| THE SPECTROMETERS are an enigmatic vintage band who seem more enticed by a theremin rather than the temptations of rock and roll. We may tell you more about this elusive band or wemay just not. Obscure is certainly their middle name. Read on below for their first ever interview... |
| AN INTERVIEW WITH THE SPECTROMETERS 1. Is the name derived from Phil Spector or from your love of old technology and its terms? I think the name came quite naturally and instinctively. Once the « retro futuristic » charm had faded we suddenly freaked out as we realised that we’d turned into real spectrometers, some kind of machine designed to actually measure spectres. 2. You are so mysterious. How many members of the band are there? Two but that’s without taking the unexpected into account. 3. Name an instrument which influences you the most. A dubl handi washboard which we personally electrified. (A miniature Washboard from the 1940s designed to wash handkerchiefs and lingerie) 4. Name a band/artist which influences you the most. Just one? It’s hard to bring it down to one because we haven’t just been influenced by music. In the end, I guess the idea is to not be able to single one out. There's a shortcut attempt on our page on Myspace. 5. Dead Soul Music is a totally terrific album. Tell me about the songs - they sound like perfect soundtrack compositions. Was the album more about relating musically what inspires you visually or are visuals/films not as important to you? Thank you, people who like our music often find it very visual. Soundtracks are one of our favourite things from a musical standpoint so I truly take it as a compliment. Instrumental music would probably be where we belong which comes down to the same thing as this kind of music often inspires images. Who knows maybe it's the brain that systematically presses that same button in order to feel safe. 6. Have you played live and what is important to you about live shows? Yes, the only place that ever dared welcoming us is called « la blanchisserie”, it’s an art exhibition space in Boulogne (France) that welcomes contemporary artists. For us, going live is an opportunity to break habits, to do things differently, it’s a different kind of pleasure (as long as the audience doesn’t try dancing to our music). 7. What excites you about 2008? What do you hope to achieve? To finally finish crafting our first LP (some of the tracks are nearly one year old already). 8. Decasian Records is EXTREMELY PLEASED to have you on board! The label is inspired by Factory Records and what that label achieved musically. Do you have a favourite music label that inspires you? I have a soft spot for the 50’s labels such as Specialty or Checker...Once again, the list is pretty long. 9. Where and how did you record Dead Soul Music? At the cosmicdept, an undergroung laboratory which is right next to the Montmartre cemetery, with a guitar, a washboard, bits of electrical wires, a beatbox, virtual synthesizers, computers and spectrometers... 10. Thanks Fred, any final words you wish to say? I just want to thank Erik from Weirdsville, Cyrille from « la Blanchisserie », Eric from « Radio Libertaire » (place aux fous musique) and of course Decasian Records. UPCOMING GIGS: THURSDAY JANUARY 17TH @ LA BLANCHISSERIE, BOULOGNE SATURDAY JANUARY 26TH @ THE MACBETH, LONDON SUNDAY JANUARY 27TH @ THE LEGION, LONDON |
