Table of contents Interview with M. (Anémic Cinéma) 3 Anémic Cinéma – "(ceci n'est pas) Triste" review 5 Interview with Chris Pelle (Guitare Noire) 6 Guitare Noire – ‘The Debut’ review 8 Interview with MAV 9 MAV. ‘Enter’. First band’s review 10 Interview with ‘Holy Blood’ 11 Biography of Dementia ’99 13 Interview with Cain (Dementia '99) 15 Interview with Deadchovsky 17 Interview with ‘Flowers in Flames’ 23 Flowers in Flames – the debut album review 25 Vincent Fallacara (A Sordid Poppy, JefH, TORSO) 26 Interview with Lucas Lanthier 31 Interview with 36 – Salamun Child EP review 41

2 Interview with M. (Anémic Cinéma)

http://www.myspace.com/cinemanemic Nattsol: Say a few words about discovering more kinds of music re- position with Duchamp's, Man Ray's yourself for a start, please. lated to the goth scene, like , and Picabia's works and I knew I had M.: I'm a young guy from coldwave, deathrock... found the way to communicate what Barcelona who has a hyperactive As the musician, this is the first I wanted: absurd. Maybe that exposi- mind and can't stop creating. The 'goth' project I have. Before AC I had tion only took outside my addiction problem here is I'm very lazy, so most an experimental metal project to Kafka and Bukowski's literature, of the time I simply do nothing until called Nacht, which I abandoned where I felt identified with the mis- something comes to my mind and I when I stopped hearing to that kind understanding of the world the au- feel stimulated to do something use- of music -I keep composing and thors reflected in their books. less with it, like a song, or a photo. recording songs for Nacht, although. Nattsol: You took the name of Nattsol: How did you come into Nattsol: How did you catch the Marcel Duchamp film. What's the 'goth' (etc) music as the listener idea of creation your own project? Duchamp's and the film's influence and as the musician? How was it born? on your project? M.: This is hard to tell, because I M.: It was born after listening lots M.: If you look to the film you'll don't really know what the fuck is and lots of times 's Pornog- see it is absurd. I saw it in the expo- "goth". I could say the first deliber- raphy album. I didn't understand sition, projected on a wall, and I ately sinister group I heard was Death how they could express so much with stayed there, standing up, hypnotized in June. I got addicted to their music, so little. I wanted to do something by the words that appeared. And even so I started looking for more grups like they did, I mean making people I knew he didn't want to tell me like Dij on the internet and I became sic, sad, just like I felt after listening something, he was only playing with a habitual listener of all the that album. the spectator -me-, who would judge music and from that point I started And then I went to a dadaistic ex- him in a good way because he was a

3 fucking genius, I saw there what I M.: Well, the dadaistic influences everyday to plough ourselves a future wanted to do. So the project could can't be kept original as they are pure that may not exist. Contemporary have been called "Retours a la rai- nihilism, and nihilism only admits can be our lifes. son" or "Un chien andalou", or the concept of destruction. "Ready Made" too. To avoid the dadaistic deadlock Nattsol: Enough about dada for The influence, so, is not artistic, I'm considering incorporating more now. Tell me about your first demo, is... ideological. I mean dada was themes in AC's new songs, letting be- please. How was it recorded? What is born from disorientation and the will hind the nihilism of that movement its conception? (Etc). of breaking everything that had been and, also, making of that deadlock an M.: Oh, god, this may be a bit dis- absolute in art, is nihilism in art, and inspiration point. Because that dead- illusioninc, because "We all dream / the message is that everything is rela- lock can be seen as the maximum ex- We all die" was created without a tive, irrelevant; everything can be art, pression of the dadaistic main line, conception behind. I simply thought so art is absurd, and doesn't exist it- which is destruction, defined by the "I must do a demo", and started self. That feeling of disorientation members of the movement when they working on it. Because of that it was and misunderstanding of the world started it. And destruction leads us a demo, I wanted to create some around is what I want to reflect in to despair and disorientation which songs who could defend themselves

alone, so I rejected the idea of creating something similar to a conceptual album -which I want to create some day-. It was recorded at home, like the new re- lease, and I did everything, from the programmed drums to the bass guitar -which is not a bass guitar but a guitar tuned in a low tune :D-. And it was after record- ing the five songs and having heard at least ten times each that I named the demo "We all this project, and that's the influence are some of the feelings I wanted to dream / We all die" -I don't know of Duchamp -and the dadaistic art- transmit when I conceived AC. why still- and numbered the songs in in Anémic Cinéma. To the second question I could the order they are. answer only one word: everything. We Nattsol: Well, then I have to ask have destroyed the tradition and Nattsol: So you recorded the sec- you, what is dada for you. As we hugged contemporary art, which is ond demo recently. Could you repre- know, the period of the original the abnormal son of the avant-garde sent it and say, what has changed in dadaistic activity is 1916 - 1922, and movements of the past century, so we comparison with the previous release? the movement partly broke up be- have no art, and no past, because the M.: In this demo I tried to incor- cause of the repeating of itself. So present has broken with the past ways porate other elements to the songs, how do you reflect your dadaistic in- of living. The world is so compli- like synths -i.e. in labyrinth- and to fluences with keeping them original? cated we have to abandon the pur- omit others in some songs, like the How are you going to avoid the pose to understanding it, so we can't bass guitar -i.e. in fading memories-, dadaistic deadlock? imagine how the future will be. And which made some songs too dense Oh, and what is contemporary our present, our life, pass by between and saturated. The point was to try dada in your opinion? gray buildings and cars, as we work to fusion ambiental music with the

4 cold wave, but I discovered shoegaze all, but what I wanted was to end and not just only to compose, record -especially the band Trance to the with the rain sample in the last song, and release more and more demos - sun- during the recording of the as an outro -maybe if I have some that would be very boring- because songs, so I decided to add some rem- time I'll add that sample one of these that's similar to doing nothing as the iniscences of that kind of music in days :D-. real life of groups are their gigs. one or two songs. That's why some- times the guitars have a bit of echo Nattsol: Well, what are the musi- Nattsol: What other artistic ex- added to the reverb I use to put on cal plans of AC at the moment? I periments would you like to try? them. Also, I programmed some mean, what ideas or innovations M.: You got me without an answer drums deliberately 'strange' -I'm you'd love to use in the future? here because I haven't even consid- sorry I can't find the word to define M.: I'd like to add to AC some ered trying other artistic experiments what I really wanted to achieve when post-industrial reminiscences, like the as AC takes me so much free time - I programmed them-. ones in Death in June’s 'Nada!' -I'm composing, recording and now work- So the point was to erase some in love with that album, jaja-. So, in ing of the artwork of the new layers whose objective was to give the future I'll try to make the songs release-, and I don't have to much 'consistence' and to add others whose a bit more complex, giving the songs free time to spend working on artis- objective was to make the songs even structure and, maybe occasionally, in- tic projects or experiments. Although more obsessive. And when I couldn't corporating that elements -I haven't I'm experimenting with some samples add that layers to make the song ob- decided still if I will add them to the I downloaded to create some 'music' sessive until nausea I tried changing songs or in different songs, as inter- for maybe a future noise/industrial some drum rhythms in the middle of ludes-. project which has still no name. the song, to make it more slow and paused -and restart after that its nor- Nattsol: Are you going to keep Nattsol: And the final words are mal rhythm-. AC as the one-man project? Is there yours. Conceptually, the second demo is any possibility of gigs? M.: I'd like to thank you for the very similar to the first one, but the M.: I'm currently talking to some interest in AC and for the time you purpose here was to make something friends that play bass guitar to meet take on writing the fanzine, which is even more depressing than what I some day and play in rehearsals. The fucking awesome. :D made in the first demo, so I thought problem is I don't have a portable on adding samples of rain, cars and PC, so I can't put the drums to play things that could make the listener on them, so maybe I'll have to con- Questions: Pall ‘Nattsol’ think about grey days in big cities. In vince a friend that plays that to come Zarutskiy the end I put that rain sample in the with us. So as you see nothing is still ‘Grave Jibes Fanzine’ first song, as an opening, and that's concreted. But I'd love to play live

Anémic Cinéma – "(ceci n'est pas) Triste" review The significance of these objects and ready-mades lies in the theory behind them…. (Lee Harwood, ‘Dada/My heart belongs to dada’.)

Anémic Cinéma, the one-man ‘ready-made Internationale’ in ritual manner. Drum machine back- coldwave’ project from Barcelona, presents us its sec- ground has the additions of obscure synths, ‘cold’ ond demo. A one who has heard the previous proj- guitar and more murmuring rather than singing voice, ect’s release ‘We All Dream, We All Die’ won’t be so the best way to understand the music of M is to try too surprised while listening to this release. The both to drown into the project’s atmosphere and find the releases have related conceptions and sounds, so it symbols which the music reflects. But a listener can will be quite hard to compare two chapters of one also find some unexpected things in the release, such book with a single plot. The thing is that both these as ‘Depeche Mode’ish synth backgrounds of ‘(Love releases (which seem as the single introduction to is) As cold as your eyes’ for example, or a touch of something really interesting) show the project’s per- ‘Kraftwerk’ in ‘Labyrinth’. spectives of development and discover to a listener In conclusion it would be lovely to say that the world of the project’s founder M. though the works of the project don’t seem enough Anémic Cinéma doesn’t have any post-punk completed, they do keep the demo functions and ‘drive’. The project’s music reflects Dadaistic ready- show what we should wait from Anémic Cinéma. made in its minimal sound but has more obscure at- Pall ‘Nattsol’ Zarutskiy mosphere. It can be also characterized as ‘Brigade ‘Grave Jibes Fanzine’ 5 Interview with Chris Pelle (Guitare Noire) http://www.myspace.com/guitarenoire http://www.wilrecords.com/ Nattsol: Introduce yourself, please. Chris: Hello my name is Chris Pelle and I’m living in the north of . I started my own solo proj- ect Guitare Noire the last year. I’m into the underground scene since the middle of 80’s. But the most important thing is Walked in line records I run since 1995. At the same date we created with some friends the punk band Soup Toxic. I had my own street shop during 4 years too... So WIL was a records label, a magazine, a booking tours agency...etc... But now, it’s only a webzine with a few releases like the vinyl of Guitare Noire and the debut album of Suricates. I still re- because we met so many prob- Nattsol: So why did 'Soup views some stuff online at lems!!! There were 5 different Toxic' disband? www.wilrecords.com so feel free to drummers for example. My partic- Chris: Due to adding the prob- contact me and check the website, ipation was important of course. I lems during all these years. I think thank you. think I was the leader but this word there was not the same motivation is extremely unpleasant. I never for all the members. And a night Nattsol: As I know, you take a used it before. I found all the con- we had that big quarrel that you part in the band, called 'Soup certs dates and more still. Without can not come back alive. Toxic'. Tell me more about this me the group would have died at band and about your participation the end of the first year! Soup toxic Nattsol: You started 'Guitare in it. is 11 years of my life and the split Noire', which has plenty of differ- Chris: Soup Toxic was a French of the band was a depressingly dark ences if compare it with 'Soup post punk formed at the beginning experience for the three founding Toxic'. So what did you want to of the year 1995. I was one of the members and gave birth to Guitare change in your new project? And both guitarists and the lead singer. Noire as for me. what did you want to express? We did not release so many records Chris: Indeed, it is very differ- ent. I wanted to make a dark music and rather quiet. A come back to the cold wave music and some folk songs.. My first love! At the begin- ning, it was just for a page on My- Space and recording the voice of my daughter on songs. There were good words of a couple of persons on Internet. So I wanted to con- tinue for others songs. I want to ex- press the closest music to my mind at the moment. I don’t want to cheat myself even if a few people are close to my music. I want to play the music looks like to me.. It’s like a therapy! The first song I thought that nobody could like it but two persons said “it’s really nice” so I made some other songs.

6 and said “oh I find the name of my project”.

Nattsol: Now let's talk about your new release. Could you say a few words about it as the author? Chris: It is a very personal proj- ect at first because I wanted only 25 copies for my close friends and to offer an attractive memory to my daughter who recorded her voice in a couple of songs. But the guy to the factory suggested me making 100 for the price of 50. I just needed to compose new songs even if I did not have a band anymore. Now, Guitare Noire looks like a long-term artistic project in my head. The nice columns that I re- ceived about “The Debut” gives me the feeling to keep up with work.

Nattsol: Why did you decide to make a vinyl release? Chris: I try not to buy CD...I prefer vinyl stuff. The only CD you can find at my home are some pro- motional CD I receive for a review in my webzine or CD only avail- able on this support I was obliged to buy. Also I am a collector of vinyls... I’m a big fan of The Cure for example with about 200 vinyls for the same band.

Nattsol: Is GN only a studio project? Would you like to play shows and/or invite other musi- cians in the project? Chris: Some guys already asked me for shows... But sincerely it’s impossible for me because I’m alone and all songs are not really composed for a show live represen- tation. It’s a music you play at home! Maybe a day if I found oth- Nattsol: Did you take some style and find a strange atmosphere. ers musicians want to play this kind bands as references for 'Guitare You could find a part of The Cure of music... I need to play with some Noire'? and Cocteau Twins too of course... others musicians more and more. I Chris: The song “Carnaval” is hope to find nice people for the close to Bauhaus, don’t try to find Nattsol: Could you explain the next songs. another reference... it’s one of my name of the project? principal influence. Most of people Chris: Why Black Guitar? When Nattsol: I already asked about talk about Douglas Pearce from the I run my street shop, I found a flex- references, but now I'd love to ask Death In June acoustic songs but I idisc 7 inch 50’s in a old jazz music about your colleagues and like- don’t know these songs before to magazine. The word Guitare with minded bands/persons on the start Guitare Noire. It was rather an old font with a couple dancing. French stage or apart from it. Psychic TV in my head. I like this I put this picture on a frame. A day, Chris: There is a post punk/cold kind of artist could melt different I looked at this picture on the wall wave scene with great bands in

7 France. I see you know Excès Noc- achievements and so on? built a website. About 22 issues turne... I’m a fan of this band since Chris: Yes, it’s my own label. later I stopped the fanzine because the middle 80’s. I like very much to You can have all the details visiting I opened a records shop. No Time record a song with Remy the gui- the website. I run Wil records since for Both. tarist. He’s a very nice person. But 1995. At the start Wil Records was it’s difficult to find others artists a mailorder but a local event organ- Nattsol: And your final words. could find high interest to work izer too. I liked to add the inter- Chris: Thank you for your help with Guitare Noire. But you know views of the bands which played and for your interest in Guitare that Guitare Noire and The Strange with some reviews too. I always Noire. I’m still waiting to receive Walls from New York could release loved fanzine. My first one it was in the CD of your band. Jon from a split 7inch very soon? That will the 80s and it’s called Cocktail The Strange Walls just told me it’s be thanks to you! Molotov. And some years later Wil great! became a true printed fanzine with Nattsol: You already mentioned a free CD compilation. Also, Wil Questions: Pall ‘Nattsol’ www.wilrecords.com. So could you records is online since 1999. At Zarutskiy say more about details it, like how This time I think we were only “Grave Jibes Fanzine” was it created, what were/are the three French independent labels

Guitare Noire – ‘The Debut’ review really attracts in this situation. It appears from nowhere and fades. The voice like from old radio and some ‘trembling’ guitar additions make it seems like a vision of the past, an old orange photo of a carnival. Very strong picture. The next composition is the guitar reprise called ‘Alone’. The name of the song clearly re- flects the mood of the song. The theme discovers in music through repeating guitar piece with some addi- tions like the hand bells. The one basis with different shades. Then a listener can discover the cover of ‘Kraftwerk’ song, called ‘Les Mannequins’. The melody is not as mechanical as we can see in the original, and using female vocals seems the good idea, but it has no that passion as took its place in the original version. But ‘Les Mannequins’ keeps its ‘lifeless’ spirit. The next composition ‘Dans Ma Rue Il Y A Un Tigre’ is the vari- ation on an extract of a Daniil Kharms’s poem. Kharms was one of the greatest representatives of probably the most weird Russian avant-garde art movement of the beginning of the XX century, OBERIU (Union of Real Art). Very often the representatives of this movement mixed in their works children’s naivety and tragic ele- ments, so child’s voice (Chris’s daughter) and melan- There are some bands or projects which are ‘not for cholic music probably reflects the soul of OBERIU, everyone’ and won’t be understood after the first listen- especially if remember that most of it’s representatives ing. ‘The Debut’ of ‘Guitare Niore’, the new project of had very tragic destinies. The next song of the release, Chris Pelle (the found member of the punk band ‘Soup titled ‘Carrousel Melodica’ continues the atmosphere Toxic’) can be exactly considered as the one of that of the previous composition, but in a bit swelling man- kind. Enough to say for a start that Chris chose to make ner. And the last composition of the release is ‘M.’. the limited edition of 100 copies 10 inches vinyl and it Melancholic guitar is combined with very ‘rainy’ key- made this work a pearl for collectors. ‘The Debut’ was boards. The best outro for the release with the atmos- released by Chris’s own label ‘Walked in Line’ (I think, phere of solitude and distance. this name will cause some associations to every post- If a one asked me to refer ‘Guitare Noire’ to any punk fan) with the support of Red Elodia Records. style, I’d call it ‘weird coldwave’. There’s the exact influ- The vinyl consists of 6 tracks, every of which lasts ence of Chris’s native scene, but it’s absolutely impos- for about two minutes. Every song has a difference in sible to call ‘Guitare Noire’ 100% post-punk/new wave comparison with others, but each of them has acoustic project. Anyway, let’s watch for the project develop- and quite minimal basis. The first song of the release, ment and see what kind of music it will present us in called ‘Carnival’, strongly reminds (or it’s better to say, the future. seems the child of) ‘The Three Shadows Part II’ of Pall ‘Nattsol’ Zarutskiy ‘Bauhaus’ by the music and by the atmosphere. The “Grave Jibes Fanzine” song seems more like a piece of a composition, and it

8 Interview with MAV

www.myspace.com/bandmav mail: [email protected] Nattsol: Introduce the band members his classical background curiously helped before 'Enter'? in few words, please. How did you meet me a lot.. Francesco: No.. during the ‘Enter's’ each other? What references did you take Federico (guitarist) sometimes played mixing we had recorded two Cure covers: when you started the band? with Francesco some Cure acoustic covers, The kiss and A Strange Day (absolutely my Francesco: I'm Francesco (synth Federico is the youngest of the group, we favourite song), you can listen to these cov- player) and I met Federico 2 years ago by an- never found anyone who likes dark music in ers at our myspace page nouncements, and 2 years after Federico Modena, until May 2008... (myspace.com/bandmav). And maybe we'll met Dene (Tony) by a newspaper and we Biagio is from Sicily, he studies in play it live, we guess... put together. There were no references but Bologna, he's the drummer, he played with a lucky meeting in Modena. some metal bands, but never took a real Nattsol: Well, now let's talk about your We are all big fans of The Cure, (and you part. Now, with Mav, he can express himself 'Enter'. First of all, why Enter? can understand that looking at Tony's hair..) more and more. Francesco: Enter is a strong and direct except Biagio who likes The Cure too but word which remind to put ideas in action, he's in love with syntpop of the 80's, Biagio Nattsol: Well, what does the name of like press a pc's key, this word reminds also is even a dj. Me and Francesco have a clas- the band mean? to entry..to debut, to do something for the sical attitude in harmonizing sounds, be- Francesco: It means a neurological dis- first time in a decisive way, like we want to cause I studied classical piano, and I put it in ease, in Italian way to say, it is arterio-ve- do. an electronic way, but I can't exclude noth- nous malformation, a phatology of which ing for the future. Tony, on the contrary, Tony suffered in the past and which has Nattsol: Fine. Could you represent this came from punk, exactly like someone we been very dangerous for his life. Now he's release to a reader? What he can find in it, all know..he's in love with Kraftwerk and ok and we all hope that he'll stay good for in your opinion? Clan of Xymox. Federico likes a lot The Cure, the rest of his life. Mav name is like a way to Francesco: In Enter you can find differ- and classical postpunk bands , exorcize the past. ent kinds of music, like every good first like me. I also like a bit of britpop like no album we haven't focused on a precise more existing Catatonia Nattsol: I see. And what does express genre of obscure music..and we are not sure this name in the band? I mean, how is it we'll never do it,maybe..., there is a bit of Nattsol: What music expiriences did connected with your music? cold wave on this album (like diane's the band members have before MAV? Francesco: Because there are refer- dream,in which I put classical piano, from Francesco: Tony (Deneb), the singer, ences of this problem which Tony has had in my background..), a bit of new wave (insana played in some punk bands in Naples, our lyrics.. In Vuoto ( in English - empty) he insonnia for example) and futurepop like where he lived before 2008, then he moved remembers what he felt after doctors ,when Vuoto or something stronger like Akynetik... to Bologna and MAV has joined. he was 20, tell him he will be dead up to 2 We are a meltin' pot for now.. or for ever? Francesco (me), the synth player began months. We’re not focused only on this, but who knows..In Enter you can also find feel- to study classical piano when I was 11 yo, for this first album we can say it's a substan- ings on a white page you'll write while you and I got a good skill, playing classical piano tial part of the work especially because Tony listen to it. competitions.. then I never played with a wrote the lyrics, his past influenced him a group first of MAV, from the beginning of lot. ...for the past history and present it's all.. Nattsol: How did you manage to get Mav era I moved to electronic sounds and Nattsol: Ok, did you have any records such a good quality in your first record? 9 Francesco: Because Tony worked is to play good, to test ourselvels live, and in like... but just for live shows helps with pro- some months in a recording studio,and he the future to play outside where surely gramming I suppose.. I go on playing classi- knows mixing very well.. Apart this, we more people will comprehend us. Naturally cal piano at home, but I don't think I'll record learned to use digital music equipment in we like Italy, but we're a bit angry with Ital- anything. I like playing togheter, alone I get my basement,we work with logic, vst, espe- ian management of clubs, they much more bored. cially for battery (which is very difficult to often call cover bands, we can understand record) and a cardiod microphone, and that cover bands represents a sure gain.. but Nattsol: What are the interests of the everything is fine.. we don't like this kind of approach. Anyway, band members except music? ...in this underground period of Mav we'll give our best in these three Italian Francesco: I like poetry, I began to band we use a small basement to dates, but these clubs in which we'll play are write in the last years and I obtained a prize record..we hope to improve spaces very not appropriate for our genre, people there here in Italy.. I think we'll use some of my soon. wants indie rock, so we'll surely play "Insana writings for the next album. Personal inter- insonnia"..they'll like it. ests of the rest of MAV is a difficult question, Nattsol: Did MAV have live shows? If I like apart from the classical 80’s gods I don't know, it's a presonal question, but we yes, - tell me about them. some Italian bands like Spiritual Front and like going out in Bologna together at night Francesco: Not yet, we'll play on All My Faith Lost, which we'll see this satur- and drink some beer, it's entertaining, Eng- Febraury 14 in Padova (Italy), on March,3 day night in Parma.. lish style! or even "Russian style". near Reggio Emilia and on May, 9 near Even if its' neofolk and is partly far from Bologna. Follow our myspace, we'll post us, I think Italian neofolk is living a good Nattsol: And your final words. every date we book. Unfortunately it’s not time. Federico likes some indie bands of the Francesco: It’s just a request which so simple to play dark music in Italy, we'd UK, like Iliketrains, Tony likes Anima Virus (he comes from Italian musical hell, and di- like to play outside Italy, book us, you'll be will collaborate in anima virus next live rected to managers of this musical field: welcome! shows) and Biagio likes something more "Book us for live shows in Italy, or electronic like vnv nation, e loves electronic wherever you want, we’d love to play out in Nattsol: Well, and what do you expect drums.. front of receptive public, give us a chance! from your shows? Italy has realy rich history Our dream is maybe to make a date to- “Enter” will be distribuited on next months of post-punk with some wonderful and leg- gether with some of these artists, or an by Danse Records in cd shops and endary bands. So which Italian bands would opening act.. who knows.. online, follow us for some news. Thank you like to share the stage with? And what you!". And thank you, Nattsol for the inter- about the world bands? Nattsol: Are there some musical ex- view. Francesco: Regarding to shows, at the periments you'd like to try in MAV or apart moment we fly down because here in Italy from it? people want at least indie rock, and we did- Francesco: No, there aren't, at least Questions: Pall ‘Nattsol’ Zarutskiy n't play in goth clubs yet...Our expectation for me, Federico and Biagio... Tony cooper- “Grave Jibes Fanzine” ates with Anima Virus, something ebm- MAV. ‘Enter’. First band’s album review

manner, as it seems to me. “Insana Insonnia” is a nervous electronic tune with somewhat hysterical vocals, which apt digital processing just only increases the impression. In general, this song is a potentially successful club’s theme. “In My Brain” takes us back into the album’s beginning depressive rhythm and atmosphere, thereby imparting dis- tinctive cyclical completeness to its composition. “Diane’s dream” is the album’s closing theme, some kind of outro, which I want to dwell on. It’s a 164 second track composed of turning into each other classical and synth piano tunes that can be reckoned in “new edge” music direction. It isn’t a reason to compare MAV band and Amethystium, for example, or other bands like, but for me it is the reason to conjecture that if one day a side “new edge” project with Francesco’s participation will started, it might come out very exciting. “Enter” deserves a lot of compliments. Interesting vocals, which artistry is skillfully complemented by digital processing, nice rhythm, and specific post-punk guitar sounds, which are especially felt in Akynetik and In my brain, exciting keyboards, which add to the melodies some charismatic components, and general album’s atmos- phere, which is wistful, but clear - all of this is worth to make a special mention. There is no precise genre of music, in this respect album ‘Enter’. This simple laconic word declares the young Italian turned out quite diverse, maybe it will not catch everybody fancy, but band’s MAV enter into the music scene. it definitely testify the band’s great creative potential and enthusiasm, The album begins with the composition “Akynetik”. Sharply which they put into a peculiar try to please all the obscure music fans rhythm beating drums, cold “offscreen” vocals, guitar accords and at once. synth sounds create anxious and algetic atmosphere. Then the slug- And I must say that this try doesn’t seem unsuccessful. MAV’s gish and wistful song named “Lamento” follows and changes into enter on the dark scene has happened and came out sufficiently in- more energetic theme of “Il crepuscolo della coscienza”, where key- teresting to deserve listener’s attention. boards come to the foreground and form the general melody. The fourth track, “Vuoto” possesses the dynamic sound and lively - Nikolai ‘Tacitus’ Polyakov tional vocals, which acquires here some kind of ethnic execution’s ‘Grave Jibes Fanzine’ 10 Interview with ‘Holy Blood’

http://www.myspace.com/hbproject Nattsol: First of all, tell me how Nattsol: What things did the originality of our music. All with- the musicians met each other. project get from each of you per- out excess. What interests and influences did sonally? you share? Acta: We are complementary. Nattsol: Tell me the history of Dezbut: We live in the same Dezbut brings unquestionably the the band's name. small town. Héloïse and I met rigor in the band and the techni- Dezbut: We played several Acta in 2003 during a party or- cal knowledge we need for times together, only existing ganized by his brother. We had recording, etc. Héloïse and me songs. I believe that we chose to the same tastes for music and don’t know it well. Dezbut is a per- have one when we decided to movies. I'm a guitarist, him a fectionist. play our own songs. We wanted to bassist thus we decided to try to Héloïse brings us the joy we use a religion term in our name. play together. need to progress in our music. We aren't religious, it's ironic. The Currently, our musical influ- She’s our inner voice and our second part comes from our ences come especially from Rock. melody: she’s the core of our affinity with horror movies. We like rock from 80's, post punk, music.. When we chose this name, we punk, batcave, deathrock... but In my case, I think I’m the mod- didn't know that a Ukrainian we can listen to modern rock erator between Dezbut’s perfec- metal band had the same. sometimes. tionism and Héloïse’s Moreover, we watch often hor- enthusiasm. I bring maybe some Nattsol: What were the first ror movies together including B- serenity and simplicity to our steps of the band? movies and Z-movies. music while having a look into the Dezbut: Holy Blood is born in

11 2003. I believe that our first song we could go in the past, I would our point of view on this subject. is born in 2003 too, it's The play with Joy Division. Concerning me, clothes are not Dreadful Cycle". At the end of my priority. However I like thinking 2004 we released our first Nattsol: As I know, your music to our visuals for our MySpace record. The demo-cd is called style has changed from the begin- page or for a video clip. I prefer "Genese". After a long pause due ning. How can you describe this working on music, pictures or to my studies, we came back. In evolution? video. 2006, we released a new song Dezbut: When we began to Acta: I agree with Dezbut, our called "Food Story" after I met write our songs around 2003, we priority is music and it must not Zorch from Camp Z on MySpace played music between rock, metal change. In fact, before our first and on a French batcave forum. and gothic music. Acta discovered gig we haven’t really thought to He helped us a lot. This song ap- in first Batcave, Post Punk, etc our visual. However in the future, peared on the compilation " The through a compilation called "Ob- we should think about it in order Sexy Zombies". In 2007, I met Dj scur" around 2005, I believe. He to propose a coherent musical Alien S Pagan and discovered the lent to Héloïse and Me the CD concept. We will certainly work on Cemetary Girlz. During 2008, Di- and we fast liked it. My favorite a horror style, that what I like. varre from Deadchovsky helps us bands on this CD were Joy Divi- and encouraged us. Finally, in sion, Bauhaus, Jad Wio and Cor- Nattsol: So tell me about your 2009 we played our first gig pus Delicti. After the pause due to recorded songs. What are they? thanks to Dj Alien S Pagan. It was my studies, we decided to play Dezbut: We don’t have a lot of January 10. music between Batcave, recorded songs, not enough for a Deathrock, Punk and New Wave. CD, maybe the half. On our My- Nattsol: Well, so you played the Appart from our style’s Space page, there are three of first gig. Does it mean that ‘the change, I think our music has them: Bewitch Jitter and Botox ice has moved’ and the band's more maturity than before. It's Lover. The other songs aren’t yet development will go faster now? more structured and less monot- mixed. After our second gig, we Dezbut: I think our first gig is a onous. It’s a little bit like in our want to record some songs again. first step in order to move the ice. own lifes. Generally, that's not very fast, be- The band's development may be cause we record the new songs in faster now because we worked a Nattsol: What is music for you? my house and I'm not a profes- lot for this show. We are now used Dezbut: Music is many things sional. That's very fun in my mind to regularly work our music and for me. When I listen to a CD, to resume the recording. I like it we really want to go further. that's often for being concentrate because each time we work in Acta: Go further by recording or for not getting bored. And be- order to have the best version of our first CD for example... cause I like it, of course! When the songs. Moreover, it's during I’m a music player, it helps me to recording that we decide how the Nattsol: What persons and forget my problems and to relax. song will be. It's a technical and which bands except already men- Without music, I’m less dynamic, artistical step and I like it. tioned you can call your friends I cannot relax and I’m more and colleagues? What is their stressed. Nattsol: You mentioned your participation in the life of ‘Holy Acta: Music is a way to tem- future album. What will it be? And Blood’? porarily escape reality, an incite- when should we expect it? Dezbut: In my mind, we men- ment of travel. It is also an Dezbut: We want to record a tioned before the main persons invitation to share emotions. complete CD this time, not a and bands that we know. We are Héloïse: Music is for me a way demo. I cannot say more on this too in touch with Blood Orange. to share feelings. now. We still have to discuss on Recently, Droserae and Crimson several points. As I said before, Muddle have contacted us for our Nattsol: And what are you we are very slow. Thus we cannot second gig. Generally, we share apart from the music? schedule the release. I want to our point of view on music and we Acta: Beside music, I'm pas- say before 2010. That would be support ourselves. sionate by horror, black humor better, but I’m not sure to be able and zombies movies! Sex, zom- to keep this date. Nattsol: And which bands bies and UFO! apart from the local stage you’d Dezbut: Acta has all said be- Nattsol: And your final words.... like to play with? fore. That's what we appreciate. Holy Blood: Thanks a lot to you Dezbut: I would like to play with That's why we are still together: for this interview and thank you to Bloody Dead and Sexy, Cinema we really have the same interests. all the people who support us and Strange, Strange Dolls Cult and help us. Miguel and the Living Dead. Nattsol: Many batcave bands Héloïse: I agree for Bloody concentrate not only on the Questions: Pall ‘Nattsol’ Zarutskiy Dead and Sexy and I want to add music, but on visual effects too. ‘Grave Jibes Fanzine’ New Days Delay. What about you? Is an image im- Acta: My dream would be to portant for you? play with Cinema Strange and if Dezbut: I think we have each

12 Biography of Dementia’99 band founders, Virus and Cain, was undertaking a Gothic Festival in Mallorca. That was possible thanks to the invaluable help of a band called "Sepulcrum Mentis", which reached a deep friendship, sup- port was indispensable during the two festivals which were held in Gothic island in 98 years and in 99 years. It was in 1998 when the first "Mallorca Gothic Festival" took place and consolidated as a band to take into account in Mallorca. The fame they happened to get dew to the famous concert in the emblematic club of the island, "Fraguel Rock" where the most sav- age Dementia'99 concert took place, in which Cain was a blood sacrifice including milk bottles and a mass of sick friends and mad fans. As a novelty the band com- mented the new member, "Som- bra", as a second bassist, giving the band a very unique and powerful sound. Dementia'99 emerged from the the composition. These two events were very im- ashes of the band with a primitive The band didn’t want to re- portant for the band. sound, but funny called "The Alien nounce influence of post-punk and The first bassist left the band. In Fried Eggs," a sarcastic imitation of its peculiar way of music under- his absence, Cain picks up the "". standing. They had a psychedelic bass and sings at the same time. When the band dissolved, Virus way of understanding of the music That has defined some loss of (Guitar) and Cain (Vocals) had de- and that promised some results. strength as Cain had to deal with cided to make something more se- Born in February 1996 that two instruments and has brought rious. way, Dementia'99 appeared with: difficulties. Virus hadn’t been involved in Cain Uriel (Vocalist), Virus (Gui- In 1998 the band made any projects before playing with tar), Tavi (Drums), Nada (Bass). cover-version, with- Cain, and Cain, have made only two The band name was selected out thinking it would be a tribute to demos called "Llora Hermana" among many other variants, to hint . In April, two days which proved to be some experi- direction at the psychedelic way, so after the unexpected death of Rozz, ments in Gothic music without any the theme was taken from the Mar- Dementia'99 has played probably clear preference of any style. rionettes "Ave Dementia" which the more as a tribute to Rozz Williams. They wanted to make the sound band considered classic, and add Coming 1999 became sufficient closer to . 99 for two reasons: years-long ex- explaination of the record what The band have chosen that mu- isting paranoia, and a small tribute would be their first album "Smile sical style to make something sim- to the artist Valor Kand, Cain & Befote Die." The recording of this ilar that Virus were his big fans. release has generated changes: has fallen into their hands in that After this initial training, the the female voice, Morphine, and period for the first time. changes were very serious, espe- the new bassist Manuel Sastre Those early records were “The cially in the rhythm section. In fact, (Brother of Virus), giving Cain more Only Theater Of Pain” and “Atroci- There was the drummer from freedom, but in the recording, bass ties”. That way, not by any con- the band "Winchesters” in the 1st patterns were made by Cain. frontation between the style and concert of Dementia in Febru- Other plans were made for the Valor and Rozz, although in princi- ary'96. second Gothic Festival with "Sepul- ple, subject of the necessary dis- And it was not until November crum Mentis" and "Madre". tance, Dementia’99 made a style 96, when Tavi ("Lacrima Christi" The album of seven songs and closer to the pure Deathrock style band of Barcelona) could partici- two versions of the Shadow Project of Shadow Project. pate in a live show. (Death plays his role / Penny in the Since that, first two discs “en- In 1997 changes continued. bucket) was produced by the singer lightened” concept as a "copy" in One of the dreams of the two Madre del Vizio, Fulvio Tori, whom

13 Cain tempt, gets into the study. didn’t lift Dementia'99, rise from the his head ashes following the completion of till the end the soundtrack for a short film of of 2000. called "Cuarentena." Cain After this realization, Cain de- made a cides to record tracks for the tribute project to Valor Kand from whom they had- called n’t got news since 2001, despite "Daityas", recorded album, which has still which has been waited anxiously, with a mem- never ber of Daityas, Venus (Guitar), a been very new promise of Death Rock music success- in Mallorca. ful, de- That was expected; they decided spite to call their second album "Waiting victory in for Valor." the band had the pleasure to meet the contest that was made by the Now, after suffering the theft of at that Second Gothic Festival. city of Palma de Mallorca. all their music staff in their local, The album was recorded in a The problems continued and the the band dissolved again and now week in marathon sessions. The spirit of Cain was not high. Cain is looking for the new mem- band decided to refuse addition of The loss of the recording of bers to continue with a new musi- keyboards, to perform as much Daityas in 2001 also became disil- cal project called: "Dark death rock as it’s possible. Despite Phylosophy".

this, they did not have much time lusionment, as this album included Thanks to Cain, the author for post-production, and left to get some new good songs, interesting of the bio, who gave his per- more female voices from morphine, versions, such as "Sick of Love" or mission to publish it. and the necessary live recording of "A Forest" in death-rock version. the theme "Jesus Christ" and ver- Cain decided to refuse partici- sions of Shadow Project, for lack of pating in music projects, and to de- time recording, will also participate vote himself entirely to his new in the second bassist Sombra, with business, a bar in Majorca of their distorted Under. Gothic music, but the idea of exper- The recording released despite iment on their island still existed, these setbacks. since no one ever opened these The Second Gothic Festival was local features. the last chance to see this band, al- The Gothic Virus Culture, the ready mature in the matter sound, name was chosen as tribute to his & probably its best concert. Unfor- friend Virus. tunately it hasn’t been recorded. The first CD of Dementia 99 was The last concert of Dementia’99 issued late 99, edited in the 2004. was in May 1999, three days be- Only five hundred copies ap- fore Virus commit suicide three peared in 2004. Their distribution days before his 21st birthday... has been very limited and didn’t Cain has lost his “right hand” & plan to be re-edited, making it a rar- decided to dissolve the group, seen ity. no sense to continue without him. In 2006, a year after the disso- Very depressed and distressed lution of Daityas, Cain in a new at-

14 Interview with Cain (Dementia ‘99) three days be- Valor Kand’s band. Valor Kand wrote all the fore Rozz songs. Obviously, the influence of Rozz was Williams's sui- there, but the sound of these records is the cide. Valor Kand sound, who says "sick of love"" I think we ...... are not death rock, he has no fucking were the first idea what is Death Rock band which Misfits had a lot of problems with the made a tribute copyright of their songs, between Danzing to Rozz, very and Ciafa brothers, and nobody condemned affected about those records, it is not the same in the his death. Christian Death case. This song Rozz Williams never felt comfortable will stay the as Rock Gothic singer; he left Christian part of my Death in 84. His electronic experiments,.... memories for- and all that stuff of Spoken music, he came ever. back because , and the managers's We loved promises and audience, the managers Shadow Project promised to him a lot of money if the first and these two Christian Death back. That was the reason songs were fab- of Shadow Project and all the Rozz ulous and it's Williams's album with the name of Chris- very funny to tian Death in the 90's. Making money. play them. The real history of Christian Death has not been well explained. GJF: What Before Rozz's death, nobody cared can you tell about him. I remember his two concerts in about your Barcelona, we were only 30 people. project Daityas? After his death, Rozz became as a god, Cain: It and Valor almost his killer. was a trying to I tried to make a tribute to Valor be- do something cause I wanted to justice for him, for his like Dementia, quality as a performer. with other friends. The GJF: And why the whole album for band was very that theme? nice, but the Cain: Valor's work is intense and com- bad lucky plex. The tribute has to be something bigger http:// www.myspace.com/dementia99 than only one song. I wouldn't like if my words were under- GJF: Dementia’99 was formed in 1996. again...... threw down our projects stood as anti-Rozz. It's absurd. Rozz in You decided to play Californian death-rock. heaven was included for this. Because peo- Why did you choose this music style? GJF: As I know, the project’s records ple understand we can love and respect Cain: I love that music; don't you think disappeared in a strange way. But can we both. that is the best music of the world? No find something in network? Rozz is in my heart with all his music, more comments. :) Cain: No. Nothing. It’s a shame. especially his rocker side of Shadow Project and Daucus Karota. GJF: Tell us please in details, how was GJF: Dementia’99 made soundtrack for Dementia 99 never hated Valor Kand the recording of “Smile Before Die” going? the “Cuarentena” movie. What the film it because we lived these years, records and Cain: It was recorded in Mallorca in was? Describe it in your own words. news, year by year, and we know what hap- the '99, cause we wanted to record at the Cain: That was the idea of a friend pens with Christian Death history. same year our name included. who makes four short movies a year. It is We cannot look down on this artist, for We had to record the whole album only the Ed Wodds Recarnation. It's a his records. Music is music plus feelings, it’s in 5 days. It was stressing. In fact, on the last story based on the stories of the famous not politics, it's not football. day, in the last hour, we had to record two role-playing game, the masquerade. You cannot reject something to be more songs yet, and we recorded JESUS radical, more death rocker. CHRIST and the COVER OF GJF: Your last album is devoted to That is bullshit of young people that SHADOW PROJECT live. Valor. Why him? never lived the Christian Death history. We had to record in one shoot, that’s Cain: Valor Kand is one of the most the reason why there are no females voices, great genious of the goth music. I think he GJF: You have placed "Waiting For and those songs are incompletes. has been victimized on the net. Valor" in network. What are the reasons of I'd never play so nervous in my life. The original Christian Death broke up this decision? in 83 and Rozz stayed without the band. Cain: The first Dementia 99's record GJF: This album contains the cover of Valor who looked up to Rozz and he still was rejected for all the record companies. I Shadow Project "Death Plays His Role" & does, talked to Rozz about joining with was very depressing, five years trying to you play this song on stage as well. Why Pompeii 99. Their plans were to make a Eu- publish it. Finally I decided to do for our- have you decided to cover this song of Rozz ropean tour as "two bands", selves, 500 copies at the end of 2004. We Williams? Rozz Williams was supposed to sing sold only 20 copies in all these years, and on Cain: It was the first shadow project Christian Death songs and Valor Kand - the other cover we played. We played it on April' 98 Pompeii 99 ones. hand there were plenty of people down- in the First Mallorca Gothic Festival we or- The manager didn't let them do it and loading on the net. And I thought it would ganized. they had to choose one name and play as a be better upload my record for free. "one band" and that name was Christian To make it easier to access to the record. GJF: What is this song for you? because Valor Kand enjoyed it. Thanks to this decision we had more Cain: We played it on the Festival, At the time Rozz was the singer in the than 3.000 download in a several places on

15 the net, blogs..... and several countries, from ful. I want to do an entire album of cover around the world. I don't know if I record or play live songs for free downloading again, but I am very proud to be "The Span- I don't want to die before record the GJF: Dementia 99 plays authentic ish Christian Death" all over the world. three albums I have in my head… Death-Rock, with elements of gothic -rock I am really grateful. and post-punk. Today many groups try to GJF: Tell us in details about Gothic add some alien elements of electro music GJF: Do you consider your band as the Festivals in Mallorca? and to vary the sound in general , what successful one? Cain: It was a long time ago. often removes the genre from the initial Cain: I think so. Was a very ambitious project failed in idea … How do you treat that and have you his second time. ever wanted to experiment? GJF: And what is success for you? At least we have friends with Sepul- Cain: For me Death rock is well-bal- Cain: To feel you are an active part of crum Mentis, and we could hear in live anced mixture of punk energy with gothic the music you love. Looking for prestige, Madre del Vizio. Unforgettable. atmosphere. It's Gothic punk. The mixture not fame and the experimentations are cool, but I GJF: Tell us in details about «The prefer to play rock'n'roll, of course with no GJF: What about Spanish under- Gothic Virus Culture», a bar in Mallorca of limits. In fact, Waiting for valor, is less rock ground scene nowadays? Gothic music. Do you have this business and original than Smile Before Die , and Cain: The Gothic Scene in Spain is now? my idea is to record another Gothic punk rather average, there's the movement in Cain: No. I left in 2004. Was a Gothic record. Madrid and Barcelona only. Rock 'n' Roll Club, with all the styles. From primitive is wounded. punk to EBM and Electro industrial. It was GJF: You are not freshmen on the But I think Death Rock never dies and very funny. Many parties and very good scene, you play much more interesting some people of Spain keep this music for people. music than a number of popular nowadays the rest of the times. -death-rock groups, but, for example, in GJF: Can you tell us about yourself: Russia you are not so well-known for our GJF: Can you call some bands, which How passes your usual day? Cain: With the madness of having many songs in my head that I can not edit. Looking for life in the best way I can, and hoping that fate leads me to study again.

GJF: Do you have interests besides music? What writers do you read? Cain: I like many stiles of music. But, with gothic atmosferic preferenly. If the music goes to my heart is stay forever. I don’t read fiction writers. I like the philos- ophy, Religions and books of science, psy- chology, anthropology, quantum physics, etc... My favorites writers are Gurdjieff, Ous- pensky, Krisnamurty, Emile Cioran, Sufi pensament of Rumi, Ibn Arabi, Idries Shah,Fritjof Capra, and many others.

GJF: The Spanish football team kept the first place in the 2008. Are you fond of Spanish football? Are you go in for sport? Cain: I like football as a sport. But I'm not going to soccer stadiums. In Spain are full of skinheads. regret among the admirers of neo-death- are likable for you? Despite this, my favorite team is rock groups. What about «popularity» of Cain: Spanish Bands: Paralisis Perma- Atletico Madrid. It is a team that suffers a Dementia ' 99 (among the scene) at home nente, Paralitikos, Los Carniceros del lot, and therefore, for me, is the team most & world-wide? Norte, Horror Vacui, Quidam, El Desvan "gothic" of the Spanish league. Cain: Thanks to power of the net, we del Macho... I practice SeiTai. No is a Sport but I like are part of Death Rock Scene. it. GJF: Cain, you nave very powerful, GJF: You’ve been involved in different beautiful & sensitive vocal. Do you work & GJF: And the final words are yours…. projects for a long time. Now, when death- train your voice? Cain: I'm very excited for you interest rock/post-punk is on the peak of its popu- Cain: Singing Bauhaus song when I about the band and I hope your magazine larity and we can see some kind of rebirth take a shower. :) stay forever. & renaissance of the movement, many new I want to give my regards to the Russian bands have appeared. But there are some GJF: What have you & your musicians death rocker guys, and I wish all them negative moments in any fashion trend. been doing during the last year? wishes be completed. What do you feel? Do you prefer scene’s Cain: Dark Cavity y Venus have ...and take care with the Skin Nazis! classic to the modern trends? formed another band, my best feelings for Sex, Drugs and Death Rock! Cain: I think that fashions go away, them. but the true fans never fall. For me is atem- Last time we met, it was in Madrid on Questions: poral the music that I like it, I never wor- the last Valor Kand tour. We gave him our Afonina”Diegabrial” Irina, ried about my favorite music, ..it is living tribute. Vadim“Bars-Ursula”Barsov, eternally in my heart. Obviously, Classic. Pall ‘Nattsol’ Zarutskiy Anybody prefer the modern trends? I can’t GJF: What should we wait from you in “Grave Jibes Fanzine” understand that, cause the modern trends the next year? is a consequence of the past Cain: I wish to record the third album, About Fans: We have fans all over the it'll be called "Dark Philosophy". Vinyl world, it's really exciting and a very success- Album if it's possible. 16 Interview with Deadchovsky

http://www.deadchovsky.com/ Curtain was recorded. http://www.myspace.com/deadchovsky Lois: In 2003, Afterglauk and I wanted to play something more Nattsol: Let's start from the We've been really creative during batcave. For personal reasons I beginning. Represent yourselves, six months, we recorded some left the band Trespass. I remem- please, and tell some words demo tracks, but nothing official, ber having a lunch with After- about your coming into the and stopped because of the dis- glauk where we have a common music and your musical experi- tance (I was living at this mo- “flash” talking about vodka. We ences before Deadchovsky. ment in the south of France). heard the same “voice”. It was Afterglauk: Hello, my name And then, I met a good friend to our first met with Igor. This voice is Afterglauk. My first musical re- Afterglauk who told me that guide us to play the craziest bat- membrance is Michael Jackson's Deadchovsky was searching a cave music. Thriller as I was 4 or five. Before new keyboardist... So I met the In our lives? Igor is in all of us, Deadchovsky, I used to play in guys at their concert in Marseille, sometimes hidden in a bottle of many heavy metal bands, then I and few months ago, I joined the vodka, sometimes he took con- played in cold wave bands as band. trol of our mind. I'm sure you al- Trespass or Malaise Rouge. This Divarre: I started listening to ready met him getting high after was before the first revelation… rock/metal music when I was a drunk night. Lois: Hello, i'm Lois. I don't young, mostly because of my Hellebore: He appeared one remember when I started music. older brother. He was playing the night on my sleep, before to join I only remember that I was lost drums, I wanted to play the Deadchovsky, and told me that in a desert in the middle of piano, but I played the guitar, the decadence revolution was on nowhere, I found a guitar and then I gave up and chose the her way, that it will be a big cata- heard some chemical sounds (in- drums. Logical, isn't it ? clysm in the actual music, that I dustrial birds, feedbacks, flash had to join this chemical forma- waves), and I tried it. After a Nattsol: Tell me, how Igor ap- tion, to stop the invasion of the while I met the guy of Trespass peared in your lives. craaloïds... So I listened his ad- (a French cold wave band) with Afterglauk: As Lois John Slut vice, and joined the team! who I've played for 2 years with (guitar) and I were playing in Divarre: Igor asked me to Afterglauk and Divarre. Trespass and started to get bored play for him, and before he Hellebore: Before Dead- of it, we had a lunch in a forest. wanted me to achieve a kind of chovsky, I was already compos- There appeared the voice of the quest. It's been a long and hard ing my first songs of Crimson prophet Igor inside of us: "leave journey, but finally I did manage Muddle on my own. Then I met Trespass, build your own band, to play the drums with vodka Zorch (Zorch Factor, Sleeping play the most demented batcave bottles instead of sticks. My story Children, Camp Z), and we cre- ever, go home and record the with Deadchovsky could then ated with Tom (Sleeping Chil- song "Falling Curtain" as a trib- begin. dren, Violet Stigmata) a band ute to Eastern Europe, so be it". called “The Vertigo Smile”... Four hours after that, Falling Nattsol: Now about the 17 existing bands). Hellebore: No concessions, we put whatever we wanted in our music... We didn't want it to be planned. Mixing punk, goth, coldwave, psychedelic, ska, cabaret, ... and we could have been more far, and mix folk music, reggae, ethnic music... Divarre: The sound of empty bottles and broken drum kits. Nattsol: In your opinion, what did the band get when Le Bab and Albator were replaced by Hellebore and Braen X. Di- varre? Afterglauk: I think this was necessary because Le Bab and Albator were not really into the batcave thing, but more into new romantics and cold wave. Helle- bore had the technical level of Le Bab with more motivation and Divarre overpassed the Albator's drumming level. We needed that change to give Deadchovsky new dynamics. And Divarre should have been Deadchovsky's first drummer but he did not want at the time! Divarre: I can play the songs two times faster! Nattsol: Now Deadchovsky is one of the most interesting and important bands on the French (or even the world's) batcave scene. It'd be really lovely to know more details about the band's first steps. How did you join this scene? What was the re- action? Etc. band's foundation. How did you and all our craziness. Put it in the Afterglauk: As the first track catch the idea if doing what you oven for 4 hours. Falling Curtain was recorded, we began to do? What were your ref- And then Deadchovsky was sent it to every gothic VIP and so erences except vodka? born!! (time to drink one or two on around the world. Mick Mer- Afterglauk: We caught the bottle of vodka!!!) cer immediately liked it! Then we idea by listening to Neva, Cin- I think we tried to play a mix went to see Lionel from Manic ema Strange, Sex Gang, Virgin of all our influences guided by Depression Records and we gave Prunes, Christian Death, Proton the Igor voice. We just tried to be him that track telling him it was Burst, Sophia, Eros Necropsique, ourselves. We never wanted to be a new band from Eastern Eu- Iron Maiden, Sopor Aeternus the “number one” band. After- rope. He listened to it and told us and many others. We wanted to glauk and I had a dream at the he wanted to sign the band!! We build the ultimate batcave tribute beginning of Deadchovsky, it had a very naïve ambition but it band, with some other influences was to create a “batcave commu- worked out. to make it even crazier. nity” where all the bands / artists Lois: At the beginning after Lois: We took different ingre- could work together. I'm getting the first time we met Igor in the dients. 400g of Batcave, 300g of crazy when I see bands who only forest, we got back home and Punk, 100g of Industrial, 50g of want to be “number one” and started to record our first track ColdWave, 50g of Metal, 50g of who bring nothing to the batcave Falling Curtain (written / non listing music, 4l of vodka, 2 scene (I mean bands who play recorded / mixed in 4 hours). We pack of beers, some Igor spices, EXACTLY the same as already started to make “promo” of this 18 band but as a joke at the begin- to see these guys who knew what the first and the second album? ning. I remember when we gave they wanted. It all happened Afterglauk: We got more ma- the demo with Falling Curtain to pretty fast. ture and started to think that Lionel of Manic Depression gothic music was not the only records, we told him that we had Nattsol: Well, if a one asked way. found a band from Eastern Eu- you to represent your music (and Hellebore: It's question of rope called Deadchovsky. He lis- your lyrics) in a few words, what persons, and evolution... We tened to it and was really would you answer? wanted to put all our different in- surprised, and wanted to meet Afterglauk: The lyrics of the fluences in the second album. them. Another funny step was first album were about the deca- Maybe the second one is more the meeting with Sleeping Chil- dence around the world who mystical and we tried to create a dren. When we were playing in would lead to a revolution, be- unity with the graphism of the Trespass, there was a stupid com- cause the world needs a change. album too. petition between Trespass The second album was about Divarre: The second album is (French cold wave) and Sleeping people's false idea about God more the result of an alchemy be- Children (French deathrock). which leads to war and deca- tween the four of us, playing, When we recorded our first track dence. Our music is the mad re- jamming and trying new ideas (Falling Curtain) Sleeping chil- flect of all this. If someone asked for songs. We also changed a lot

dren was just looking for a new what kind of music we play, I’d in our musical tastes between the singer. So we created a new email answer manic-depressive psy- first and the second album. address (Igor Kalaransky hihi) chebizarre chemical dadaist and sent a mail to Sleeping Chil- drugdrunken death-rock/bat- Nattsol: There's the track on dren saying “Hi I’m Igor the cave. your second album, called "I singer of Deadchovsky... I love Divarre: Psychotic, rusty, wanna look like the new dark age your band and I would love to groovy, dead. model…". Could you tell a few play with you if I manage to get words about it? ;-) a Visa”. They answered us that Nattsol: As I noticed, there Afterglauk: Well it's about they were interested!!!! Really was really long way of the band's people who want to look like the funny. A few days letter we an- evolution. You changed your guy of the "NDA compilation" swer him that this was a joke and image from deathrocky to more by Strobelight records. We've Igor was just our Prophet. Six psychic, your second album is been meeting too much of them! months later Sleeping Children more obscure and uncompromis- Lois: Because we love him, asked me to become their new ing in comparison with the first and we like the new dark age guitarist. Really funny isn't it? one. So what the difference do model army. Divarre: From the time I was- you see between the first band's n't part of the band, it was great years and the last ones? Between Nattsol: Your albums have

19 beginning of the band, and this is nothing more than the direct con- sequence of all the choices we personally made through the past five years. Nattsol: So you played re- cently your last gig with Jacquy Bitch, Castrati and The Cemetary GirlZ. Tell me about this gig, please. Afterglauk: I think that peo- ple who came this night have seen 4 of the best actual French batcave/death-rock bands. Lois: It was a really nice mo- ment, Le Bab came on scene to play Der Verfall. And the others bands were amazing. I think it will be one of my best memory very interesting and original art- I don't know :/ Maybe we should of Deadchovsky. Even if the sad works. Could you tell me about have gone more in the forest (cf. reality of “the end” has come :'( them? the beginning of Deadchovsky) Hellebore: It was a really Afterglauk: The first album's to keep this “band” spirit. great moment! We had a lot of cover was made by a mad punk Hellebore: Many reasons... fun, and it was fun to play key- guy called Dave Doboin. And but I think the essential reason is board with Le Bab. Great to play the second one is a painting by that we are all more involved in with Castrati, Cemetary Girlz Stel who's Norma Loy singer's our lives to other personal, musi- and Jacquy Bitch! girlfriend. They were perfect with cal or professional projects. It's Divarre: An unforgettable each title. hard to manage a band, a career, night. Castrati were a great sur- Lois: I think the cover of and other projects in the same prise for me, I am definitely wait- Decadence Revolution represents all the icons that we have used to record it. If you look closely you can see that the cover is over a wall, something like old Punk's graffities of the 80's. And that's it, the first album is very punk, di- rect and spontaneous. The cover of Spritus Sancti Bizarre is more psychic with a strongest atmos- phere. With this strange psyche- bizarre-bird-prophet. Nattsol: What are the reasons of the band's brake-up? Afterglauk: I’d personally say that I want to explore new musi- cal horizons. I’m actually not into rock n’ roll anymore. And a second reason is that playing in a band has become difficult for me: way. Me for example, I'm actu- ing for their album ! The it’s a lot of work and as it’s not ally more involved in my profes- Cemetary Girlz and Jacquy Bitch my priority anymore, it’s better to sional life, and my other band were perfect as well. stop here in my sense. Crimson Muddle, and other Lois: A lot of things has plans' growing in my head... Nattsol: At the moment, the changed in our lives and I think In another part, we didn't all French scene seems to me very we all want to explore new kind have the same idea of what we unified. Is that so? Do you have of musical experiences. For me, wanted to do for the next Dead- friends on the French scene and the main reasons of the band's chovsky. apart from it (as I could notice, brake-up is that we have lost the Divarre: It was becoming you had the gig with Eva O, for “group” spirit. And that makes harder and harder to get the four example). Are there some bands me really really sad. Maybe I had of us available, and in mood for with the style related to yours? been too laxist for a few months making music at the same time. Afterglauk: One can say that and that demotivated the others, Our lives changed a lot since the the French scene has never been 20 that much unified now. This is chance to see them. I was a big ern Europe music. But not re- true that the fact that members of fan of The Phantom Limbs too. lated to batcave/gothic scene. different bands know each other, And Cinema Strange's third Who knows... work together, exchange musi- album is great. Hellebore: It's hard to say for cians… But there is a bad compe- the moment. I'm sure there will tition spirit. It’s just like those Nattsol: Now, when Dead- still have some collaborations be- stupid TV games: everyone chovsky disbanded, your fans tween each other. In fact there wants to be a star. And maybe wait for something new. So what are already some plans, but I there are too many don't want to tell bands now. Since more for the mo- our beginning ment... We'll let you we’ve tried with know. But I'm not Deadchovsky to sure that, if there unify the scene but are some collabora- it never really tions, we keep on worked out. We doing psycho-bat- may have good con- cave... We listen too tacts with bands many things to from abroad: I focus only on bat- think of Quidam in cave. Spain, Abattoir Divarre: I've Rouge in the started recording and I some songs with still have a good Camp Z, an album contact with Cin- should be released ema Strange. But in September 09 or bands like Eva O often ignore the are the musical plans of the band something like that. I'll probably bands they play with! members? Is that possible to see play some gigs with them next Hellebore: I'm not sure that your collaboration under another autumn, on drums and synths the French scene is so united, but name, or you'll separate anyway? maybe, we haven't decided yet. Manic Depression, and other as- Will you keep the psycho-batcave It's going to sound like some sociations tried to unite more the spirit, or you want to try your- heavy psychedelic cold post scene. But sure, we have some selves in other kinds of music? punk! Besides I am still playing friends in the scene, with my other and apart the scene band, Liturgy Of too. I would like to Decay, in a gothic recommend you and metal vein, and Droserae (a new we'll be making French post-punk some new gigs in band really good) April or May. We Divarre: Well, are still working on I'd say quite the op- our album as well, posite. I think we which is once again have an united delayed because of scene here. Of line-up troubles. At course, there's al- last, I am working ways a competition hard to release the spirit. But that's first songs of my human, and may own project, Alter- even be a good native.Zero, which thing. Still, it's is just me with pretty easy to know everyone, be- Afterglauk: At the moment synths, computers and drums. I cause the scene is pretty small I’m doing totally different things might join another project as well and there's not that many people like composing for dramas and for live drums, but nothing's been involved in it. When a new band short movies. I continue my decided yet. Anyway, we'll still shows up, the rest of scene is learning of sitar. And maybe be using our myspace page to ad- here to listen and give advices. some surprises. But definitely not vertise any new projects we're in Speaking of non-French bands, I into batcave… but who knows… (www.myspace.com/dead- don't know many other ones. Lois: I don't know yet, I chovsky). Strange Dolls Cult is pretty good, would like to create something there are my favourite, along more related to 70's rock / psy- Nattsol: So that above-men- with Boggart Lebrel who are che-rock maybe with some punk tioned gig was your last farewell from Mexico but I never had the influences or influences of East- to your fans. And what about 21 would have LOVED to play in Russia. Russia as well as the other countries in Eastern Eu- rope has been a great source of aesthetic inspiration. No Russia, no Deadchovsky! Divarre: Yes we would have loved to play there. I truly love life in Russia, and other Eastern Europe countries as well. It has- n't been corrupted by capitalism, commercials, consumerism… yet. I was very lucky to go to Pe- terhof / Saint Petersburg last summer. I'd love to go a little more in the East next time, maybe near Kazakhstan. Your country is so huge! Speaking about music, I love the works of those ones, who missed the you consider yourselves as deca- Theodor Bastard, and the only show? You made two unofficial dents? Revolutionaries? :) What few bands I know. Romowe bootlegs (Live au Klub and Les Caves), and the audio version of Les Caves seems to me the best Deadchovsky record ever. So is that possible to see an official band's release in the future? Or some other plans? Hellebore: We didn't think about it for the moment. It's too early to say, but why not... Divarre: I am feeling terribly sorry for all those who would have liked to see us. It would have been great to go everywhere people like us, but we really can't make it now. The bootlegs you're talking about were home-made, and it's great that we were able to make them sound that good. There won't be any official re- lease anywhere else than on the net. If anyone's interested in a higher quality version of both, we'll consider sharing them on are these words for you? Rikoito, The Guests, Dopel- torrents and sharing servers for Afterglauk: My answer is ganger… free. only my personal opinion: the Nattsol: And your final first album was more a critic of words…. Nattsol: What would you like decadence that would lead to a Afterglauk: Thanks to all of to say about yourselves person- revolution. Things need to you for your support, for appre- ally? change around the world. If I ciating what we’ve done and for Afterglauk: We all keep must choose, I’d prefer revolu- allowing us to exist… simply. changing in life. tionary. It makes the things Scpiedni- Lois: I miss Deadchovsky. change. Decadence rots things. troshkaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Divarre: It's been an unbeliev- Divarre: I agree! Hellebore: Thanks for your able experience to be part of this support, too bad we never played band. And I'll never forget all the Nattsol: For many your Russ- in Russia, but we'll sure that wonderful people we've met on ian fans Deadchovsky seems you'll take care of our prophet tour. Vodka will never taste the quite related to Russia (and not Igor! same. only because of vodka, hehe). So Divarre: Paprika! is there any truth in it? Nattsol: Hard to ignore the Afterglauk: Of course! Our Questions: next question. Your first album is Prophet Igor has learned about Pall ‘Nattsol’ Zarutskiy called Decadence revolution. Do his prophecies in Russia. We “Grave Jibes Fanzine”

22 Interview with ‘Flowers in Flames’

http://www.myspace.com/flowersinflames

Nattsol: First of all, introduce your- In Fames. We all shared a similar out- few of us had taken a break from the self and ‘Flowers in Flames', please. look on what we wanted the music to music scene but then decided to get David: We are Flowers In Flames - be. It's part of the reason why we knew back into it. I think the deciding point a captivating, swirling, spark of energy this band would work because of the was hearing new fresh music like La- that contains elements of Goth, Post- love we shared for certain bands. Plus dytron, etc. happening. We thought we Punk, and Psychedelia. We are Cynthia our personalities mesh, which is impor- could do the same here - bring an ex- Dimitroff: Vocals, Synth, Guitar, John tant when creating a band and a citing change of pace to the music Lee: Drums, Mary Plazo: Bass Guitar, recording project. We have played in scene which I think has not been hap- David Chavez: Guitar, Vocals. previous bands before here in Cleve- pening much here these last 5 years in land. Some successful and some not the states, which accounts for the lack Nattsol: How did you come into successful. We started out with the 10 of CD sales that is hurting the music the music? Did you play in a band be- tunes on our debut disc and basically industry right now. The European fore forming ‘Flowers in Flames’? rehearsed them to death for year. It is a scene seems to be quite exciting at this Cynthia: The band was formed in very creative way to write music. Some time. 2006. I'd performed at a writers can write a good tune in fifteen tribute show that Dave had attended minutes then record it the next day. We Nattsol: What were the guidelines and he contacted me afterwards about wanted to incorporate and try out new and the original idea of the band? How forming an original project saying he things for each song and we achieved has it been changing (if it has been so)? thought I'd make a good front person. that. Cynthia: The original idea was to He had also contacted John and Mary combine mine and Dave's songwriting about the project and they were enthu- Nattsol: How and when was the talents and come up with a unique siastic about it. Since we all knew each band formed? And how did the band sound. I think we've achieved that well other we were quite familiar with each members meet each other? - Dave's songs are more Goth-oriented, other's personalities and musical capa- David: All of us have been active in mine tend towards dark Psychedelia. bilities, so we had fewer problems re- the music scene here in Cleveland, It's an interesting mix and makes for a lating to one another as a band than Ohio. We knew each other from meet- broader appeal to fans. We've each been many music projects do. ing in various clubs and seeing each writing our own songs mostly up to David: We had all been in previous other play out from time to time. We now, Dave writing his and I writing bands before deciding to start Flowers were friends first than bandmates. A mine, but in future we'd like to try 23 colleagues; we've got- and psychedelic in nature. Not every ten much assistance song sounds the same on this CD, and advice from them, which with most bands happens often. for which we are quite We have a good range when it comes thankful. to the songwriting, which I am grateful David: Gothic, for. I'd hate to release a CD where you Post Punk, Psychedelia have 10 variations on the same song. - we have incorporated That would be quite boring! these elements in a modern representation Nattsol: Now about the band’s for this day and age. debut album. Represent it in your own We basically want an words, please. energy to be felt when Cynthia: Some of those songs I had someone listens to our written years ago, but they have re- music. We want to ex- ceived a fresh interpretation from the some collaboration as well. hilirate the listener and other members of the band. Others I David: Attitude, a sense of style, wake them up. composed specifically for this project. promoting the band, getting the music But all of the songs, mine and Dave's, out to people that would enjoy listen- Nattsol: What things other than the gel quite nicely and made for a cohesive ing and supporting us. We have gotten writing of the album became (or are and interesting debut release. great press so far regarding the CD. We considered to be) believe the music scene in Europe is re- important for the ally happening in regards to what we're band? doing. We have gotten good feedback David: Agree- in Europe so that is very exciting to us. ing on exactly what We'd love to tour there - hopefully we wanted to do. soon. We want to continue to have a Our stage perform- blend of swirling guitars and synths in ance. Visual effects the music plus expand on the vocals to use onstage and since we have two main singers in the how to make the band. We'd to do more harmonies and "live" show excit- more acoustic piano on the next proj- ing. We use unique ect. lighting in live We wanted to produce a new shows and will sound, exciting music that drew on our eventually expand influences and was different from the upon this. The live presentation of the David: We wanted to record music norm that is happening now on the music is very important to us. that was fresh, exciting, vibrant, dan- music scene. We are changing of course We try to have a consensus on gerous, dark and different. Unlike what but the concept of keeping the music everything-it helps to keep everyone we hear on the radio, internet or T.V. exciting is always there. Why listen to happy in the band. Who wants to play We believe it is very relevant to today's music if it's not going to excite you? in a band where everyone hates each music scene. I think we stand out as a other? Not fun Nattsol: Some people find the influ- even if you do rock! ence of ‘Christian Death’ on your music except those influences which Nattsol: What are ‘on the view’. What can you say are the songs of about it? ‘Flowers in Flames’ David: We have many influences. about? Christian Death is one of them Cynthia: Per- amongst many. That was an exciting sonal experiences time when bands such as Christian interpreted in an Death were happening. The thing I like artistic manner. about that period was you had a great David: It's diffi- blending of fashion with the music. cult to break it Fantastic! Plus an attitude to go along down song by with it. It was easy to spot a "poseur" song. Each song too. Thats what I enjoyed about it. has a certain relationship to the others band. You have many elements hap- Nattsol: How can you characterize but in a different way. We have two pening on this CD - a mix of great vo- the band’s music style, and do you have songwriters in the band so there are two cals, great guitar work, keyboards etc. colleagues in it? different perspectives but they compli- plus the cover art is pretty cool too. Cynthia: We've all been active in the ment each other since we share similar Nattsol: Now, after the album’s re- music scene for years and have many influences. We like the fact that we lease, what are the plans of the band? have songs that are postpunk, gothic David: To promote the album, play 24 out live, build a fan base, work on new vidually here. I will say that I am a par- many may also love it. It's taking a music for a second album. We'd love to ticular fan of Pre-Raphaelite art. Beard- chance but it's so much fun when you tour Europe. Many American bands sley and Gorey are just two of my do. dream of playing New York City or favourite artists. L.A. as do Europeans bands but I think David: We enjoy any art that breaks Nattsol: And some words in conclu- the dream of every American band is to away from the "norm" and is not sion. tour Europe. We'd love to play in Rus- cliche. It also has to be entertaining David: Thank you for this inter- sia also. That would be a dream come otherwise why else bother? Too often view. We appreciate the opportunity true for us. people rely on what every else is doing and hope your audience enjoys our artistically and that is all well and fine music. Saint Petersburg has a great Nattsol: What books/films/music but the question is, are you really chal- music scene developing - one day we and other Art aspects are the band lenging yourself? I think when you try would like to come and play there. members interested in? to do something different instead of Cynthia: Personally, I like many dif- following "the herd" you really break Questions: Pall ‘Nattsol’ Zarutskiy ferent types of music, films, and am an out and find your true artistic sensibil- “Grave Jibes Fanzine” avid reader. Far too many to list indi- ities. Everyone may not like it but Flowers in Flames – the debut album review.

Death’ish of ‘’ and ‘Ashes’ pe- riod. But it doesn’t mean that a listener will find ‘Velvet Underground’ copy in Cynthia’s songs and ‘Christian Death’ copy in Dave’s ones. As it was said, the songs are strongly connected with each other and all of them have really different things, influences and origins. ‘Flowers in Flames’ creates the new music, which comes from the past. The band has no any exact style. Maybe, some years later it will be called ‘post-deathrock’, but at the moment there’re no any other representatives of ‘Flowers in Flames’ genre. At least, those ones which are ‘on the view’. Regarding to the music itself, the single chapter which would be lovely to notice is the arrangement of the music. Everything’s done very professionally and carefully, all the backing vocals, repetitions and the lines of the instruments are ex- actly in their places. All the compositions have the unreflectable beauty of decadence and romanti- cism, combined with pre- and post-punky energy at once. Also ‘Flowers in Flames’ songs have the special thing which is quite hard to notice after Venus in furs first listening: there’re some pieces where the in- What can I be without you struments stop for some time and then ‘run for the (‘Shadows and Darkness’) rhythm’, it can be seen in the line of the drum ‘irons’ in ‘Introspection’, string instruments of ‘Ves- Can you imagine what could have happened if per’ and in some other songs too. This thing won- ‘Christian Death’ was formed in the late 60’s? If no, derfully fits the compositions and makes quite a the debut album of ‘Flowers in Flames’ will probably psychedelic effect as ‘the illusion of broken help you with it. The album consists of the songs, rhythms’. written by the band’s two leaders - Cynthia Dim- It’d be lovely to say in conclusion that this itroff (the songs ‘Introspection’, ‘Third Wave’, ‘Last original combination of influences plus the profes- Days’ and ‘Golden Town’) and David Chavez (‘Shad- sionalism and the view of the musicians, which ows and Darkness’, ‘Terrify Sin’, ‘All the Glitter’, caused the ‘Flowers in Flames’ phenomenon, will ‘Cursed with a Flame’, ‘Vesper’, ‘Stare at the Stars’). make this band interesting for fans of very differ- This collaboration of two authors and lead vocalists ent music styles, such as , psychedelic makes wonderful musical additions to each other’s rock, post-punk, deathrock and different ‘goth’ songs, but keeps the album fluid and monolith as music. well. Cynthia’s songs have the ‘Velvet Underground’ thing, and remind us their best works, for example, Pall ‘Nattsol’ Zarutskiy ‘Third Wave’ can be strongly associated with “Grave Jibes Fanzine” ‘Heroin’. Dave's songs, in turn, are more ‘Christian

25 Vincent Fallacara (A Sordid Poppy, JefH, TORSO)

http://www.myspace.com/sordidpoppy http://www.myspace.com/jefhfactotum http://www.myspace.com/torsofactotum http://www.torso-music.com/ The 90’s was really hard a band”, - recalls Vincent. So There’s no drummer on the time for the new wave / cold- the band, called ‘A Sordid recording of the CD. Just our wave music. May be, it can be Poppy’ was founded in 1989. friend Alexis Boxmann. I still called post-coldwave period for The name is the combined titles have it in my recording studio France. Many musical shops had of the two songs - "Poppy Days" and sometimes use it…” The been closing, labels dropping of Siouxsie and the Banshees band released its first record, and there was the lack of par- and "A Sordid Waste" of Babel called ‘Dehiscence’ in 1990. It ties as well. New musical move- 17. “I wanted a long and mys- was the self-released tape with ments such as grunge were terious name (like And Also The the limited edition of 500 taking their places with their Trees, The Jesus and Mary copies. The contemporary lis- own attraction. Chain, The Legendary Pink tener can find Dehiscence in But there still were post Dots)”, - the band’s founder ex- the anthology of ‘A Sordid punk fans and new/cold wave plains. The original ‘A Sordid Poppy’, called ‘The Holy Sides’ bands still appeared and func- Poppy’ line-up was Vincent Fal- which was released by the label tioned. Vincent Fallacara was lacara (lyrics, vocals), his Brouillard-Definitif in 2008. The one of those fans, and, as it brother Marco (bass) and two first song of the release, ‘The usually happens, he decided to Marco's school friends - Renaud Holy Side’ is traditionally one of form his own band. “Before Bec (keyboards) and Yannick the catchiest. Powerful guitar & being in a band, I'm a great Cador (guitar), who wrote the drum start adds with the ap- music fan. Everything began music for the band. A listener pearance of the main lines of when I was 12, my big brother can also notice the name Alexis the other instruments one by brought at home "Pornography" Boxmann as the band’s drum- one and, at last, Vincent’s vo- by the Cure and "Still" by Joy Di- mer. Vincent explains it so: cals. This track 100% shows the vision. Since that day I knew “Alexis Boxmann was the name whole bands potential and tal- that my life will never be the given to our faithfully drum- ent. Also this start reflects Vin- same and that one day I'll be in machine, an Alesis HR16. cent’s incredible ability to

26 phere and finish the release in the best way they can, reflect- ing the music in the soul of a listener. The next part of ‘The Holy Sides’ is ‘Red Cloud Ses- sions’. This release never went out because of the band’s split and was kept in archives. Vin- cent tells the release’s history: “It was recorded in 1992. A young record label signed us and so we went in a recording studio as long as we wanted (3 months of madness, out of the world). That was a magical time. But unfortunately the band broke up and the record never went out. Some time later I was contacted by the label "Brouillard Definitif". They wanted to re-issue "Dehis- cence", and I told them that I have un-released tapes. I re- mastered them in my own recording studio”. So it hap- pened so that we can see ‘The Holy Sides’ as they are. The song ‘Dive!’, which opens Red Cloud Sessions’ combines in it- self dynamism and atmosphere of the first half of ‘Dehiscence’. Very ‘new-waveish’ intro changes the song’s musical pat- tern with the addition of Vin- cent’s hypnotic vocals and softly flows into the main quite ‘touching pop’ theme of the suddenly change his vocal man- previous ones, but in another song with beautiful and atmos- ner from cold and neutral to way. ‘The square’ partly contin- pheric guitar sound and sensitively hysteric. The song ues this tradition, but, as it can ‘creaky’ vocals. The second after, called ‘The old face’, has be seen later, changes the di- song of the release, ‘Eros & very Cure/Joy Division sound rection of the release. This Agapé’, combines in itself and well done ‘doubled’ vocals. melancholic song tells musically acoustic guitar sound with Very coldwave song with and lyrically about levels of rocky keyboards and neutral touches of melancholy and soli- repetitions which happen in life ‘telling’ voice. This combina- tude. Then a listener can notice and about the exhaustion be- tion with some cynic notes the moodiest song of the re- cause of these repetitions. The makes this song probably the lease, called ‘Les restes’. Press- words ‘I'll try till the end of most decadent one of A Sordid ing but not swelling energy of time… / Just one more time’, Poppy. Two next songs of the the song has a bit ‘The Doors’ where tries happen not because release ’La Chambre’ and ’De- psychedelic keyboard back- of fails but because of running hors il y a...’ can be called the ground, which is wonderfully in the circle, can be considered contraries of each other. ‘La reflected in the psychic explo- as the key to this article and all Chambre’ is one of the coldest sion after fading of the song. Vincent’s artistic activity. The songs of the album. Steel intro, The next two songs ‘Walking next two songs which close ‘De- as it traditionally is for the re- across’ and ‘Silent Stairs’ con- hiscence’, the ‘deep’ ‘From lease, flows into the deep and tinue the manner ‘atmosphere asylum with love’ and nervous freezing song with its wonderful – dynamism’, and seem more and mysterious ‘The older face’ ability of going closer and move like the interpretations of the develop the drowning atmos- away from a listener. ’Dehors Il

27 closes ‘The Holy Sides’. It was and my brother and I really recorded on ‘Red Cloud Ses- wanted to keep ASP alive. We sions’, but didn’t fit the other didn't realize that sometimes stuff because of its grunge gui- it's better to kill what you love tar part. instead of trying to keep it alive The single chapter of the without the original taste. The band’s activity was their live old fans didn't buy it and no shows. Vincent always came new fans. But on the other hand out of control, being filled with I think that the songs of this EP emotions and often drunk. ‘Mad are not bad songs. Maybe one frontman’, as he describes him- day, I’ll re-record one or two of self. Truly speaking, this aspect these song”. However, the was the one of those which music of "Poussières" is still A made the band popular, but it Sordid Poppy music, but on its made some people hate the other side. So it can be recom- band as well. Yannick didn’t mended to a listener. enjoy that mad atmosphere; he After the release the band wanted it to be calmer. So once members decided that A Sordid Y A...’, as it was said, on the it happened that there was a Poppy is dead and broke up. In contrary is the most ‘living’ fight between Vincent and Yan- 2002 Vincent started his current song of the release. It combines nick, and Yannick had to leave project, called TORSO. A lis- in itself under- tener can be ground, psychic surprised to see and drive as- the space in pects with very Vincent’s artis- sincere per- tic activity be- formance. ‘In- tween 1994 and side the Line’ 2002. So let’s has very inter- give a word to esting musical Vincent again to pattern and also let him answer has some on the ques- echoes of many tion, what was other A Sordid he doing all Poppy songs and those years. echoes of dif- “I was ferent French drinking a lot. coldwave proj- Spared all my ects of the second half of the the band after this. But Vincent time in the pub. Smoked. It was 80’s, but keeps its unity as well. wanted to keep the band so the the saddest period of my life. The next song of ‘Red Cloud line-up was renewed and con- Tried to write a novel. But when Sessions’ is the one called ‘Un sisted of Marco Fallacara (bass), you're drunk all day long you Peu Trop De Gloire’. If a one Gilles Mislin (guitar), can't do anything good. wanted to promote this song as Christophe Marquet (drums) the single one he exactly could and Vincent on vocals. The re- call it ‘A Sordid Poppy as its newed line up recorded the best’. This song is also the last demo ‘Eros & Agapé’ and then traditional coldwave song of the EP "Poussières". Both re- ‘The Holy Sides’. The last song leases were recorded in 1994. of ‘Red Cloud Sessions’ Vincent says about the EP: ‘Farewell’ has a touch of east- ‘”Poussières" was recorded in ern music combined with noisy 1994. In 2 days. But the sound sound. It has A Sordid Poppy producer didn't care a fuck musical structure, but on the about us. He just wanted to other hand the sound and the take the money. The sound is In 1996 I met my wife, and atmosphere is exactly the sin- pure shit. Release of this CD also Gilles the guitarist of the gle chapter of the band’s musi- was the biggest mistake in my second A Sordid Poppy line-up cal activity. The bonus track artistic life. But we engaged proposed to me and my brother ‘She falls at the edge of time’ too much money in the project to create a new project that 28 mixed indie-rock and French "chanson" (French singers like Jacques Brel, Leo Ferré or Serge Gainsbourg). That was an interesting project (called JefH) far from Cold and New wave but I like experimentations. Marc Linde- mann, the good drummer and Sam Dedieu, the virtuoso - ist joined us. I sang lyrics about alcohol, solitude and depressive feelings. In 1999 we recorded "le matin, les autres, mes clopes et moi" (The morning, the others, my cigarettes and me) a 10 tracks cd. We met a little kind of success and play a lot of gigs in France. People re- the rules of bass playing. I'm on bass for several gigs during ally enjoyed our gigs but at that happy to do this way (autodi- six months. The line-up stayed time, I used to drink a lot and dact first and after lessons) so I till 2006 when Marco had to was often drunk on stage. can keep a feeling approach of leave the music due to spending The biggest problem was the instrument without being a lot of time with his family and that because we played a lot of prisoner only by the technical for his job. He was replaced by gigs we didn't find time to cre- approach. Alex O., who was found by Vin- ate new songs. So I was bored So, being able to express cent after a post on a musician with playing the same songs emotions through the creation forum. Few time after Marc left again and again during 4 years. of the music on the one hand, the band for the same reasons. I discovered the sampling and and being fed up with endless So Vincent and Alex decided to wanted more experimenta- repetitions of the same stuff on keep up as the duo and they tions, more . the other, I started developing currently continue running So when we felt that JefH was- the "TORSO" project as a per- TORSO. n't able to progress we decided sonal side project in 2002”. TORSO has three CDs: 5- to close the case at the end of Originally “TORSO” was track self-titled EP (2004), 2002. created as Vincent’s solo studio which is sold out, and two al- In 2000 I started learning project, but a year after the bums – ‘9: Solfatares’ (2005) to play guitar and at the same creation Vincent felt himself and ‘Eloge De La Compression’ time I discovered the incredible missing the stage, so he asked (2007). All the TORSO releases freedom and creative possibili- his brother Marco and Marc Lin- (as well as the JefH CD) were ties given by the samplers. I deman (the drummer of JefH) released by Factotum Records. played guitar as an autodictat for their participation and they It’s absolutely impossible but few years ago I decided to didn’t refuse. The only thing to refer TORSO to any musical increase my skill and took gui- was that Marco was fed up with style. The project doesn’t have tar lessons with a teacher and, playing bass and he chose gui- any relations with A Sordid since the last year I’m studying tar. So “TORSO” on stage was Poppy, but it’s more ‘wave’ Vincent (gui- music if compare it with JefH. tar), Marco A one who would like to find in (guitar) and the project some styles can find Marc (drums). there almost everything – from They played some dark/new wave to even on samples, hip-hop motives (which are sequences mostly reflected at the end of looped and every project’s release), but drum machine. the music always keeps its Some time French attraction and romanti- after Alyss (the cism. Vincent’s vocal manner singer of vel- has absolutely changed too. It vet condom) exactly keeps JefH ‘chanting’ joined TORSO references, but got more spo-

29 happy to see that I’m still in music with the same will, the same faith. A lot of my friends, my brother too, definitively left music because of their jobs, their wives or their children. I've got a wife, I’ve got a child and a job and I keep on rocking. I keep on giving concerts, recording, playing... just be- cause music is an (the most?) important part of me. I need to play music like I need to breathe. When I was working on the mastering, I didn't listen to these tracks for a long long time. I realized that they still good and actual. I just regret the way I used my voice on some tracks. (too much forced). I re-discovered the strength of some songs (like "Un Peu Trop De Gloire" or "La ken style, as if it was reading Compression" as well could Chambre" a song that we now poems. The music of TORSO loose its atmosphere without play in Torso's gigs). can’t offer to a listener any mu- strict but hysterical ‘Nord’, lyri- So music is my all life and sical ‘drive’, but it can give in- cal ‘Egon Schiele’ and melan- my life is music, I'm quite sure credible expression instead. cholic ‘Eloge de la that I'll keep onrocking all my Though all the TORSO re- compression’. life long. When I'll be old (may leases have similar musical At the moment the proj- be I'am allready old ? :) clearly structures and don’t have any ect is about to finish the new can see myself making movie's style differences, the EP and ‘9: album and is going to have a music or as an old alcoholic Solfatares’ seem much more re- tour in the middle of spring. A loser singer in small and dirty lated to each other than to listener can find the song from clubs. Who knows? Not me!” ‘Eloge De La Compression’. the future album on TORSO’s These two releases have more MySpace, called ‘Mona’. This Pall 'Nattsol' Zarutskiy sampled backgrounds and more track, dedicated to the birth of "Grave Jibes Fanzine" ‘fluid’ atmosphere while the Vincent’s daughter, seems one stuff of ‘Eloge De La Compres- of the best project’s songs, so sion’ has more fire element. the album can be expected as The sound there is more ob- strong interesting work. scure, strict and even a bit Though A Sordid Poppy fierce. The second part of the time is over, it’s still important release ‘La Compression’ even for Vincent. So it would be has some post-industrial ele- lovely to finish this article with ments. However, all the re- his words: leases have their pearls. The EP “As I wrote it in the CD stays in memory mostly be- book note, ASP was and still is cause of ‘Combien D'années Au one of the most important parts Compteur’, which seems the of my life. It was the beginning most sincere song of the re- of it all. Like the first love story lease and has unforgettable you'll never forget. My actual touching guitar line. "9: Sol- work is strongly influenced by fatares" couldn’t seem the uni- this period. It was a kind of fied release without its unreal magical and weird period. and dreaming ‘Encore de L'air’ At this time, we where and the catchiest accented very young and full of energy, ‘Bukka White’. And "Eloge De La anger and arrogance. But I’m

30 Interview with Lucas Lanthier any medium I choose to work with usually amounts to Storytelling. Per‑ haps that's the passion behind the other passions. Nattsol: What can you say about the foundation of 'Cinema Strange'? How did the musicians meet each other, and what things did you share for that time? Lanthier: I started Cinema Strange with Colin O'Donnell, Alex Re‑ strepo and Danny Ribiat in 1994. We were all just young fellows then, still in school. Those early days were very much school days and all sorts of ad‑ ventures were mixed up in the music. Later, Alex and Colin left and Danny and I took a break for a year or so be‑ fore continuing on as a two‑man op‑ eration. We had his brother Michael and James Powell help us on stage a lot, dressed up as mummies and work‑ ing the fog machine and so forth, and then Michael joined us as a guitarist in 1998 and proved that he could do more than just work a fog machine. James Powell, incidentally, besides doing his own music project nowa‑ days, plays bass for me in the Deadfly Ensemble proving that he can do more than just dress up like a mummy. Nattsol: Well, so you said that you had an artistic element from the be‑ ginning. And what about your musical influences? As I know you never de‑ nied some influences of batcave/deathrock music. So what can you say about these and other musical references? Were there musical fore‑ runners of Cinema Strange? Lanthier: There are definitely some great batcave/deathrock tunes out there, and also some great cham‑ ber music tunes and also some great salsa tunes and also some great Kabuki theater tunes and also some great delta blues tunes and, and, and... This list is always too lugubrious to handle eloquently. For me, at least. In regard to my own music projects, I only had a couple before Cinema http://www.cinemastrange.nightmarezone.de Strange. I was a drummer in a punk band called the Inflatable Dolls when http://www.thedeadflyensemble.com I was 14 or so. And before that I had Mr. Them and the Granite Slab with http://www.myspace.com/cinemastrange my brother... But I've been in Cinema Strange for almost half my life. And the http://www.myspace.com/thedeadflyensemble Deadfly Ensemble for the last several years. Those are definitely the most Nattsol: Tell me, please, how and wonderful singer. I was about 11 and significant musical projects I've ever when did you come into music? Did he was about 10 years old when we been involved in. (Mr. Them may be you have any other artistic experi‑ started Mr. Them. We recorded several the exception, but until I can find that ences before you started the band? songs and I remember that I did so lost recording session, it's more of a Lanthier: Well, it's not very excit‑ much screaming during the recording legend.) ing admitting that music has always sessions that I lost my voice for a week. been an influential part of my life, Our big hit was a song called "Datha‑ Nattsol: Well, and what about since I was a baby, even, so I will tell Datha‑Datha". So music has always other peopleʼs music? Was there some about my first real band. It was called been important, but my first creative music which 'showed you a way' or Mr. Them and the Granite Slab and the passion was writing. I still consider my‑ so? only members were me and my self a writer before a musician, but it's Lanthier: Iʼve had a recurring brother, Nathaniel, who is a comic a close race. And I guess film making nightmare since I was very, very book artist now although he is still a is also running alongside them. But young. In fact, this nightmare com‑

31 prises some of my earliest memories. about traditional theater, but I know sionist stuff and even some of the an‑ In it, a terrible Angel appears in the sky, that my own brand of theater is very archic silent comedies from America, swirling with the brightest plasma and much a part of my musical stage show. oh and we can't forget your Eisenstein, the deepest black of the universe, and More so in the Deadfly Ensemble, as a can we? When I started the project, I opens its mouth, flooding my ears and whole, entire presentation, but in Cin‑ wanted to write and perform music for mind with a storm of music so terrify‑ ema Strange I do more acting within silent films. We didn't really get around ing that I am paralyzed and insensate the songs because I'm not usually to doing that, but the name reflected with fear and awe. That music, when‑ playing guitar at the same time and some of those desires and also some ever I hear it, reminds me that my own am free to play a character more thor‑ of the dramatic themes that we then work should reflect the moon and oughly. The Deadfly Ensemble proba‑ pursued. bloody battles and at least a few of the bly more resembles a traditional animals of our earth before I join the theatrical situation because we often Nattsol: Now let's talk about jumble of numbers that twist around have scripts and even other actors as breaking points in the band's life. and above us, forming everything. I a part of the productions. Every band's release is different. There am only a Lucas Lanthier, servant to was more deathrock music before the terrible angels. Nattsol: What sort of strangeness first album, and your albums reflect was/is meant in the band's name? Was your way to more art rock style. So can Nattsol: While watching videos of it hard to find your audience? And you say that is was/is a straight way, or your projects it's easy to notice your what were first public's reactions on it's more a spontaneous reflection? Do artistic play which can seem quite your shows? you reject previous stuff in style and weird. Like a combination of actor's Lanthier: Well, I have to think musical aspects when you work on and singer's essences. Can you tell me back 15 years and try to remember new songs, or you try to do the music about your artistic development of why we named the band that. I think oriented on it? this kind on stage and apart from it? it had a lot to do with my love of silent Lanthier: Actually, the material on Lanthier: I don't know very much cinema, especially the German expres‑ the various albums is more connected than it may seem. There are songs from all three Cinema Strange records, and from both Deadfly Ensemble records, that were actually written at the same time. Some of the songs on the latest recordings were actually from the earliest days of Cinema Strange. The first Cinema Strange album was very much a collection of the songs we were playing in the late nineties or the first six years of the bandʼs existence, the songs that were getting us noticed around and, via the internet, around the world. The third album was very much a collection of the songs that we had been playing in the LAST six years or so, with a couple exceptions. Really, the only album that was not exactly a collection, but a planned album from start to finish, was “The Astonished Eyes of Evening”. But even that had some material on it that had been around for a while. The two Deadfly al‑ bums were planned pretty thor‑ oughly, but again, some of those songs had been alive since the nineties, just never recorded. Nattsol: Cinema Strange has plenty of rarities and unreleased stuff. As I noticed, much more than the re‑ leased one. Is there a chance to see it (re) released some day? Do you also have a plan to release a live CD, or the second DVD? Lanthier: We actually donʼt have that many unreleased songs. We do have some material that has never been recorded, but I donʼt think we could make a full album with it. There are, however, about eight trillion live recordings, most of which should probably not see the light of day. Nattsol: Tell me more details, please, how did Danny join the band? And why did you decide to use live drums? Lanthier: Danny Walker first started playing drums with us in 2001,

32 although not regularly. Heʼs a wonder‑ ful percussionist and works with many projects besides Cinema Strange. He and Michael went to school together (along with James Powell, my bassist for the Deadfly Ensemble). Weʼre lucky to have him when we can get him, but he definitely has a busy schedule! Nattsol: Now a few questions about your first DVD Pressed Flow‑ ers/Squashed Blossoms'. First of all, could you describe two your films there Commandos... Dancing!' and Be‑ ware of Zombie Forest' with your own words. Lanthier: I made those super‑8 films with the intention of showing them in the background during live concerts. And thatʼs exactly what hap‑ pened. During the shows I would have the film play forwards, then back‑ wards and then loop until the end of the concert. I put them on the DVD because I thought they were some‑ what entertaining as stand‑alone short films. I love super‑8 film. Nattsol: The next question about the DVD stuff. There's the documen‑ tary there, called Miming‑Off in a Lake of Burning Flame'. How far is that film from your real life? Can you say that the things what're going on there quite usual for your life? And what is the difference between real' life and this film? Lanthier: Unfortunately, this film seems rather close to real life. At least at that time, anyway. I donʼt live in Cal‑ ifornia anymore, but thatʼs pretty much how I remember it. I made that film with Alex Restrepo (the director, and the first drummer for Cinema Strange back in 1994). He and I have made many films together and for that documentary, I think we under‑ stood each otherʼs filmmaking in‑ stincts and creative goals enough to quickly and easily piece together a slice of Cinema Strange life. Alex and I still work together from time to time, although the latest collaboration was promo video. Can I ask why itʼs so? next album will appear, or what will be a musical one: he composed the And do you have a plan to improve it? on it, but we do chat about it from music that Christian and I arranged Lanthier: Making proper music time to time. into the Deadfly Ensemble song “The videos is something that we should Adventures of Jonas Mauken”, that have done long ago, but for some rea‑ Nattsol: Letʼs turn to your other was on the latest album. son we could never agree on a pro‑ project, ʻThe Deadfly Ensembleʼ. Could duction for any of the songs. Besides, you tell me the story of its creation, Nattsol: Well, you mentioned Cinema Strange works very slowly. I and represent the band in your own some other films. Could you say a few can fairly confidently assure you that words? words about them? there will eventually be a video, or Lanthier: The Deadfly Ensemble Lanthier: Iʼve made a bunch of two, even, before the end of this cen‑ was me continuing to work when Cin‑ super‑8 films and many, rather ridicu‑ tury. ema Strange was sleeping. I had many lous, video films, some of which I more ideas than what could be ex‑ made with Alex Restrepo. Iʼve also Nattsol: Cinema Strange keeps si‑ pressed with Cinema Strange. Some made a couple with my brother, lence for a new studio stuff for several things just didnʼt fit, or had to be done Nathaniel. Iʼve exhibited the super‑8 years. So when should we expect a a little bit differently. Even then, some films a couple times, outside of a con‑ new bandʼs stuff? What will it be? Will people tell me that they canʼt tell the cert setting. Once in and there be a ʻBatcavyʼ reference, or difference between the two projects. once in Montreal. Iʼd like to set up an‑ youʼre going to develop the changes I guess itʼs not that important. I love other exhibition in NYC at some point, what the band had before? both my children. When we started, when there isnʼt so much going on. Lanthier: As Iʼve said, C.S. has a the D.E. was just James Powell and I. very sluggish metabolism. Between Now, we are up to five performers and Nattsol: Another ʻvideo questionʼ. the second and third albums, four are thinking about taking a sixth per‑ As I know, none of your projects has a years went by. Iʼm not sure when the son on this upcoming USA west coast

33 tour. Anyhow, itʼs good, theatrical mu‑ gave me my first guitar lessons. The Nattsol: Shanghai Triad is not too sical fun. guitar is a lovely instrument, full of new band, but it doesnʼt have official mystery. releases. When weʼll be able to see the Nattsol: What is the lyrics differ‑ situation improved? ence between ʻCSʼ and ʻDEʼ? Nattsol: In your opinion, whatʼs Lanthier: Iʼm not sure about that. Lanthier: They are both story‑ the difference between the audience We only made a very few recordings telling, although the music for the of ʻCinema Strangeʼ and ʻThe Deadfly and they arenʼt perfect, by any means. Deadfly Ensemble is probably a little Ensembleʼ? Perhaps the girls will have to decide bit more like storytelling music, rather Lanthier: Thatʼs a good question. that. than rock songs with story lyrics. The Iʼm not entirely sure, although I some‑ range of subjects is quite vast for both times think that the Deadfly audience Nattsol: As I understood, you play projects. Everything from ghost stories is a little bit more eclectic. Itʼs maybe guitar and bass guitar for this project. to comedic escapades to tales of brig‑ more of a broad, alternative following, But itʼs much more traditional to see ands, lunatics and petty government where Cinema attracts more of a contrabass in this kind of music. Why officials. deathrocker crowd. But I donʼt know, I you didnʼt choose this instrument? see a lot of Mohawks at Deadfly Lanthier: Very simply put, I didnʼt Nattsol: Ok, you made a cover shows, too. Good question. have a contrabass. Anyway, Iʼm a rock song for ʻThe Deadfly Ensembleʼ on and roller, arenʼt I? I take those old ʻKriminaltangoʼ with Andi Sex Gang. Nattsol: As I could notice, ʻThe songs and give them the post‑punk Could you tell me the story of its cre‑ Deadfly Ensembleʼ has faster metabo‑ treatment. ation? lism than ʻCinema Strangeʼ. So what Lanthier: Oh, well, weʼd been talk‑ can we expect from this project in the Nattsol: What are the songs of ing about recording something to‑ nearest future? Shanghai Triad about? gether for a long, long time and finally Lanthier: Weʼre assembling mate‑ Lanthier: Well, my understanding found an opportunity to do so a cou‑ rial right now and thinking about a of Mandarin and Cantonese is rather ple years ago. Andi was the one who third album. There are a lot of won‑ limited, but from what little I can suggested “Kriminaltango”, and it was derful songs that weʼre working on gather, they are mostly love songs, so fun to work on. And when we were and excited about, and after these many of them sad. Just like western in some time later, we met the west coast shows weʼll probably begin music from that era. I only sang on one grand‑daughter of the songʼs com‑ some recording. Iʼd love to have an‑ song, and it was a new yearʼs song poser, both of whom are Italian. She other record out by early next year. called “Gong Xi”. found us online and gave us presents because she thought we did such a Nattsol: Now letʼs mention other Nattsol: Well, and thereʼs one great job with her grandfatherʼs song. your projects. Letʼs start with the most more your project which you created That was wonderful. A very nice visit. unexpected, in my opinion, Shanghai with Frank Vollmann of ʻFrank the Bap‑ Triad. Could you tell me its history, first tistʼ, ʻThe Dirty Weather Projectʼ. Could Nattsol: In ʻThe Deadfly Ensembleʼ of all? you tell me how you met Frank, how you express yourself not only as the Lanthier: I played in Shanghai you decided to create the project? vocalist, but as the guitar player as Triad for about two years while living What is the music of the project? well. When did you start studying gui‑ in Montreal. Besides me, playing bass Lanthier: Frank and I met when tar playing, and what is playing the and guitar (and being the recording we both lived in California. Weʼve been guitar for you? engineer/producer) there was Shien friends for a while, and played shows Lanthier: I canʼt remember when Lee singing and playing erhu, and together with our separate bands all I started playing guitar, exactly, but it Bethany Orr singing and playing ac‑ the time. At some point I suggested a was after I had already been playing in cordion. We performed old Chinese show format where we are both on Cinema Strange. Before guitar, I usu‑ jazz and folk songs, all covers. Our stage and take turns playing our ally wrote things on the piano. And arrangements were sometimes quite songs. I thought it would be fun. Well, James Powell, my Deadfly bassist, different from the originals, though. we never had a chance to try it until some years later when he was living in Berlin and I was living in New York City. Frank plays Frank the Baptist tunes, and I play either Deadfly or Cinema Strange songs and we play some songs together. Dirty Weather is more of a concert format than an official musical project. Nattsol: What is ʻThe Dirty Weather Projectʻ on stage? Lanthier: We have only had one tour, so far, and a couple, separate concerts (one at last yearʼs WGT in Leipzig and one in New York City). For those shows, we did all sorts of things, but drinking rum, whiskey, and beer was a constant factor, as was regaling the crowd with a cappella sea shanties in between normal songs. Oh, and cutlass duels. We had great fun, cer‑ tainly. Nattsol: Well, ʻThe Dirty Weather Projectʼ seems to me very whiskey project (the logo, some songs atmos‑ phere etc). And as I could understand, youʼre into pipe smoking. I saw some

34 your photos where you smoke meer‑ ting work done and then complain drops. What if once it changes? Would schaum pipe on the manner of the about it. I love saying things like, “Oh, you like to visit Russia and have a gig XVIII century. Looks great. So what are god, not ANOTHER tedious party to go there? these wonderful bad habits for you? to!” Or, “I would LOVE to finish this Lanthier: Iʼve noticed this tradi‑ Lanthier: I donʼt think pipe smok‑ blasted novel, but Iʼve got an entire tion, and fully support it. We just need ing is a terrible habit. I smoke one of weekend full of light entertainments to incorporate a gift‑giving aspect to my pipes several times a week, per‑ and engagements with beautiful the whole thing and maybe we can haps. I think Iʼve been a pipe‑smoker women!” I also quite enjoy being dis‑ rival Christmas. for about seven or eight years, now. dainful at everything, scoffing at peo‑ Itʼs really a warm and ruddy wrap pleʼs fashion (especially if I admire it) Nattsol: Thanks so much for the around my soul, that wreath of fra‑ and instigating cat‑fights and royal in‑ interview, Lucas. And your final words grant smoke! MM! (And whiskey is im‑ trigue. And as a special hobby, I am to me, our readers, terrible angels, portant, too, I might add…) supremely satisfied with making new giant ants, undrowning fishes and acquaintances uncomfortable with other figments of our imaginations. Nattsol: What other kinds musical awkward and offensive conversation. Lanthier: Donʼt forget to call or experiments would you like to try? And when I have time, I perform sur‑ write your mothers from time to time. Lanthier: The things that I am real stand‑up comedy under the name Theyʼre interested in your welfare be‑ working on now keep me rather satis‑ Retch Dempsey. cause you did, after all, come from fied. Between Deadfly and C.S. and their bodies, as ridiculous as that Dirty Weather and the occasional solo Nattsol: Thereʼs a strange tradition sounds. Thanks for the chat! show, I am doing everything Iʼd like to forming in Russia. Once a year a per‑ be doing, musically. There are many, son appears and says that he/she is Questions: Pall ʻNattsolʼ Zarutskiy many more experiments to try within going to organize a gig of Cinema “Grave Jibes Fanzine” those projects, however. Lots of work Strange in Russia. But the idea usually to be done! But I donʼt need any new projects to frame that work. Not yet, anyway. Nattsol: And about your other artistic projects. What should we ex‑ pect from you in the future? May be, a film or a book? Or something else? ;‑) Lanthier: Well! I am often making short films and sometimes acting in them, and I am often writing. Some of my stories are available to buy in ebook format from the official band(s) website, and some of the stories can be read online or in different maga‑ zines. I guess the primary thing is that if there are ever any official releases, it will be talked about on the various websites. The official site, the my‑ space pages, the livejournal groups, the facebook page, and so on. Nattsol: Ok, you mentioned some places where you lived. According to your words, it seems that you donʼt like to stay in one place for a long time. Is that so? Why? Lanthier: The thing is that I very much like the west coast and I very much like the east coast. Iʼve spent about half my life on either coast. I love Los Angeles, , Port‑ land… all great west coast towns. And I love Montreal, New York City and the various villages and townships of New England on the East Coast… I canʼt spend all my time in just one town, or one country, for that matter, when there are so many interesting people and places to visit. Nattsol: You seem very eccentric for many people. Well, thatʼs interest‑ ing to know your attitude to social life. I mean politic, religion, family may be and something like that. And can you say that you live social live? Lanthier: I am a very anti‑social social person. I am constantly visiting with friends and associates in order to demonstrate how one can avoid get‑

35 Interview with Andi Sex Gang

Nattsol: First of all, could you tell www.myspace.com/andisexgang me, how did you come into the music? And how did you catch the idea of the www.myspace.com/sexgangchildren creation of the band? www.myspace.com/dirtyroseanne ASG: Music was always important www.andisexgang.com for me..and I just kind of.. fell into it . After one life was over for me, it was www.sexgangchildren.com time to start another and music became www.songandlegend.com my new weapon of choice..so to speak. First..let's get one thing clear..my to please the major labels with their ar- style.. and this was also a great and truly strongest drive and inspiration for my chaic, bland idea of music. I also saw inspiring driving force for me..as for life in music was the love of music it- first hand how the music industry many others at the time. However, by self..how I conducted myself within that boasted about the control they wielded the time I was starting in music, things world..no matter how unconventional.. over bands and the music loving public had become bland and stale once more. was down to the person I am.. whatever alike..how they controlled the whole I wanted to create a band that would my intentions and actions..they were market place. So..I was not only moti- push music to it's limits.. with a sound motivated by my love and respect for vated to make music for the sake of my that knew no boundaries..and with a music. own self expression, I also developed an definite philosophy of non compro- I used to go and see many incredibly strong desire to teach this mise. bands..and learnt more about what not over confident, smug 'Industry' a lesson to do than anything else. I was disgusted in showing respect for the art of Music Nattsol: There’s a popular theory of at how so many bands had regressed itself. the ‘goth’ origins by of ‘The back to mundane, cliched rock 'n roll..as On the plus side, there were a few Cult’, who said ‘So he was the little if Punk had never happened! I also lights on the horizon that did inspire Gothic Goblin and his followers were quickly realised how the music industry me..early Adam and the Ants.. Goths. That's where goth came from.’. had a vice like grip over most of the Siouxsie and the Banshees.. Joy Divi- What can you say about it? bands..and I couldn't understand why sion..Bauhaus..Death In June..Theatre ASG: As has been clearly stated in they didn't fight it..they had become no Of Hate..all of them pushing the bound- my biography synopsis on myspace..it is more than performing monkeys..eager aries of music in their own inimitable something I so far have declined to

36 comment on as I believe in the original- album topping the UK Independent reasons of this suggestion were. ity of music..not in the convenience of Charts and be playing a headlining ASG: I'd just had a major line up it's categorisation. show at London's prestigious Lyceum change in the band.. the head of Illumi- Nattsol: What can you say in com- Theatre. Everyone said I was mad..it was nated Records suggestion to release mon about that so-called ‘goth’ move- impossible to achieve.. I believed where Blind as an ASG album was.. accord- ment? Was it called ‘goth’ for that time, there was a will, there was a way..and ingly.. based upon it's musical content or it was marked so later? Was it uni- when you have a cause, you can achieve and my standing in the eyes of the fied? What ideas and interests did you what others deem impossible..and with music community at the time. In retro- share? an unshakable belief in our music and spect, I think other reasons and influ- ASG: No..in the early days of that strict discipline, we achieved that first ences were at hand..as that CEO had a period, Goth was not really used as a goal, despite all the obstacles laid before strong working and personal relation- generic term. So far as I was concerned, us. ship with one of my original band mem- as in any period..there are two The first single..'Beasts' established bers..so..music politics perhaps..but that camps..those who use music for self a strong grass roots fan base in the UK guy would never have admitted it to my serving reasons..money, celebrity status to begin with.. Live show..I would say face.. and I will never know the whole etc..and the Artists. Most of the good the first biggest turning point was the truth on that one. Nattsol: The next few questions will be about the ‘Dirty Roseanne’ project. Tell me please, how this project was born. ASG: I met Piero Balleggi in Bologna (Italy) in the mid '80s. One evening I heard him playing something beautiful on the piano..we just took it from there really. Nattsol: There was released just one EP, and the demo stayed unreleased. Do you have a plan to release this demo? Are there some more unknown record- ings? ASG: Actually..the demo version of Ghost Of Tomorrow was released on my collections album..'Perception In The Heart Of Darkness'. Piero and I talked recently about getting the 'Ghost Of Tomorrow' vinyl EP released on cd..there are one or two other demo tracks which we would also include. Nattsol: Why the project was ‘frozen’? Is that possible to see a new birth of the ‘Dirty Roseanne’? ASG: We both had other projects to continue with..however, if you check the Dirty Roseanne myspace site..then people all liked similar things..the avant Futurama Festival in . It was a you'll see that we have already started garde..the left field..as for unity..the true major event and exposed us to a lot of recording new material (Death Mask Artists were united in a bid for people and the UK's music press. By the Mussolini and Boom Boom Boys) in change..shake things up. As for the oth- time the first album..'Song and Legend' Morphing Studios, Bologna.. two weeks ers..they didn't really have a cause out- came out, I suppose one could say that ago. As for the rest of the album..well I side of their own self ambition. As for the band had truly arrived. It got heavy am back in London now to re-mix some me ..well, I believed in revolutionising press coverage in the UK..a lot of it out- of the tracks from the new band the whole fucking system. raged and derogatory.. even personally album..then I have to return to Berlin to insulting..they just didn't get it...but I finish off the new solo album 'The Nattsol: What were the breaking was smiling! Devil's Cabaret' with Ragnar, who points of the band’s development in first worked with me on Inventing New De- years of its existence? Nattsol: There’s the article by Vince struction. ASG: When I had finalised a solid Corkadel in the re-release of ‘Blind!’ by line-up for the band and before we had Cherry Red Records, where he wrote Nattsol: There were done three started playing shows....I had a very def- that the director of the label suggested video clips in the period from 1988 to inite plan for the first 12 months..at the you to release it as ‘Andi Sex Gang’ 1991. You said in recent interview to end of which we would have our first album. But he didn’t explain what the Nick Drivas that you didn’t have too 37 1982 or early 83..but ASG: Which 'Mick' do you mean? I you know I think that presume Mick Ronson..not info is out there on the Rossi..right? Well, Ronson was one of internet somewhere. the most talented and heart felt musi- The line-up?.. Nigel cians I have ever worked with. That Preston on man had such a great feel for music, and drums..Terry Macleay would interpret that complex and multi on guitar..Dave Roberts dimensional language with such ease on bass and Ginni and simplicity. Awesome! Hewes on violin. Rossi had also worked with Ronson in his musical past, and was living in Nattsol: Now I’d Hollywood as was I. We had been intro- love to ask you about duced to each other back in London, so the spoken word album we decided to do an album together ‘God on a Rope’. The and dedicate it to the great man. chaotic labyrinth of vi- sions where Genet’s Nattsol: Now I want to ask you hero layers on militaris- about your relations with ‘Dressed to tic delicacy, history Kill’. Could you make clear, what was mixes with fiction and the history with ‘Medea’ and ‘The slang words combine Wrath of God’? with old fashioned. But ASG: I signed a license deal with these visions draw that company for several of my older al- beautiful, but frighten- bums, which had previously been unre- ing picture. I’d never ask leased in the UK, and some new ones. for explanation of Art, Wrath Of God was done as a side proj- but I’d love to ask about ect of mine..'Barbarossa', where I basi- the destinies of these cally played just about everything poems. I won’t ask what myself..but the company released it as a are they about, but I SGC album.. without my knowledge! much money for that period. So how want to ask, what they are. They turned out to be an unscrupulous had it happen that those videos were ASG: I can't really answer that ques- label..changing the original covers of my done in such professional way? And tion! It just came out of my Soul via my re-issued albums without my knowl- why these three videos stayed the only head..like everything else in me! The edge or permission..and owing lots of ‘official’ video clips during the whole explanation is not important..that it can monies on royalties..enough said. As for your musical career? draw you in to the world it has Medea. that was originally released in ASG: Imagination, focus and an eye created..is! the USA..1993.. through Cleopatra for a good shot. I also happened to work Records, I just licensed it here in the with young artistic film directors who Nattsol: My next question is about UK to Dressed To Kill. That particular were sympathetic to my music and your and Mick Rossi’s dedication ‘to the album was started in London, and fin- cause and believed in my vision, rather memory and spirit of Mick Ronson’, the ished off in Los Angeles. than 'pop video guns for hire', so they album ‘Gabriel and Golden Horn’. were absolutely brilliant at making a What can you tell me about your work Nattsol: Except your own projects small budget go a long way. Peter Web- with Mick and about the history of the which are mentioned in ASG and SGC ber who directed the '7 Ways To Kill A album’s creation? discographies, you collaborated with Man' video, went on to make 'Girl With a Pearl Earring' and 'Hannibal Rising'..these guys were deadly serious about film making! There were other videos made before..but the masters for those went missing a long time ago...and somewhere out there..is a rather good video of the first SGC single, Beasts. Nattsol: One more question about videos. There’re two rather famous Sex Gang Children videos of ‘Sebastiane’ and ‘Oh funny man’ by ‘Riverside’. But they’re not mentioned in any official sources. Can you tell me their history? How and when were they shot? What’s the line-up there? Etc…. ASG: It was a music and culture T.V. show called Riverside, filmed in late 38 In spite of wonderful sound, the camera jumps and mostly we can see only pieces of bodies. So what is its worth for you? Tell me its history. ASG: Personally I think it has a good raw and tense feel to it ..but you should re- ally ask Vince Corkadel any questions you might have about that dvd.. it's his baby. Nattsol: You founded recently ‘Song&Legend’ web label. You explained the reasons of its creation. But what were the reasons to upload the 128 quality mp3s? Does the label mean that there won’t be any more real pressed CDs of Andi Sex Gang projects? many people, and some of your collab- The Cold, My Own Gravity, plus some ASG: More indepence and an extra orations are not mentioned in your film and documentary pieces I was outlet for the many pieces I have..old discography. So could you call some asked to do music for, my favourite of and new. I will still release material on bands/songs where you took a part? those was Dario Argento's 'Phenom- cd..but the online label offers another And what were those collaborations for ena'. choice. you? I do what feels right at the time and ASG: In the early '80s I produced in my own way. Nattsol: Is ‘Song&Legend’ the label singles for UK bands Sunglasses After only for Andi Sex Gang projects, or Dark and Ausgang..and over the years Nattsol: One more question about there’s a plan to involve other musi- collaberated with various people.. Tony video then. The ‘Live at Ocean’ DVD cians? And can you tell me what other James, , Lucas Lanthier has very strange destiny. The stuff was release should be expected from the (Cinema Strange/Dead Fly Ensem- shot in 2002, the DVD was done in label? ble)..and guested on various bands cds, 2005 and was out only in Dec of 2007. ASG: For now it stays solely for all things Sex Gang, but in fu- ture..who knows. Vince Corkadel (label manager) and I have plans to release further ASG and SGC ma- terial, old and new. Nattsol: You mentioned in an interview that your next album ‘Viva Vigilante’ was underway. So when should we wait for it? And what will it be in compari- son with two previous works? ASG: Almost finished mixing that album. It will be out a little later this year. This album has a different flavour from the last two, as it has the whole band on most of it....mind you, I would say that the last two albums were also quite dif- ferent to each other..for sure.

39 Nattsol: And what will be the name ion about church and other institutions. of your new solo work? 'The Devil's But what can you say about God(s) Cabaret' or Viva Vigilante'? Or these apart from it? You used this word are two different albums? (God) in many lyrics, but I suppose ASG: 'The Devil's Cabaret' is the that were just different visions desig- title of the new album I am presently nated as God, and they were always dif- working on with Ragnar in Berlin. ‘Viva ferent. So is that something real or it Vigilante!’ is the title for the new Band was image? album. ASG: God is a colour..a well known shade that is heavily present in the tap- Nattsol: So correct me if I'm wrong, estry of most people's lives..and just as but your fans can see now or expect in with my paintings..I use words and the nearest future the new SGC EP, the music as colours and highlights, in new Dirty Roseanne album, two your order to create light and shade..and let's new solo albums, the biographical face it..whether we like it or not, God is DVD and the biographical book? a dominating colour in most people's Right? lives. ASG: Yes, the new SGC ep is avail- able on songandlegend.com Nattsol: Well, I can’t ignore the next There is a documentary dvd coming question, partly because of being Russ- soon..titled ‘Bastard Art’. ian. You mentioned Russia in several Piero and I are working on the new songs, like ‘And now the Russians are Dirty Roseanne album..plus I will go who used to frequent it back in the early happy, white with happiness, they shall back to Berlin soon to finish recordind 80's..when it had fast become an oasis have photos wherever they go’ (‘Heart- my new solo album 'The Devil's of good music and interesting people. less Harvey’), you said ‘Russian test a Cabaret' with Ragnar, who worked on We knew the 25th anniversary show stern defence’ (‘Black Widow Trail’). 'Inventing New Destruction' would be a glamourous Arthouse So what do you think about Russia? I am mixing the new band album event..it always had been. These quotes don’t seem too flattering here in London..titled..'Viva Vigi- However..SGC had never used the club for this country. lante!'..plus am working on new songs as a launch pad. The club kind of took ASG: ..Then you have misunder- also. off a bit later when The Batcave was stood those words Sir. Nattsol: You had a show on the Bat- picked up on by the media..and quite cave’s 25th birthday. Was there some- rightly so..but bands like SGC..Virgin Nattsol: Huge thanks for your an- thing that reminded the beginning, or it Prunes and had swers. And the final words are yours. was the contemporary show without stood on their own..and came from ASG: Be a warrior..not a slave! any nostalgia? Did you feel Sex Gang nowhere..relying only on the strength of Children a part of Batcave (not only the their music, sound and vision. Questions: Pall ‘Nattsol’ Zarutskiy club)? ‘Grave Jibes Fanzine’ ASG: No..it wasn't really nostalgia as Nattsol: How can you introduce or such..but we wanted to help highlite characterize your music in few words? and help remind people how important ASG: Bastard Art! ..but names that club had been for many musicians alone are not important..the true valid- ity of all Art is how effective it is as a mirror in reflective the world around it. Nattsol: What aspects of Art except music and poetry are you involved in? And who are you apart from Art? ASG: I still paint sometimes..espe- cially when I'm in Berlin. I used to paint when I was a child. It was my first cho- sen medium of expression. Outside of my Art .. I'm just a man filled with Eng- lish charm..Greek resolve..and a terrible Irish temper.

Nattsol: There're the words in your last solo album 'Forever happy in the face of deformity'. So what is beauty and what is deformity for you? ASG: Beauty is natural... Deformity is manipulated. Nattsol: You mentioned your opin- 40 Sex Gang Children – Salamun Child EP review

Seven years have passed since the last Sex energetic if compare it with the original version. Gang Children album, ‘Bastard Art!’. And though Partly it was achieved by making thicker the in- the line between Sex Gang Children and Andi Sex strument lines and the vocals as well. The mix has Gang is quite thin, the release of the new EP Sex plenty of small changes, and once again, there Gang Children ‘Salamun Child’ on songandle- should be mentioned the Sex Gang thing – the gend.com, especially, as the forerunner of the next preference of accents, which can change the song band’s album, is very important and singly ex- almost at all. The next song is the demo version of pected event for the whole world of individual ‘Religion Free Zone’, composed and played by music. Andi only. The guitar sound causes the question As usual, the EP is incomparable with any here – is that Andi Sex Gang or Barbarossa, the other SGC release. The headline song ‘Salamun author of ‘The Wrath of God’? However, this song Child’ has ASG dynamism and SGC temper. The seems to have the ‘Bastard Art!’ references as song’s background is wonderfully combined of well. So the song is a kind of mix of Andi’s exper- ‘crying’ violin by Anna Phoebe and mystical lines imental works and the Sex Gang Children stuff, of two acoustic guitars. This song also reflects the and the absence of any drums underlines this mix Sex Gang thing of working with the musical mo- effect quite well. The song which closes the EP is tion and alchemy between the elements, where not the first ‘official’ release of well known by ASG even musical lines or words but every letter is pro- fans ‘Die Traube’. This lyrical and expressive nounced and every note is played in its special acoustic song as well has experimental back- way in order to achieve the effect. The next song grounds, which are not so evident for this time. is the dub version of well known cover of ‘Krim- Also Andi continues in this song his experiments inaltango’, which was made by duo of Andi Senx with mixing of languages in lyrics, and this thing Gang and Lucas Lanthier (Cinema Strange, Dead- reflects the song’s expression in very charming fly Ensemble). The previous version of the song way. was released on Andi’s solo album ‘The Madman So this EP once again proves that there’s no in the Basket’, and truly speaking, this dub version use in any forecasts about the music of Andi’s fu- could fit this album much better. In comparison ture releases. It always will sound unexpected, with the previous version, this one is more mini- even if the stuff seems well known. ‘Salamun mal and tempered, and the Lanthier’s voice part is Child’ is the 100% pearl for every SGC fan, but it cut. So the song got more spoken word thing and also will be interesting for everyone who doesn’t obscure and very tense atmosphere. The original accept any borders in music. mix of ‘Joy’ continues the EP. This mix was done during the ‘Bastard Art!’ sessions, but remixed for Pall ‘Nattsol’ Zarutskiy the finished album. This mix is livelier and more ‘Grave Jibes Fanzine’ 41