SIlverclub Minterview

Silverclub are awesome. I have been listening to their debut album a lot lately, and after posting about them before (with a link to some free music) I managed to coax a mini-interview out of main man Duncan Jones:



What was the inspiration for getting Silverclub together?

It kind of happened by accident. I have been friends with Jim Noir for a number of years, and we used to jam a lot when we were hanging out. I had never sung in a band and never intended to but he was insistent
that I could sing, write lyrics, and craft songs, rather than just
doing the electronic stuff. Insistent to the point he eventually gave
me a really nice soundcard and condensor mic and told me I now had 'no
excuse'. I've had to grow into the frontman/singer role pretty quickly
really as I never thought the demos I was initially making would cause
the interest they did.

What are your main musical influences?

Well I started off in bands but around 18 I got into making techno and
house, something I continue to do under the moniker 'DNCN'. When it
comes to other current bands I'm way off the pulse, although there is
some top class stuff going on in Manchester with the likes of Ten
Bears, The Travelling Band and Suzuki Method. Generally I'm more
likely to be listening to Elvis Costello or the Clash or something
like that though.

Where did your name come from?

We were called 'This Year's Model' after the Elvis Costello album, but
found out there was a Swedish band who had pipped us to the post and
put an album out calling themselves the same. After some brainstorming
and a lengthy list of increasingly tragic name suggestions were put
forward we decided to name ourselves after the track 'Indo Silver
Club' from Daft Punk's 'Homework', only to discover they themselves
had released stuff under that name. At that point I'd lost interest in
the whole name thing so we just dropped the 'Indo' and shoved the
other 2 words together, it doesn't mean anything really and isn't a
particularly great band name but we can make it our own I guess.

Silver Apples or Silver Convention?

Sounds to me like inedible fruit or old folk's gathering. In fact I
know Silver Apples are a band but I haven't heard them so for now I'm
saying neither. I'll go for a normal apple if that's on offer? Granny
Smith preferably.

So who's in your live band?

I've got a proper supergroup in my opinion. Drums are by Jim Noir,
I've Got Chris McGrath from Sirconical/Magic Arm/Jim Noir's band on
Bass, Henrietta Smith-Rolla from Sisters of Transistors on Keys and
BV's, and turntable legend G-Kut on cuts/sequenced stuff and
percussion, I'm privileged that they all seem to enjoy working on my
stuff so much.

Any tour plans coming up?

We are on tour at the moment, you can check out the dates at
http://silverclubuk.com where you can also download the 'All in All
EP' for free!

When are your single/album coming out?

The digital version of the EP is out now, we are just about to release
a 12" to accompany it at the start of November, which will be the
first 'hybrid' picture disc to be produced in the UK, basically it's a
picture on one side and full quality vinyl on the other so a bit of a
collectors item I guess. At the moment it's looking like it will sell
out on pre-sales alone so those interested should maybe go here and
place their order ...
http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=208937

Silver Streak or Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer?

That fantastic four film was on TV the other week. It's pretty
terrible, I kind of enjoyed it in a sort of Valium-esque mind melting
way though.

There's been a lot of, um, "mixed feelings" about the current Manchester music scene. What's your take on it?

As I mentioned before there's some great stuff around at the moment
but as far as a 'scene' I'm glad to say I don't really see one.
Manchester's current strength is in it's diversity of music for me.
Sure there's a lot of politics, bullshit and mudslinging goes on and
I'm sure people will have a few choice words about us at some point,
but for me it's a waste of my time and effort to get involved. My
energies are better served just getting on with the music, if someone
else wants to tell us we are part of a scene they are welcome to, they
would be dead wrong though.

Brassica Mini-Interview

Brassica is TEH TITS. He (Michael) makes wonderous Italo influenced techno and disco, as well as being one half of the very-hot-right-now synth-punk band Gold Blood. We pinned him to ground (foaming at the mouth) to do one of our little minterviews.

Where are you right now and how is it?

I'm at home n West London, it's grey and muggy. I'm waiting for my housemate to finish watching an episode of The Wire - we're mixing new Gold Blood tracks together through his lovely big analogue mixing desk. That's where they write and produce their epic Hungry Ghost tracks. I can't express the painstaking love and care those guys put into that music.

How did you come up with your name?

I can't remember exactly. I think a girl I was seeing told me I don't eat enough Brassica. I must have liked it and used it. I hate the responsibility that comes with making music of thinking up names, track titles, etc. I'd rather just make sounds.

Could you live on cabbage for the rest of your life?

I've thought about trying the cabbage soup diet until I actually smelt it whilst it cooks. I opted for a miso soup diet instead. No, I don't think you could unless you added gravy, potatoes, carrots, beef and horseradish.

What are your biggest musical influences?

Ozric Tentacles. I fucking love them. I was a bass player when I got into them around 14 and they sparked my interest in OTT, bubbling, swirling electronic sounds. I nearly cried with joy the last time I saw them live. I don't care how unfashionable they are. Their music has EVERYTHING.

Have you got any releases lined up for the near future?

I have the New Jam City 12" due out any day soon, on Nocturnes records from Berlin. Apart from that, a couple of remixes which I believe are getting a vinyl pressing. Mainly working on Gold Blood these days, it's almost a full-time job at the moment. I'm well into it.

What is your current studio set-up?

Right now, not an awful lot to be honest. I buy gear when I have cash and sell it when I'm broke. My Nord Modular Classic serves me well though - I can never exhaust it. I'm enjoying using software synths more and more. Not to emulate analogue synths but to design really tacky sounds you often hear in modern pop music. I was watching some interviews with Red One who produces Lady Gaga. He uses nothing but Logic soft synths on an old powerbook but claims he never uses presets. I tried doing the same and of course the first preset I open is THE Lady Gaga synth sound, ya know that big, bright sawtooth mother-fucker with no filtering, all sustain, no release. I used it heavily on a new Gold Blood track called Saturday Nights. Watch out, Red One!

How did Gold Blood come about?

Emile used to come around to my old house a lot, I didn't know him so well then. My old housemates would get pissed and jam on their guitars and he'd always join in with totally spontaneous, weird vocal shit. I'd never met a vocalist who does that without it being in some bullshit art gallery context - it was more musical than that stuff. I asked him to play a gig with me, a cellist and guitarist one night. A heavily edited recording of the rehearsals for that night is what became 'The Centre' - the Brassica record on Dissident. We couldn't ignore how well it worked and decided to start a full-time project.

Done any exciting gigs lately?

Been playing a fair bit with Gold Blood lately. I guess they're all fairly exciting until a technical problem occurs on stage, then you wonder why you put yourself through it so often.

Got any coming up?

Yes! This weekend. Playing with Mr J.D. Twitch on Friday at the Alibi in Dalston. Then playing a mate's garden party on Saturday in Kent with various hardcore bands. Manchester and Newcastle in a couple of weeks too - it'll be nice to play outside of London for a change!

Who do you think will win Big Brother?

You're asking the wrong guy. I'm more of an Apprentice man.

I Am Blip minterview

We featured him last week, so thought it about time we sent him ten questions...



Where are you right now and how is it?
Sitting in my flat in the Southside. It's top banana, albeit a tad messy. Just sitting tinkering with some new ideas before cycling over to play some soccerball.

How did you come up with your name?
My name is Andy Blip an thus "I Am Blip".

Are you a breast or bottom man?
Hmmm...
Both?
Yes, I'm saying both.
Like Dj Assault's "Ass 'n' Titties". Ass, titties, ass 'n' titties, ass ass, titties titties, ass 'n' titties... I'll no doubt be singing that at everyone over the weekend now. It's all your fault if I get slapped.

What are your biggest musical influences?
Good grief, everything really. Definitely 70s and 80s electronica and gay synthy pop, old school techno I really love, also you can't forget Kraftwerk. All that stuff isn't overproduced or too busy. A lot of it is about the melody and individual sounds. Bands like Mogwai and Sigur Ros too though, masters of building up songs.

The moment I decided I wanted to start producing and playing live techno was whilst watching the Super Furry Animals at the Hammersmith Apollo. When they played a 20min version of "The Man Don't Give a Fuck", it melts down from an indie rock song into a techno onslaught. There and then I was standing there thinking "I want to do that". SFA OK!!!

What is your current studio set-up?
My set up is the same as it has been since the start of "I Am Blip" a Korg EMX-1, and... that's it. No laptop, no Ableton, no Reason, just me and the Blipbox. My recordings are all sequenced live into Audacity. I love how hands on it is to play live with. I've got so much control over individual parts, and I'm always busy.

I've got a pair of Beyerdynamic ddt770 Pro so I don't bother the neighbours.

I do intend to purchase a MacBook and Ableton when I'm less skint, but that would be for different projects. Everything under "I Am Blip" will always be just me and the Blipbox.

Done any exciting gigs lately?
The Asterism launch with my co-resident Ross Hinton. Was a good chance to play out some of my new tracks and play a harder more banging set. Was a topper.

Who would you like to see win the World Cup?
My wallet is saying Spain as I got them in the sweepstake with my mates.

Where can we best hear your music?
www.soundcloud.com/iamblip - you can hear quite a lot of my recent stuff here, and currently download it all for free at 320kbps.
www.mixcloud.com/iamblip - you can get some live recordings of me playing live in some clubs here. Some older tracks in there.

Have you got any releases lined up for the near future?
Sadly not. I've been working on a lot of new material that I'm pretty happy with, but I'm pretty damned lazy when it comes to sending off demos or promoting myself. Hoping to release an EP or 2 by the end of the year. Time to get the finger oot methinks!

When are you going to get your hair cut?
I'll have you know I got it cut one week ago! I'm now far more aerodynamic, and have also increased my levels of dashing. Still a sexy party though.

Ben Butler & Mousepad Minterview

We have written about Ben Butler & Mousepad on this blog before. Numerous times. So we though it wise to send him one of our ten question interviews. And here it is:

Where are you right now and how is it?
I'm in CEM studios, at WORM in rotterdam, its a vintage audio lab, with tons of modular synths and other fun stuff. It's great, very hot inside though.

How did you come up with your name?
I'm pretty sure 'Ben Butler & Mousepad' came to me in a dream, with some vague details of how the music would sound and a sort of character I guess. This is always handy, as it stops you worrying about finding something good, subconscious does it for you!

What are BB&MP's biggest musical influences?
I would say the work of Ryuichi Sakamoto over the years, from YMO to later piano stuff. Finding out about 'Synergy' (aka Larry Fast) was kind of revelatory - he was a session guy who did keyboards for Genesis and the like in the 70's and 80's. Eno's done a lot of good stuff, right? Who else - James Pants, skweee, Bernie Worrell / George Duke, Weather Report, Max Tundra....

Have you got any releases lined up for the near future?
We've got a 7" thats just come out on Oslo's DODPOP records, check that out. Next is an e.p on LOAF, followed by an album on LOAF. I've got some other stuff that I'm not sure whats happening with yet. We just recorded 4 songs in this studio this week too.

What is your current studio set-up?
Well, right now in this studio - gigantic vintage Tascam desk, Arp 2500 + sequencer, Arp 2600, Korg ms20, VCS3 Putney, Serge modular, Concussor percussion synth and tons of weird old radiophonic filters and octave dividers.
at home, its usually just a macbook, yamaha cs01 monosynth, midi controllers, EHX vocoder and an EHX microsynth.

Done any exciting gigs lately?
I'm just about to play a show for tons of kids in a paddling pool, surrounded by inflatable junk.

Got any coming up (marriage not included)?
Wedding Dress (Berlin) on July 10th, then Shade Inc (Berlin) on July 14th, then a break. Not so many gigs on the horizon right now as we're mostly working on our album and I'm moving back to Scotland.

Any aspects of German culture you could happily live without?
I tell you what I would like to see - a decent curry! German curry is bland, unspicy and full of ghee, which i can't eat, as i'm vegan. They also hate coriander. What a bad combination!

Who would you like to see win the World Cup? And what about Wimbeldon?
I'd like to see the tennis players who played the infinite tennis match win the World Cup. And Holland win Wimbledon.

Lachlann Rattray (Yoko, Oh No!) minterview

Presenting the first in a new semi-regular series of mini-interviews ("minterviews") exclusive to Shallow Rave!



We are delighted to present some words from Mr Lachlann Rattray, formerly one half of Gay Against You, solo recording artist as Yoko, Oh No!, FUCKNO contributor as Average Joe Stalin, and creator of some awesome art-based fanzines. His latest is "Vomit Party," which we have mentioned before.



What is a "vomit party"?
A a vomit party or to give it it's full title "Heavy metal vomit party" is somewhere that one might take Allyson on a first date.

Have you ever been to one?
I don't think so I was nearly at one once but it turned out to be a recital of Brahms.

Who is your favourite Star Trek character? And why?
That is pretty tricky, but I guess it would have to Worf, He is a totally straight up dude, he is a mans mans mans. But he has a soft side plus he gets the best lines. Observe:



What do you use to create your art?
Besides my incredible intellect I also use photoshop, and sometimes sweet home 3D for cool 3d movies. But as is the case with most if not all creative acts its not your tools it's what you do with them (and also how you look).

Who are biggest inspirations art-wise?
Hmm... I guess in terms of artists I look up to I would say Paul Laffoley, Jim Woodring Ross Christie, Arran Ridley and Mehdi Hercberg. The art I like tends to be stuff that makes me laugh or that has that awesome quality of being really good but also making me feel like I could do it too., that's what really inspires me.

How about for music?
My musical taste is constantly changing (I was going to say evolving but that would imply progression, I think I'm the opposite). At the moment I am really in to the Blue Oyster Cult, Magama , Ruins and Cardiacs, but if you ask me again in a month it will be different.

What was the best gig you have ever played?
I played a show a while ago where I baked a cake during the performance using a microwave I brought with me. The whole show ended with everyone eating the cake it was pretty fun, the cake was a bit rank though and apparently someone spat in the mixture while I wasn't looking, fun times!

And the worst?
Hmmm maybe a show gay against you played at the art school nearly got beaten up for handing someone a bit of paper, the whole show was really aggro, bad times.

Lady Gaga or Ke$ha? And why?
I guess Lady Gaga, her songs are pretty great and all I have heard of ke$ha is that annoying spotify ad but I fully accept that I am not giving ke$ha a thorough reveue and that my conclusion is half baked.

What does the future hold for Lachlann Rattray?
Besides the gradual withering and decay of body and my inevitable slide towards death? I hope to make lots more artwork getting commisioned by folks to make there posters and artwork for albums is always fun, I'm also getting into politcal cartooning(http://theworldpolitical.tumblr.com/) which is also lots of fun


Vomit Party is available to buy from Che Camille in Glasgow, and via mail order from Dreamguts. His previous work, Gnar Trek, is sold out on Dreamguts but still available at Che Camille.

Yoko, Oh No! on Last FM.

Download "Modern Bummer" by Yoko, Oh No! here.