMPLE AND SUCH AN ADDICTIVE SONG.

Horror movies, yes so simple true, but effective, the Dewaele are shortly re mixing it for me


YOU ALSO COVERED “HARLEY DAVID” BY SERGE GAINSBOURG, A TRUE HERO OF MINE.
IF I HEAR THE BOLLOCKS I OFTEN COMPARE HIM TO YOU, NOT MUSICALLY ….BUT IN THE SENSE OF LIVING AT A MAXIMUM…..

Gainsbourg, simply this Mr D, when I needed a friend and a break in the business he was there, I reamin the ONLY person to rewrite one of his songs, the rest only re recorded, find it strange that the girl who plays Jane Birkin in the new movie Gainsbourg Killed herself after having a row with her boyfriend in Paris, wonder what Serge would have made of this???



I USED TO BE A DJ AND PLAYED “HARLEY DAVID” A LOT AND IT WORKED WITH PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T UNDERSTAND A BIT WHAT WAS ABOUT….

Harley David, a monster seller on PIAS, that made there company



I UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS SONG HAS BEEN REMIXED BY THE FAMOUS THE BROTHERS DEWAELE, PLEASE TELL US ABOUT IT…

working with Stephan and David will be a honour for me, those dewalle brothers are the Guvonors, they have also been so Kind to my son Kilien, we met up again in Lyon with the belgie cook Piet Huysentruyt, what have we learned today Bollocks, laughs, soon in ghent recording and remixing Pgod



THE BOLLOCK BROTHERS ALWAYS HAVE HAD A SPECIAL LINK WITH BELGIUM, I UNDERSTOOD YOUR DRUMMER WAS EVEN BELGIAN…


Drummer Patrick Pattyn is from Oostende, formely NAUCHTU NEBEL beats of love, which we will do live in anvers for Patrick Nebel



HMMMM, RIGHT IF I THINK THE UK WAS NEVER OPEN ENOUGH FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE BOLLOCK BROTHERS?

re the uk now it begins to open, as u said inone of your questions we got into a lot of trouble re Michael Fagin, recently we played Camdens purple turtle fab gig, full house fabulous


AS A BAND YOU TRIED ALMOST EVERYTHING, ARE THERE STILL THINGS YOU THINK YOU WANNA TRY OUT TODAY?

As a band yes, make love to Kim Clijsters in the ladies toilet at Wimbleldon,



I ASK THIS TO EVERYBODY : WHAT’S YOUR FAVE RECORD OF ALL TIME AND PLEASE STATE WHY…

Fave record wow what a choice if I was a rich man by Topol, or baby your a rich man by The Beatles



WHAT CAN THE FANS EXPECT FROM THE BOLLOCK BROTHERS AT BIMFEST?

Bim fest, wow, we show what we can really do on this one, total

INTERVIEW WITH STIN SCATZOR

Stin Scatzor is 20 years old, that’s a teen’s lifetime! How does it feel?

I guess it’s a case of getting old but we’re still alive and kicking! It feels weird that after all Stin Scatzor is known in the genre, and not only Belgium.
I am not speaking in terms of songs that are known, but as a name we are. I mean, if even the singer from KMFDM asks what Stin Scatzor means….

In those 20 years people you worked with are famous, others have completely disappeared. Is it a case of being the lucky one or do you think that quality rises above in the end?

I would rather see it as a coincidence. Right, I worked with Johan Van Roy as I recorded my first demos over there, I worked with Peter from Liquid G., I know Dirk Ivens and Eric Van Wonterghem quite well.
But in the end I think it’s due to the fact that it’s a small world, everybody knows everyone.
For me it all started with a stupid advert about electro-music in the musicmag “Fabiola”…an ad placed by Johan Van Roy!
But it still does something to me that after 20 years I might share the stage with Suicide Commando, Dive, Die Krupps, Insekt, KMFDM and now Front Line Assembly.

With Suicide Commando Johan became a sort of institution, never felt any jealousy towards him?

Yes and no. I still consider it as a hobby but for Johan it has become something that got out of hand. But that was to be expected, like he was committed with Suicide Commando. Hat of to that and I think he deserves it.
Maybe if I had the same drive and character as him, we could be as big as he is…who knows.

Ben wel blij dat ik het eerste optreden van Suicide Commando en de opgang van Suicide Commando heb mogen meemaken ! En er wordt zelfs al over een eventuele terugkeer van Lescure 13 gepraat... Maar dat is toekomstmuziek, wie weet. Alleen de tijd ontbreekt ons...
Maar ik ben tevreden, zoals het nu is. Ik ben ook niet dagelijks met muziek bezig.

You also are children of the so called tape-area. Technically speaking it surely was inferior but I still think these tapes meant more than the cd-r releases now.

Somewhere these tapes kind of fascinated me. You know making the covers by yourself, copying them…it was all an amateur thing.
Still think it’s damn cool that there are two split-tapes around with one side featuring us and on the other Suicide Commando.
We also made splittapes with Liquid G. and Notstandskomitee.

Never thought to feature all those tapes onto one cd?

In a way we did, especially with our 20th birthday. But such things take time and I need to make a good selection. Plus they all need to be remastered as well.
Having said that, releasing them on vinyl appeals to me as well.


2000 was a very important time as then Kris joined.
Was this meeting pure coincidence or were you searching to make the group any bigger?

Coincidence is not the word as we knew each other from the gigscene as he used to play with The Lace Of Allotment. One day one I met Kris at a vampire party I was already involved in recording songs for “Industrogression”.
I asked him back then if he would like the idea to add a guitar on that. When those first demos arrived I was thinking : this is the new Stin Scatzor sound!

I didn’t ask it yet, but what does Stin Scatzor actually means?

That’s of course the kind of question that is always asked.
Stin Scatzor is a word without sense, it’s like some kind of puzzle from different letters and it just seemed to fit fine. I found that 20 years ago when I had some boring times during school.
The logo is also pure by coincidence, no meaning and certainly not anything to do with Nazis.
One day I got a compliment from Rudy out of Wumpscut for my logo.

The longer you think about, the less concertorganisators that are around…

I kind of do understand that if you see what it all involves. I just think it’s a genius thing that there are still people around in our genre who are willing to do so.
Also not forget that Belgium is a small country, I mean every time there is something going on…one event being bigger as the other.

Belgium is the country that breed its EBM-children but I still do think that this country doesn’t treat its children in a right way.

I am really happy that it is all underground as I never want this genre to get commercialised. I know others will have other opinions and I am sure it’s different for organisators or people who are earning their living with music but for me : no thanks to those mass events!

Now that EBM is being in South America, don’t you get reactions?

We get some once and a while but apart from some fancontacts that was it.
I have no idea if Stin Scatzor is known there anyway….

For a band like Clan Of Xymox it’s no problem to play there for tenthousand people…

Honestly said in some way I would like to experience that once. The biggest audience we ever played for was in Leipzig at Wave & Gothik Treffen and we are talking about 1000 man only…but I really enjoyed that!

You soon will be on stage with Front Line Assembly, what can the people expect?

From us or Front Line Assembly? (Lol)
We will play a short but powerful set. Nothing special, just like always!
Pure “industrock’n roll”!!!!!!! I hope the audience will be as wild as the one we had in Nijlen.

Anything to add?

Well, I can reveal you that “Industremakes” will soon find its release on a European label, as soon as details are coming in we’ll let you know!
And our latest mcd3” “Industruction” is still available…and follow us on Facebook!

INTERVIEW WITH THE ETERNAL AFFLICT

YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 20 YEARS ALREADY, HOW DO YOU SEE THOSE TWO DECADES?
WINUS: Looking back through the years life has treated us good enough - at least most of the time.
Somehow we survived all the ups and downs and now we are still here.

YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE BANDS WHO HAD TO BREAKTHROUGH WITH THE USE OF SELF RELEASED TAPES, I EVEN GOT THEM SOMEWHERE AROUND HERE. DO YOU THINK THE GENERATION OF TODAY HAS IT MUCH MORE EASIER?
CYAN: The internet has changed the whole process in various ways. But that doesn't necessarily make things better.
Of course some convienience is nice to have but the myth of making music is almost gone.
Not to forget that unless you are a real big seller you can't earn a living with it anymore.
You can be a big star today - and tomorrow people won't even remember your name.

IN THE EARLY DAYS THE ETERNAL AFFLICT HAD A BATCAVE-SOUND. THAT WASN’T THAT MUCH OF A LOGIC CHOICE…I MEAN LOTS OF GOTH IN GERMANY, BUT NOT THAT MANY BATCAVEFANS…..
WINUS: If you try to do something special the ways you choose are never easy and seldomly logic.
We always chose what we thought to be best and if it turns out that the people like it ... well done.

THE ETERNAL AFFLICT HAD A LOT OF GUEST MUSICIANS TOO. DO YOU THINK THAT’S A GOOD THING?
CYAN: Don't you? It has always been a pleasure to work together with other musicians because their contributions give you new impulses and ideas.
Each of them was special in their very own way.

I ALWAYS CONSIDERED YOUR SOUND LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE SEARCHING FOR WHO OR WHAT THEY REALLY ARE…..
IN FACT, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR OWN MUSIC?
WINUS: The good thing about music is that every listener can canalize his own feelings and ideas through it.
Of course that also counts on the musicians side...

THE ETERNAL AFFLICT AND BELGIUM ALWAYS SEEMED TO GO HAND IN HAND QUITE WELL………
CYAN: Thank you ...

YOUR LATEST OFFERING “EUPHORIC & DEMONIC” WAS A SORT OF BACK TO THE ROOTS THING….
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY MUSICIAN DOES THIS ONCE, OR NOT? AND YET SOME TECHNO-INFLUENCES TOO….
WINUS: Where would mankind be without it's roots?! Actually E&D is not our latest offering (that was 5 years ago)... 
We have since founded our own label "AFFLICT:ME RECORDS" and had two releases last year:
"SAN DIEGO 2K9" (our 20th anniversary celebration which includes a rerelease of the original "(LUMINOGRAPHIC) AGONY")
and our latest album "ION". In fact we are already working on the next album which is due to be out next summer.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CURRENT GOTHSCENE? IS IT DEAD LIKE IT’S BEEN ANNOUNCED BY GOTHTTRONIC?
CYAN: Just because people get older and find their place in life doesn't necessarily mean they're dead.
Of course the scene has changed throughout the years but without change the world would stop to turn and then we would all die....

I ASK THIS TO EVERYBODY : WHAT'S YOUR FAVE RECORD OF ALL TIME AND PLEASE STATE WHY
WINUS: That is a hard question to answer. Being as old as we are... 20 years ago the answer would have been different than today.
Every musician has his own very special virtues and vices. No matter which we would choose to state, it would be unfair to all the others.

YOU SOON WILL BE PART OF NECROPOLIS, LOOKING FORWARD TO ANY PARTICULAR BAND?
CYAN: We are very much looking forward to seeing Dirk Ivens.
He has always been an inspiration and a good friend throughout the years whom we see too seldomly...

WHAT CAN THE FANS EXPECT FROM THE SHOW?
WINUS: A trip through 20 years of eternal music. Hopefully there will be something for everyone to enjoy and party on....

THE LAST WORD IS YOURS!!!!!!!!
CYAN: Rock on and stay tuned ......

INTERVIEW WITH FRANK (JUST FRANK)

HMMMM, PLEASE TEL US WHO FRANK 5JUST FRANK) ARE

FJF are Anthem and KD.

YOU ARE TECHNICALLY SPEAKING AMERICANS BUT YOUR SOUND IS SO FRENCH

I (Anthem) have dual citizenship USA+France. Kirti is born in France of a French father and an Indian mother. I grew up with Kirti in the same school in the Riviera where we both attended class in the Anglo-American section.

HOW LONG HAS THE BAND BEEN GOING?

Since high school really. So that’s 8 years !


I KNOW IT’S WEIRD (HAHA) BUT A FRENCH BAND THAT HAS A FRENCH SOUND TURNS UP ON SOME AMERICAN LABEL….

I think I finally realize how exclusive that idea actually is. It never came to mind as something bizarre. Pieter Scwhoolwerth, the man behind Weird records, is a very open minded person who loves European sounds. He happens to love French alternative bands from the 80s and believes that the French language is perfect to express melancholy. Despite the distance he didn’t hesitate to sign us to his record label which is somewhat of a blessing.

I DEFINITELY COULD HEAR THE INFLUENCE FROM ASYLUM PARTY…

Yeah. We discovered them years after we started FJF. At first our only influences were solely British. We came across bands from the French touching pop scene much later and realized we had a similar sound to theirs. It’s as if we inherited this French coldness unconsciously.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS SUCH A SHAME THE WHOLE FRENCH MOVEMENT WAS SO IGNORED, WERE YOU AWARE OF THAT THE TIME IT CAME OUT?

Sure, I think the same goes to all latin speaking countries. I only discovered amazing Italian bands recently through the ‘Danza Mechanica’ compilation released on Mannequin mailorder. Howcome I didn’t hear about these bands before, but knew all about German based DAF instead ? I don’t know.

THERE WILL BE PEOPLE AROUND WHO WILL ACCUSE YOU OF A DATED SOUND……

They’re perfectly allowed to. We can’t help the fact that there will be some people out there who will criticize our music for whatever reasons. It’s always the risk you take when your main influences were active 30 years ago.

IS FRANK JUST FRANK ALSO A BAND THAT CAN BE SEEN ON STAGE, OR NOT?

Of course. We’ve been playing in different areas in Europe and played twice in NYC. We got a few gigs planned in Italy, Norway and the USA in the next months.


WE UNDERSTOOD THAT “THE BRUTAL WAVE” HAS A SPECIAL MEANING, PLEASE EXPLAIN…..

‘Brutal Wave’ is the style of music we play. ‘The Brutal Wave’ also happens to be the name of our first album. In this case, it refers to the wave of French post-war militias that would grab girls who slept with German soldiers and shave their heads off. Unfortunately, they would sometimes do worse to these girls.

ON THE COVER WE SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE OF….
HUMILATING PEOPLE AS THEY WEREACCUSSED FOR DOING EXACTLY THE SAME.

That’s right. The duality of good and evil in men and things is a strong theme in FJF’s music. What’s happening to this girl is a perfect example of ‘good people’ doing awful things.

DO YOU CARE ABOUT SUCH ISSUES?JUST LIKE ALL COLD WAVE, IT’S MUSIC WITH A NICE MELANCHOLIC ATMOSPHERE BUT VERY UPLIFTING IT ISN’T, NOT?

That’s a way to see it. We like to express our personal concerns in our music. And life can sometimes feel like that girl on the cover. You can sometimes be a ‘victim’ of good.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVE RECORD OF ALL TIME AND PLEASE STATE WHY…

I think it’s impossible to have a favourite record of all time caus that can change every 2 months. All I know is that Rage Against The Machine’s self titled first release turned my world upside down. Made me start listening to music obsessively rather than just for entertainment purposes. If I was to give you a modern album that is definitely one of my favourite records of all time, it would be Xeno & Oaklander’s ‘Sentinelle’ on Weird records. That album is sincerely a gift from God.

WHY SHOULD OUR READERS ABOUT FRANK JUST FRANK?

Huh ?

INTERERVIEW WITH MONO ELECTRICITY DENSITY

WELL, HELLO TELL US WHAT DOES MONO ELECTRONIC DENSITY MEANS…

- JM: It’s a name chosen by Valie (Bernard’s girlfriend) which is very significant to us because it contains physical reference (chaotic concepts) and also a simple reference to “electronic” because it’s our passion. So it’s like a flag to say our aims: a passion with technology, electronics, physics…

- B: Everything has been said by JM. This is a pure electronic density.


I DESCRIBED YOUR MUSIC AS ALTERNATIVE DANCE JUST BECAUSE I HEAR A BAND WHO HAS A VERY WIDE VARIETY IN THEIR MUSIC…
FROM FRONT 242 TO HARSH TO FUTUREPOP….

- JM: Thank you for the “wide variety”. Indeed what we wanna do is an electronic/synthetic music quite powerful and danceable but without any kind of conventions to be tagged as “ebm” or “dark-electro” or those categories. Electronic music is a huge area to explore. So we always thought it was very restrictive or fanatic to just try to explore one way and only one way. So indeed we are curious and we always want to explore new directions.


I THINK IT’S RATHER FLATTERING BUT I WROTE THAT “COME INTO MY WORLD” SOUNDED LIKE A FUTUREPOPVERSION FROM PAUL HARDCASTLE’S “19”….

- JM: Thanks again for the comparison  Paul hardcastle was very well known indeed with the top-hit “19”. He was known to use lots of digital technologies (samplers, DX synths, …) and it’s what I try to do. I listened for 15 years analog sounds from tons of people but you quickly get the limit of this style of sounds. They are primitive. People in the 80s were haunted to raise new levels in sound research and digital synthesizers like Yamaha DX or Korg M1 or Roland D-Series were the perfect keys to help composers to break walls and explore new horizons.
It’s sad to see how much digital technologies are powerful but get often pathetic results… That’s maybe why so many composers are stuck again in the sandbox with analog/vintage sounds. Because they sound warm and it’s so easy to program you can get a nice sound in less than 2 minutes.
So I was very interested to get back with digital technologies to show to people digital can also be used to produce interesting sounds… Much more interesting to my opinion than vintage/analog ones.




AND WITH THIS YOU AVOIDED THE TRAP OF MANY OTHER BANDS WHO HAVE A RELEASE OUT WITH 10 SONGS THAT SOUNDS THE SAME…


- JM: Yes because it’s the typical trap I know very well for decades. When I was about 12 or 13 years old, I already did electronic music with old gears like Yamaha CS15, Roland Jupiter-8 and Juno-6. I could do a good track… But when I started to have more ideas, everything was sounding like my first track. With time I could then avoid this trap. Now it’s the opposite. I only want to do tracks always different. It’s easy when you use digital stuff. Not so easy with analog… I put some limits also to break my comfort and push myself always on the cutting edge to get new “fresh eyes” on the sound research… changing every 10 days the studio configuration is a way to help 


TALKING ABOUT RELEASES. WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE “UNTOLD WORLD” IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR THE PRESS?
HOW CAN MUSICFANS OBTAIN THAT?

- JM: Actually we are in the deal process with some labels and distributors. Untold World is finished for 2 months. All the graphics and pics are also finished. It was important to do all those things before starting to deal with labels. We want to have the entire artistic control. Of course it’s less easy to deal and it takes time… But on the other hand, we are sure to deliver exactly what we want to the audience! It’s like “bio” food… No “artificial” treatments added! 
The album should be available pretty soon!

- B: As I answered on the web two days ago to someone who wanted to buy our first album: Patience is the key word in music industry nowadays...


IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE PIPELINE ABOUT SOME RECORDDEAL OR EVENTUALLY AN OWN RELEASE?

- JM: The second album is already half-recorded!! We work very fast indeed because the harmony we share about the music conception and artistic views! We also use a studio very reliable and easy to modify.

- B: A little scoop: We’ll have a Belgian guest featuring on one track on the second album and several remixes by well known persons... We keep this secret for the moment.

MED ARE A YOUNG BAND, BUT YOU DON’T SOUND YOUNG…I MEAN THIS SOUNDS LIKE MUSIC FROM VETERANS.

- JM: (laughs). I have almost a foot in the grave with my 40 years old! I do music with synthesizers since 1983. It was with a Yamaha CS15 and a Roland Jupiter8. Quickly I used Atari computer for sequencing with MIDI and then some MIDI synths like DX27 synth or old 8bits sampler: Ensoniq Mirage DSK.
So … 27 years later and maybe 100 tracks done in various projects… I’m pretty happy to know we don’t sound like newbies ;-)

- B: As JM already said, we both started music during the 80’s and our roots are in the 80’s! We don’t try to create something completely new, we just try to put and add modern views and original sounds in our music creations. We got a feedback a couple of weeks ago saying: MED doesn’t reinvent electronic music but it sounds vintage and new in the same time, it’s an interesting paradox. We are proud of this kind of comment.

AN EBM BAND THAT COMES FROM THE COUNTRY THAT GAVE BIRTH TO EBM, HOW DOES THAT FEEL?

- JM: I’m very proud of it. To my opinion Belgium bands have a distinctive touch and specific sound. EBM was a worldwide revolution at that time. Electronic music was only the purpose of pop and new-wave bands but was not seen as a raw and brutal style of music. Belgians are very open minded and very talented in the electronic music field and EBM was a typical Belgian way to see the things. We have a natural capability for innovation. It’s sad we cannot say the same for the management of our country…. But at least in music we did lots of outstanding innovations!

- B: I received an add request on myspace from an American EBM fan, telling we were lucky to be Belgian and that he would love to live in Brussels only to have the chance to get closer to Front 242 and the EBM scene  Funny isn’t it ?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CURRENT EBM-MUSICSCENE OVER HERE?

- JM: As always… You get the paradise in a hand and the hell in the other… There are very talented bands. They dare to use electronics in new ways. Using sampling in a very clever way. Trying to mix different kinds of technologies with a very interesting artistic vision. But you have also typical electro-pop bands who do music like in 1982 or doing always the same for years… I have to say lots of good bands from Belgium and Germany are played in my iPod every day! 

- B: Pretty active scene with some very good bands. And a lot of interesting new ideas on stage. And of course, but it’s life, some bad stuffs.


SOMETIMES YOU HEAR THAT THE MUSIC IS GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER, AND THE AUDIENCE GOT OLDER AND OLDER….

- JM: Yes because we need new bands ahead and the lack of massive media interests doesn’t help. Lots of crap music makers have lots of media access and worldwide known artists. With EBM music we don’t have that opportunity. Radios and television stations are not aware of what they think to be a “minority” affair …
We need new Front 242, new Depeche Mode, … big bands with new blood and massively involved into the media market. It should help to get new audience too ! Believe it or not, but lots of young people don’t even know what Front242 is ! But they know very well the latest rap crap on tv… The challenge is there and nowhere else!

- B: I agree with JM about the media involvement but I don’t have the feeling it’s getting so smaller and older as you mentioned in your question. We meet indeed old fans but young people also who like the current Indus/electro scene. Smaller: Yes and no. Think about some actual big concerts and festivals like Treffen in Leipzig, The Gothic Fest in Waregem, Mera Luna, Castle Festival in Poland, Sinner’s Day, Necropolis in Bruges, Gothic Cruise in Florida, BIM Fest and many others...


DO YOU FEEL THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SCENE IN WALLONY AND THE ONE IN FLANDERS?

- JM : Undoubtedly. Wallony is French minded. So I mean with all the bad sides of latin minded way to think. Always living in doubt, fear, … very usual, classic, without the envy to win, to fight to win. So in wallony tons of usual musics are available. Pop-music, rock music, rap, RnB, … When I go in flanders, we switch to german way of thinking. It’s more open to new things, and with a strong feeling to do things the way it should be. I’m sad to see very few people in wallony don’t even try to discover new things. It’s typical of the latin way to be: we take the food from the hand that feeds us. But we don’t fight to eat. Anyway I hope things will change with time…

- B: No doubt! The best parties, concerts and festivals are in Flanders. Wallony is more rock oriented. There are some exceptions like the ESN festival near Tournai and few others but Flanders rules for electro/indus/goth/New Wave parties and gigs.


I GUESS IT’S DEFINITELY NOT THAT EASY TO FIND PLACES TO PLAY….

- JM: Yes but excepted craps from pop and rock music… It’s hard to find places to play. But it’s like this from the very beginning. The main market is Pop, Rock, RnB, Rap music. Electronic music is seen as something “nasty” from Mister “typical people”. I have to say it’s a pity to see lots of bands always doing the same kind of music too! We need something that could help electronic music to be seen as an entire concept and then get a place to race in the media market too!

- B: The crisis is also a factor. This is why, nowadays, festivals work better than unique concerts. People get more bands for the same price. It’s almost easier to get a contract for a festival than a concert.


EVERYBODY HAS THEIR DREAMS, BUT WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM MED?
SOMETHING GLORYWISE OR IS IT JUST A HOBBYTHING?

- JM: I don’t do music to access to glory or to help me to believe I’m a god. I don’t do rock or pop music 
I do music because I need challenges to try. And electronic music is probably the most open and huge universe to do so!
I only do music for the pleasure to do sound research and to learn more and more new ways to program machines. In a 2nd time I love to play this in live to “share” (one of my most important word) it with people. I just hope some people will find it interesting and will be pleased to discover it!
If it’s the case, I’d be happy ‘cos I share something with people… And that’s the most important to me. Of course I hope M3D could reach big audience but not in the way to feel myself like a god or for glory or to be famous. I really don’t care about it.

- B: Same as JM, I do music and sing ‘cause it’s a passion. But to be completely honest, I would have a fucking erection on stage hearing hundreds of people singing our songs with us. Again, not for glory/money. Just for the great pleasure of being in communion and sharing a passion for electronic music. Just to see dozens of crazy asses moving like mine on JM’s music and beat  I get exactly the same great feeling when I’m in the audience and sing with the band playing on stage.


A LIFE DEDICTATED TO MUSIC, OR DEDICATED TO EBM?

- JM: You have the M that stands for Music in the EBM ;-) But I learned classical piano when I was very young during my music academy. And I’m a big lover of lots of different kinds of bands. I’m a music lover. But my sensibility is undoubtedly related to electronic music.

- B: A life dedicated to passions, pleasures, music and sins  I like different styles of music but electronic music is my favourite one. And in electro, EBM is my favourite one. The body part, that’s the key! I like to share my sweat with the audience. After our last gig in Maastricht I was so wet that I had to take a shower. I was wet from head to feet. JM too, by the way... 


I ASK THIS TO EVERYONE : WHAT’S YOUR FAVE RECORD OF ALL THE TIME?

-JM: “Relax” – Frankie Goes To Hollywood

- B: Too many killing hits to give you only one! I love hundreds of records from 1971 up until now. I prefer to mention bands like Kraftwerk, Skinny Puppy, Klinik, Front 242, Bauhaus, Visage, Gary Numan, And One, The Neon Judgement, à GRUMH, A Split Second, The Cure, Dead Can Dance, Rammstein, Cassandra Complex, Fad Gadget, FGTH, DM, Archive, Poésie Noire, Sisters of Mercy, Joy Divion, Covenant, Nitzer Ebb, VNV Nation, Implant, Anne Clark and many others...







YOU SOON CAN BE SEEN ON STAGE WITH PRAGER HANDGRIFF.
WHAT CAN THE AUDIENCE EXPECT?

- JM: The best of M3D! We are on stage like in a fight to the finish. Our aim is to share a maximum of emotions with a massive sound. We try, during the show, to give the best of us to the audience and we try to get connexions with people.

- B: We’ll try to share the best emotions, feelings, beats and pleasure. We’re going to record this gig on video ‘cause we’ll have a well known guest on stage for one track and many friends promised to come front line to move their bodies with us.


THE LAST WORD IS YOURS!!!!!

- JM: we are very happy to get there and we will play to our best to share our electronic visions with the audience! 

- B: Thanks a lot for your interest in M3D and this very good interview. And our best regards to our friends, fans and all the people supporting us. You kick ass guys!

INTERVIEW WITH ELECTRO SYNTHETIC REBELLION

I know it’s difficult, Vince, but try to describe your music….

I would say my music is a kind of combination of old school Dark Electro/Industrial with EBM and with new sounds and percussive elements. It's hard for me to describe my own work in depth. There has been several influential bands in my life like Depeche Mode, Front242, Front Line Assembly and Skinny Puppy to name a few. This can help to understand my influences.

Also, now I always say "old school" to make a clear difference with what we can hear these days. I mean, to me there was a lot more interesting melodies in the early years than all the "easy and standardized" ones we hear nowdays and it makes a big difference to me.

I was honestly surprised after hearing your stuff that ESR isn’t much more known, not even mentioning that it’s self-released.

Well, I'd like to point out that the new E.P. only is self released. usually my albums are released by one or more labels.
But times are harder than ever, with piracy and sales going down, most of labels don't want to release E.P any longer...They only want albums. So at that time I decided to release it on my own as I've always wanted to do an E.P.
Recently, a label manager I'm in contact with told me he would have enjoyed to release that E.P. on his label.
That's the story of that E.P.


Due to do what I do on Dark Entries I hear a lot of releases on majors (I mean EBM and so…) and it’s unbelievable what kind of crap got signed.
Never got frustrated by such things?

I've always been signed from the beginning. Obviously not on major labels but I've had the chance to find people interested in my music.
It all started with a German label back in 2001, then the rest of my albums have been released by DSBP in north America and other labels in Europe (Gravitator in Russia and Urgence Disk Records in Switzerland).
At some point I admit it has been frustrating not to be more known and not being able to get a deal with a major label in Europe. The fact that I'm not playing live and not living in a country where Industrial/Dark Electro/EBM is much appreciated are probably the keys.
I agree with you, it's sometimes surprising to hear "bad" quality music signed on well known labels...I think our scene is turning into a trendy oriented market theses days, so if you're not in trend, it's harder for you even if you have released albums in the past.

The fact is that I've always enjoyed underground music which is by definition not in the mainstream. I understood that my music will probably always be part of the underground Dark Electro/EBM scene and it's no longer frustrating.


I described your stuff like Skinny Puppy, Suicide Commando and the early Project Pitchforkstuff.
Can you live with that?

Sure I can live with that. Skinny Puppy has probably be one of the most innovative band in the early years and I love their old records. So I'm rather flattered to be "compared" to them. Suicide Commando did great albums too like "Mindstrip" in the past. To be honest I don't know Project Pitchfork so I can't said if I'm close to their style.

It’s all rather dark….

Yes, it's dark because I've always enjoy the dark side of electronic music.
I think you can bring much more emotions playing dark melodies. Talking about the lyrics, it is rather a dark reflection/vision of the world but there is no intention to be "depressive" it's rather a way to warn people and to make them think about it.

For your latest cd you got inspired by the big economical crisis, do you care about such things?

I think we've all been hurt by the recent crisis so I needed to write about it. Like many people I'm angry to see what happened and I'm angry that we all have to pay the price for the stupidity of some greedy people, banks and companies.
Sometimes I think the world is dumb, repeating the same mistakes over and over again so I think it's our duty to fight against that.
That being said, nothing really changed after the crisis. The same thing could happen tomorrow... You know "money rules the world", I'm sad our leaders didn't really act to change things...It's all about power, influence and money.

It seems we’re fucked again : the poor ones lost their jobs and the rich only got richer….

I'm afraid as long as stock exchanges will be the worldwide reference and the human side of things is left behind, the poor will always pay the price and the difference between the poor and the rich will increase.
Not to speak about the differences between currency and countries which doesn't help to get a stable worldwide situation.


To make it easy I will classify your music as EBM in this interview, even if I know it’s more than that.
People who don’t love the genre often say the genre has reached its limits…

If we talk about the "pure EBM" (like Nitzer Ebb and all the bands in the genre), I can understand that some people think it has reached its limits. But fans of "pure EBM" do not necessarily want any kind of evolution. I mean I like Nitzer Ebb and EBM for their strong typed style and I don't want them to do something else.

Talking about ESR, I would say that I've integrated things from the EBM style (some bass lines especially) but I'd rather say that ESR is closer to Dark Electro than EBM, I've always mixed both styles because this is what I like best.


In fact, how do you find new ideas? Is that something in the head you have at a certain moment or is it after hours and hours (or days?) trying….

As a composer, things usually come with the inspiration when you're playing on your keyboards. Sometimes a sound is a source of inspiration and then all the rest of the song comes very easily. Sometimes it can take hours to arrange a song to come to a good result. I mean you start with several good ideas but when you put all together, it is not what you expected...so you need to re arrange, change the melodies, re program some sounds, and so on.
There's no rules in my process of composing. You never know in advance if a song will be done in a few hours or if it's going to take days to finish it. And sometimes even if a song or a demo is finished, you may decide not to keep it for the album.
What is the most important to me is the inspiration itself, I never plan things in advance.


I read that you had a lot of trouble for releasing “Distorted memories”, you even had a cd-r release in mind.
I guess it’s all about the money, not?

As I told you, no label wanted to release the E.P. Because of the current crisis in the CD market.
I've had a bad experience in the past with a CD-R entitled “A Passage In Time V1”. The result wasn't the one that I expected, I mean it was not a professional one.
I really wanted that new E.P. To be released as a standard pressed CD in order to get a great quality CD. Obviously the problem is the number of CDs and the price to pay.
Fortunately I was able to find a deal for 100 pressed CDs only and that was exactly matching the idea of a limited edition release and also matching my budget.

Genius artwork even it looks like very desolate….

Thanks! Here again, I like the visuals of industrial sites, rusted gears, desolated landscapes but that's really not what we need in the real world.

You did two covers so far on your album, “Everything counts” by Depeche Mode and “Eighty Eight” by Public Relation.
Never got others in mind?

I did a cover of Front Line Assembly "Mindphaser" which appears on my third album "Persistence". That was the first cover I released. As a big fan of Depeche Mode, I took the opportunity of doing the "Everything Counts" cover on my latest album.
There is probably a dozen of others songs I would like to cover but I don't know if I'll do some more in the future. Wait and see.

What do I have to think about men who are hiding themselves behind machines?

Talking about myself, I'm a synthesizer addict and I love electronic music, so I can spend hours behind my keyboards experimenting sounds and stuff. I'm a passionate you know but that doesn't mean that I try to hide behind my synths.
For many reasons, I do not play live, that's probably why I may be considered as someone hidding behind machines.
Since 20 years, music is my passion, more than just a hobby, but I have a full time job and a family so music is only for my extra time.
One a more negative note, I suffer from Tinnitus and Hyperacusis so it has been a challenge to keep on playing music even in the studio.

Your vision of this world is a rather cold one, but would you ever want to for a warm vision anyway or is it fine like that?

I would like the world to be a lot better than it is. The truth is, the world is not as cold as you may think while listening to my songs. As I said, my cold vision of the world is a way to warn the listeners, a way to make them ask themselves “could it be that way if we don't change things?”. My vision of industrial music is not just a science-fiction oriented one, it has more depth for those who want to dig it.
Obviously I enjoy the warm pleasures of life like anyone else, I'm not that kind of guy who feels good about how depressive the world can be. Moreover, as a father I want life to be warm for all the kids.
But when it comes to writing, I like to point out those cold reflections.

I ask to everybody : what’s your fave record of all time and state why….

That's a hard question really...In a previous interview I have already said FLA "Tactical Neural Implant" or Depeche Mode "Black Celebration"...it has changed during my life.
This time I would say DEPECHE MODE "Some Great Reward". I think that album was one of the most innovative from the band and the one that took them into the "industrial" side of electronic music. There's a lot of percussive sounds, great melodies and very catchy songs.
From a technical point of view, that was the beginning of sampling and I really love the multi layered percussive sounds that DM created with the Emulator sampler.
I truly love all the songs on that album, plus there is a song from that period which is a B-Side (of "People Are People) and not appearing on the album that I love, it is "In Your Memory".

I think we still miss some “cross over” bands with that sound nowdays, something rather industrial but not too harsh.

The lasty words are yours, Vince!

First, I'd like to thank you for your interest! It was my pleasure to answer your questions and I hope that your readers will be interested in discovering my music and style.
Other than that, I'd say:
• Fight for a better world (we all need that)
• Fight to keep our scene alive and to help newcomers to have a chance to release and promote their music.
• And for the composer in general: please stop using toooo muchhh distortion with your vocals, try to create your own sounds, do not fall into the trap of easy trendy melodies, keep some dynamics with your records (over compression is bad) and protect your ears from loud volume before it's too late.



Didier
Thanks for doing this!!!!

INTERVIEW WITH THIEVES OF SILENCE

HELLO PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC….

Hi, we are Thieves of Silence, a Brussels-based post punk band that formed in March 2010, just a group of young guys in love with the 80’s. As our music, we’d say…spontaneous, cold, and simple.

I UNDERSTOOD YOU’RE QUITE NEW, NOT?

Indeed, it’s been 5 months, we built our set in very few time.

WHEN I HEARD THIEVES OF SILENCE I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY YOUR SOUND,
THERE IS DEFINITELY A TOUCH OF JOY DIVISION AND WIRE IN IT….

We’re not really influenced by wire but we all have Joy Division as a common influence. Of course we like most of the 80’s new wave music; Killing Joke, Siouxie & The Banshees, Echo & The Bunnymen... but the way our sound came, was bit of an accident, it mainly came with Paul’s arrival in the band.

IF I HEAR YOUR MUSIC I CAN’T HELP IT IMAGINING THAT I’M IN 1979 OR SO WHICH IS ONLY A GOOD THING…

That’s because all the essential elements of our music come from that time, which we’re fans of.

IN 2010 THE TERM POST-PUNK IS USED IN EVERY REVIEW BUT IT ENDS UP IN BEING A CLONE FROM INTERPOL OR EDITORS, IT SEEMS LIKE THIEVES OF SILENCE ARE NOT IN THAT LEAGUE….

We listen to lots of bands on myspace, unfortunately too many of them qualify themselves as “post punk”. Nowadays, it’s a very misused word. Those guys keep the codes butthey have lost the spirit of this brilliant era. That being said, a part of Thieves of Silence really like post-punk revival bands like Interpol or Editors.

I KNOW IT’S A DIRTY QUESTION, BUT SO BE IT…
I LIKE YOUR SOUND AS IT’S SO RAW AND I HOPE YOU’LL NEVER MEET A PRODUCER WHO RUINS THAT SOUND!

Thank you very much! Actually that sound comes from the lack of means we have to record, everything is homemade on a computer, and we have very few knowledge about recording and stuff... everything happened so fast, we didn’t even think about it. Besides, if we ever have a producer, we won’t ever let him fuck our sound up. Anyway, we’d really like to stay autoproduced.

HOW COME THAT YOUNGSTERS LIKE YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH THE SOUND OF THE 80’S?

Paul grew up with New Order and Sisters of Mercy, his first concert was Depeche Mode, he was 10, his father mainly influenced him, and we can say that’s almost the same thing for Forster. Pablo and Quentin discovered The Cure as teenagers, moreover, it’s at a Cure concert, at the Sportpaleis, that they met.


THIEVES OF SILENCE COME FROM BRUSSELS…
YOU HAVE THE FLEMISH SCENE AND THE SCENE FROM WALLONY BUT I CAN’T HELP IT THINKING THAT THOSE IN BRUSSELS END UP BEING FORGOTTEN…

Music, in Brussels, in a general way, is not really supported, people don’t trust their musical scene, and it is a pity that post punk is not that famous among young people nowadays

OVER HERE TOO MANY BANDS ARE COPIES FROM OTHERS (YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY NIRVANA OR DEUSCLONES WE HAVE), WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

We understand that people like to imitate their idols, and I think we all did it as beginners, but that’s too bad because all the musicians are going in the same direction. And after this step, everyone has to develop his own style. Look at all the ads posted by bands looking for musicians. Everything’s always the same. We are clearly disappointed by that but there’s nothing we can do about it…

ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO RELEASE ANYTHING?

we’re focusing on playing live gigs for the moment. We’re a young band and we need to be more confident on stage! If you know any organizer who could make us play, don’t hesitate contacting us : tos.mgmt@gmail.com . But that being said, we’re preparing something for this fall ;)

SOME RUMOURS… PAUL HAS A CERTAIN CELEBRITY IN THE FAMILY, NOT? TELL OUR READERS…

Indeed! Paul’s uncle was the bassist/singer for Lucie Cries, a 90’s French cold wave band

SOMEONE INFORMED US (WE HAVE OUR SPIES) THAT YOU GOT THE INTEREST FROM BEING SUPPORT BY DE BRASSERS DUE TO THE DARK ENTRIES-REVIEW.
HOW MUCH OF THAT IS TRUE? (WE LOVE OURSELVES SO THAT’S WHY THE QUESTION IS ASKED….).

To be honest, we don’t know much about this, but without any doubt, it helped. It would be an honor to share the stage with DE BRASSERS and we’re really grateful to you for this review that overtook our highest hopes.

APART FROM THAT, ANYTHING ELSE IN THE PIPELINE?

We have several shows in France, mainly at the Klub, in Paris. We’re focusing on shows, we’re looking to play as much as possible so…promoters, this is for you.



EVERYBODY MUST ANSWER THIS…NAME YOUR FAVE RECORD OF ALL TIME PLEASE.


Paul : Heaven Up Here and Porcupine - Echo & The Bunnymen
Quentos : The Queen is Dead - The Smiths
Pablos : Virus Meadow - And Also the Trees / The Downward Spiral - Nine Inch Nails
Forster : Metropolis Part.2 : Scenes From a Memory – Dream Theater


WHY DO OUR READERS HAVE TO CHECK OUT THIEVES OF SILENCE?

Go check, and you’ll see by yourselves! Thank you so much for this interview, we didn’t expect this to happen so soon. Come to our shows, come and speak to us, we like to have contact with people!


Merci bien!
Didier

INTERVIEW WITH END OF GREEN

ANSWERS: SAD SIR (guitar)

HELLO, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC?
We’re the bastard child of Alternative, Goth, Metal and Rock’n’Roll. If you might also want to call it bad weather music. That’s fine with us. Go for it. We’re with you, on that one.

IN GERMANY YOU’RE QUITE KNOWN, I MEAN YOUR ALBUM GOT IN THE CHARTS BUT OVER HERE END OF GREEN IS STILL A RATHER UNKNOWN BAND. HOW COME?
Guess, we haven’t been to your place too often. Two times I think. I think we should change that. You know we’re playing a lot in germany, that’s probably why people know us here pretty good.


I NEVER UNDERSTOOD IT AND I DON’T THINK THERE’S ANY SOLUTION TO IT BUT POLITICAL WE’RE SO CALLED ONE COUNTRY BUT IT’S DAMN DIFFICULT TO LET BANDS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES IN? NOT?
I don’t think it’s too difficult. It sometimes is just a lack of invitation. If there’s any promoter inviting us for a show I think there will not be to many problems with us stepping over the border.


AND EVEN IF YOU’RE GERMAN, YOU DON’T HAVE A GERMAN SOUND…
That’s good, isn’t it? We’re influenced by a lot of diffent styles – apart from Krautrock none of these was ever quite “german”. In that case I think we’re pretty much international.


“HIGH HOLES IN LOW PLACES” GATHERS QUITE A LOT OF DIFFERENT STYLES, IS THAT BECAUSE YOU WANTED THAT OR HAS IT GROWN AUTOMATICALLY?
“High HOLES in Low Places”? No, sir. “Hopes”. Our style has always been a melange of our musical tastes, and there is a lot in that band. It’s kind of natural for us to keep our minds free from any genre limitations. We’re free to do whatever we want in our music, and we live that. If there’s a catchy hook right next to some really nasty distortion – we go for it. Getting a little post-punk next to metal? Yes, that’s us.



I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST IT, BUT END OF GREEN AREN’T AFRAID TO SOUND WHAT SOME MIGHT CALL COMMERCIAL, NOT?
Definitely not. I just don’t think it’s commercial. Bands like Slipknot sell millions of records. Or Hatebreed – no one would dare to call that “commercial” and speaking as a record dealer: You can make way more cash with that kind of music. So “No”, it has nothing to do with selling more records. It’s just a matter of our taste. But in one case you’re perfectly right: We’re not afraid of Pop, Melodies and a good hookline. .



HMMMM THE SINGER IS NAMED MICHELLE DARKNESS AND YOUR LYRICS AREN’T THAT BRIGHT AS WELL, SO ARE YOU REALLY THAT DARK?
Yes,Sir. We are. But like everyone with a sense for darkness – we’re also blessed with an outstanding portion of good clean black humour and cynicism. To sum it up: We’re probably just like a lot of other people we all know. We just have the tendency to live our melancholy and darkness a little more offensive. Call it intensity.



DARKNESS OH DARKNESS, BUT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE AROUND WHO ARE TELLING YOU THAT YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!!!!
I guess they’re right, and I’ll stick to that one until I can prove them wrong. And especially since I think we only live once, I think we have a responsibility to live a good life. Anyone, anything messing with that is my enemy.



SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME THAT ART CAN ONLY BE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL IF IT SHOWS AN UGLY SIDE….
With all due respect: that’s bullshit. And it starts with the question “What is beautiful?”. I like Autumn, that’s beauty to me. But I know shitloads of people that prefer summer, and they all have their point. I think art needs to touch. Music that doesn’t touch is a waste of time. And some music that’s really good in my ears is bullshit for others – that’s okay. That’s probably art. I think you can only cherish the good if you know the bad, and to every good side, there’s an ugly side and vice versa.


WOULD YOU DO EVERYTHING FOR STARDOM?
No, Sir. We believe in integrity.


I ASK THIS EVERYONE : WHAT’S YOUR FAVE RECORD OF ALL TIME AND PLEASE STATE WHY….
I really do not have just one favourite record. I have favourite records for moods I’m in. Lately I have been listening a lot to “From The Lions mouth” from THE SOUND. That record saved my ass in the most difficult time of my life so far. And I will always thank the guy who gave it to me. Actually, it was Kerker, our guitar player.


I LEAVE THE LAST WORDS TO YOU.
Always remember: Depression is not a fashion accessory. Thank you for the interest in our band. We really do not take that for granted.

INTERVIEW WITH MIKE DARBY (BRISTOL ARCHIVE RECORDS)

Hello Mike…
Well, for those who don’t know please present Bristol Archive….

Bristol Archive Records is a record label dealing in Bristol post punk 1977 onwards.
We aim to showcase music from the diverse Bristol Music scene and provide a historical account / document of all things Bristol that should never be forgotten. Many of the artists and releases are rare, unknown or never before released. The material has been lovingly digitally remastered from vinyl, ¼ inch tape, dat or cassette. The original vinyl releases would generally have been limited to runs of 1000 copies or less.
We would like to thank the original label owners and/or the artists for allowing us to share with you their forgotten works and provide a statement of how brilliant bands have always been from the city of Bristol and the surrounding areas.
Enjoy and never forget the talented ones from the past, they deserve to be recognised & remembered.

I am a musicfanatic myself but with exploring the archive of the Bristol scene, I guess it’s like playing Indiana Jones in musicland, not?

No not really, everything is interwoven, interlinked if you know where to look and who to speak to. Lots of musicians played in various bands throughout the 70’s and 80’s. It might be different now but before computer games and mobile phones lots of kids wanted to be Rock Stars

How did this idea started anyway?

I thought of it in 2000 released Western Stars which didn’t sell very well although it was obvious it was a good idea. A friend of mine Dave Bateman dropped dead suddenly in 2008 and it got me thinking. Dave had been the original guitarist in Vice Squad, I just felt as we all get older more people will disappear and we should remember them for what they once were and what they achieved large or small, they were part of the Bristol music scene.


I know someone has to do the job but if you were not around I guess all those releases landed up in some dusty attic to disappear later in the dustbin, not?

For sure, all destroyed and forgotten, lost forever, dosn’t bear thinking about does it!


You choose a specific decade, I mean it’s only mid 70’s till the 80’s, not?

No we start there and touch on the early 90’s. As the years go on I’m sure we’ll move through the decades, but everyone has to start somewhere and I know alot about late 70’s and early 80’s so it seemed the perfect place


How do you work? Ringing from door to door? I mean, Mike, there’s no info on the net about such bands at all…

Luck, chance, fate, a contact or two, a friend of a friend, no plan just make it happen. Most if not all people are keen to be involved and pleased I’ve phoned them – they understand the historical importance without me having to spell it out

I guess it must keep you busy day after day, not?

Independent Financial Advisor
Chairman of Chipping Sodbury Golf Club for 8 years
Immediate Past Presidnet of The Gloucestershire Golf Union
Captain Elect of the Gloucestershire Golf Union

You could say I’m busy busy busy

If you hear these releases they can all be reduced to some sad stories : I mean they could have been, if only….well if only…

Yea I know – I blame most of the non success on the infrastructure in Bristol through the ages, no managers, music accountants, lawyers most of our talented kids left and went to London to seek fame and fortune ( or Heroin)

I guess one Mr. John Peel played its part in it too….

Sure did certainly for Simon Edwards at Heartbeat Records, Avon Calling 2 is released on August 23rd, if Mr Peel was still alive he’d be playing it all the time as its the follow up to Avon Calling released in 1980

I thought the day Mr. Peel died, music died a bit as well.

Maybe – he gave people more of a chance and a hope that anyone could get on Radio 1


What’s your opinion about the current musicscene itself?

Ok- big bands are making fortunes playing live shows, small bands still have no one coming to see them play. No one is selling records. Its tough but there will always be great bands

Sometimes I think everything in this world has so mellowed…I mean we have everything now but the voice inside has gone too…

Kids have to much opportunity – we’ll never see Punk Rock again – lets all have a go!

Are there any bands around who decide to reform after the re-releases?

Yes
The Pigs
The Stingrays
The Untouchables
The Fans

The Fans have toured Japan this year and released material over there via 1977 Records

I ask this to everyone : what’s your fave record of all time and please tell why….

Dancing With Myself – Generation x ( Billy Idol is my hero!!!)

The last words are yours…..

Give Bristol a chance its not all about Massive Attack, Portishead and Roni Size if you look behind these bands you’ll find musicians from the late 70’s in their lineups – Punk Rock lives on in a very quiet way

Mike Darby
www.bristolarchiverecords.com

INTERVIEW WITH AUTODRONE

HELLO, PLEASE TELL US WHO AUTODRONE ARE....


Autodrone are Katherine Kennedy - vocals, Jeremy Alisauskas - guitar, Angel Lorelei - Bass synths, Terry Taylor- drums.

I ALMOST COULDN’T BELIEVE IT THAT “STRIKE A MATCH” HAS BEEN SELF RELEAZSED, I MEAN THIS BAND IS FULL OF TALENT AND THE ALBUM SOUNDS LIKE AN INSTANT CLASSIC? HAVEN’T GOT THE ATTENTION OF SOME LABELS SO FAR?

Thank you. Strike a match was released on the US label Clairecords, is available for purchase internationally, and via most popular types of digital distrubution (iTunes, Amazon etc).

APART FROM SOME BANDS, SHOEGAZE IS AN AMERICAN MATTER THESE DAYS …HOW COME, AFTER ALL IT’S AMERICA THAT KILLED THE SHOEGAZE WITH THE BORN OF GRUNGE…

Is there not alot of Shoegaze in other countries right now? I'm not sure what the definition of the category is, but there are some great noisy/swirly bands in the UK and Europe that I can think of (The Bang Gang. Clockwork Radio, Jonathan Johansson). What kind of music is there rest of the world making?

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A SHOEGAZER?

Not particularity, but I understand why others have categorized us as such.

ABOUT THAT SHOEGAZEESCENE, DO YOU SEE ANY FUTURE IN IT …. I MEAN IS IT POSSIBLE THAT IT WILL HAVE A LONG LIFE?

I think the shoegaze scene will always exist in some incarnation, people have been creating that style of music for a long time now.

OVER HERE IN BELGIUM, WE ONLY GET SOME BANDS, BUT IS AMERICA REALLY THAT OPEN FOR THESE SOUNDS OR IS IT A VERY SMALL CLUB SCENE?

Wait over here, we heard that it was bigger in Europe!? Are you serious? Its a fairly small scene here too, obviously some bands get pretty big and do very well, but none of us are exactly selling out stadiums.

CRITICS WILL SAY THAT YOU PLAY MUSIC THAT’S 20 YEARS OLD….

They are correct.

THERE’S A LOT OF HEAVENLY NOISE IN YOUR MUSIC, HOW IMPORTANT IS NOISE?

Noise is so important. "that which is not slightly distorted lacks sensible appeal: from which it follows that irregularity - that is to say, the unexpected, surprise and astonishment, are an essential part and characteristic of beauty" - Charles Baudelaire

I ALWAYS SAY NOISE IS GREAT AS IT MAKES YOU DEAF FOR THE SHIT THAT’S OUTSIDE….

WHAT IMPORTANCE DOES MUSIC PLAY IN YOUR LIFE?

Music is very important to me. It is frequently the only thing I have to distract myself from the horrors of reality.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE HOLY TRILOGY “SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK ‘N ROLL” OR IS THAT ALL BULLSHIT IN THE END?

I abhor the entire notion of "Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'N' Roll". It has nothing to do with creating art. It has more to do with posturing and playing a part. it's a lifestyle that sadly is associated with music, Not a reason for creating it. Rock 'N' Roll is horribly passe.

TELL ME YOUR FAVE ECORD OF ALL TIME PLEASE….

Fave record of all time. Wow, we could spend hours debating this. Since this interview talks a lot about Shoegaze, let's narrow it down to fave Shoegaze album of all time. Possibly Cocteau Twins Treasure.

TELL OUR READERS WHY THEY SHOULD CARE ABOUT AUTODRONE…..

They should care about Autodrone because if they don't, than no one will, and we will kill ourselves.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
DIDIER

INTERVIEW WITH 17 PYGMIES

Well, hello the first logic question…why does a band like 17 Pygmies change for such a different style?

BECAUSE IF YOU ALWAYS CHANGE STYLES THEN EVENTUALLY EVERYONE WILL REALIZE YOU HAVE NO STYLE.

I guess I know the answer, but I am sure that you were aware of the danger in sales for coming up with an album like “The outlaw J.D. Ray”, not?

WHAT SALES?

Which brings me back to the past….
As a youngster, due to my love for Independent Projects, I came across 17 Pygmies. Over here they certainly were not what you could name as a household name but how were things for you back then?

ACTUALLY, WE WERE VERY POPULAR IN THE LA CLUB SCENE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. WE HAD INTEREST FROM ELECTRA, CAPITOL AND ISLAND RECORDS. WE EVENTUALLY DID SIGN WITH ISLAND/GREAT JONES AND RELEASED AN ALBUM WHICH GOT US DROPPED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. SO I GUESS YOU COULD SAY LIFE WAS PRETTY INTERSTING.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I always saw the whole Independent Project-movement (and thus 17 Pygmies too) as the way Americans saw post-punk.

I WOULD AGREE. WE TENDED TO SEE OURSELVES AS THE CALIFORNIA COMPONENT TO THE EAST COAST’S SONIC YOUTH AND SWANS, AND THE MIDWESTS BIG BLACK. OF COURSE AT THE TIME THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS POST-PUNK SO WE TENDED TO JUST GET A LOT OF BLANK STARES AND THE LIKE. AS I RECALL, THE NEW ROMANTIC MOVEMENT WAS ACTUALLY A LOT BIGGER BACK THEN.

In times where R&’nB seems to be the sole thing which youngsters buy, are you aware that you stood at the cradle of making genius legendary music, or is it just bollocks in the end?

IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME BACK THEN THAT I WAS MAKING GENIUS MUSIC OR BOLLOCKS I WOULD NOT HAVE BELIEVED EITHER ONE, SO I’M NOT SURE WHAT TO SAY EXCEPT WE DID WHAT WE DID AND LET THE CHIPS FALL.

Just like so many American alternative bands you never made it to the European playground, is that something which was difficult to handle with?

NOPE. WENT WITH SAVAGE REPUBLIC MANY TIMES AND I HATE TOURING.


Just like all influential bands you were once picked by some major but that ended up quite bad, not?

YEP. SEE ABOVE.

As “pioneers” which advice would you give to young bands if they got the change to sign to some major?

TAKE THE $$$ IF YOU CAN. IT WAS JUST ANOTHER RECORD TO ME.

In all honesty I am not that familiar with your later stuff but “Ballade of Tristram’s Last Harping” was some kind of psychedelic music and now you have a country/folk album out.
Wanna explore all types of music then ?

YOU KNOW, WESTERN MUSIC IS FUNNY. THERE ARE ONLY 8 NOTES AND FRANKLY, I CAN’T UNDERSTAND HOW BANDS GO OUT AND PLAY THE SAME SONGS OVER AND OVER AND OVER. I MEAN, I’M ALSO A PAINTER AND NOBODY EVER ASKS ME TO PAINT THE SAME PAINTING TWICE, SO WHY SHOULD I PLAY THE SAME SONG, OR EVER WRITE IN THE SAME STYLE TWICE?

So if you follow the logic in it all, it can be that the next album will be something totally different then....

ACTUALLY, I’M WORKING ON CELESTINA II AND YES, IT WILL BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERNT THAN ALL THOSE THAT WENT BEFORE. VIVA LA VIDA PYGMY ! WE DO WHAT WE WANT WHEN WE WANT. WHAT COULD BE BETTER ?


One of the keymembers Jackson recently made some soundtracks from silent movies like « Battleship Potemkin » or « Tarzan », can you tell something about it ?

I AM VERY FOND OF SILENT MOVIES AND FIND IT CHANLLENGING TO WRITE MODERN SCORES AS A WAY TO « UPDATE » THOSE CLASSIC FILMS AND HOOPEFULLY EXPOSE THEM TO A NEW AUDIENCE. IN PARTICULAR, I STILL CONSIDER BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN ONE OF THE GREATEST FILMS EVER MADE. DEFINITELY IN MY TOP THREE AND BEING AN ANGELINO MOST OF MY LIFE I’VE SEEN THOUSANDS OF FILMS.




For a band that cares so much about their artwork, what do you think of the digital download area ?

ACUALLY, I’M NOT AGAINST DIGITAL DOWNLOADS. I THINK THE MUSIC SHOULD STAND BY ITSELF. BUT, GIVEN MY CHOICE, I WOULD ALWAYS OPT FOR THE PHYSICAL PRODUCT BECAUSE I ACKNOWLEGE AND ADMIRE ARTISTS WHO PUT EXTRA EFFORT INTO THEIR WORK AND I TRUST OUR AUDIENCE WILL FEEL THE SAME.

I ask this everybody.... What’s your fave record of all time and please state why...

MY FAVORITE « RECORD » OF ALL TIME IS ACTUALLY TWO RECORDS THAT I ALWAYS LISTEN TO TOGETHER AND ALWAYS THINK OF AS ONE RECORD. 1. ONE NATION UNDERGROUND AND BALACLAVA BY PEARLS BEFORE SWINE. I JUST CAN’T GET OVER HOW DIFFERENT/ACCESSIBLE/MELODIC/MEANINGFUL THAT TOM RAPP FELLA MANAGED TO MAKE BOTH ALBUMS. AND ALL UNBELIEVEABLY TIMELESS. THESE ARE THE DISCS THAT OPENED ME UP TO THE POSSIBILITIES OF MUSIC AND WHY IT WAS AN IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE THING TO ALWAYS STRIVE TO DO DOMETHING UNIQUE.

Always wanted to know, why does a band name themselves 17 Pygmies ?

MY BIRTHDAY IS THE 17TH OF NOVEMBER AND A « FLOCK OF PYGMIES » WAS ALREADY TAKEN.

Thank you so much for this !!!!!

MY PLEASURE.