Monthly Archives

August 2015

Electronic Summer: Sturm Café

by Jennifer Last October 17, 2015

written by Jennifer Last

EBM stalwarts, Sturm Café, have kept the flame burning for the classic body style, but their sound has evolved since So Seelisch, So Schön. Their new album, Europa!, incorporates pop stylings that update and refresh the template. We stopped the beatbox long enough to get them to give us a hint about their show.

What can the audience expect from your concert at Electronic Summer 2015?

Two happy guys, a lot of movie samplings, synth carpets and with a glance at the past.

What do you expect from the audience?

We expect a pretty mixed crowd. Probably a lot of known faces from way back, but also some new, curious music souls.

Is there any band in this years line-up that you look forward to seeing live?

Not really, since we’re not familiar with any of the bands who plays on the Saturday. Maybe it’ll be a positive surprise.

From where do you get your strongest influences?

We used to listen a lot to bands like DAF, Liaisons Dangereuses, Keine Ahnung and Nitzer Ebb in our teens when we formed Sturm Café in 2001. Today, we mostly find our inspiration in Austrian youth movies from the 80s, analogical music productions, echoes from snare drums, FM synthesis, John Steiner and European history.

What are your previous experiences in playing live?

We only have positive experiences in playing live in Gothenburg. This will be our seventh show in the city, but the first one since 2009 so it’ll be great to see some old acquaintances and friends.

Is there anything you’re particularly nervous of?

Since we’re the first band who hit the stage, there’s always a fright that people hasn’t gotten in the right mode just yet. On the other hand, it’s quite nice to get the show over with so that we can mingle the rest of the evening.

When should people optimally see you on stage?

They should see us when we play an intimate club in Germany, which often delivers a good ambience. German people are generally dedicated and serious, which we highly appreciate.

When is it most suitable to listen your music?

Maybe in couch with a cognac hive after a hard work week. Or in the car when you’re crossing the Oresund bridge heading towards new adventures. Or at a disco, for that matter.

If Sturm Café were on a dating site, what would the profile say?

Precocious, from Gästrikland, chilly edges but with a warm core, with a sense for the rational. Not for everyone.

If you would do a cover, right here, right now, which song would you choose and why?

Most likely a song by Heino. Partly because it’s good, and partly because the German audience would like it.

Follow Sturm Cafe on Facebook.

October 17, 2015

Electronic Summer: Karin Park

by Jennifer Last October 17, 2015

written by Jennifer Last

Karin Park has won over audiences from the back-woods of Dalarna to London’s hipster districts with raw, emotional songs and dancefloor-friendly electronics. She co-wrote Norway’s popular Eurovision entry in 2013 and lures the lenses when working as a model, but it’s for her confident, compelling stage shows with brother David that she’s best known. We tracked down Karin on tour for a virtual fika.

What do you expect from the audience at Electronic Summer 2015?

I know that the audience at Electronic Summer is really interested in music and loyal towards the bands that they appreciate. So, I look forward to meeting those fans I already have but also to performing for those who have never heard my music.

What can the audience expect from you?

We love to play live and we have fun, so I believe the audience also is going to have it. People are often surprised by our show. One must really come and see for oneself…

You play live a lot abroad. Do these shows differ from when you play on Swedish soil?

All countries differ slightly depending on the culture. But it is also true that it is slightly the same type of people who come to my concerts, so sometimes one becomes amazed at how alike people are, wherever one is coming from. Music brings together people who think alike, in some way.

Who are you looking forward to seeing on stage at this year’s ES?

When one plays at a festival, it is very difficult to pinpoint what one has the desire to see. But I intend to check out as much as is humanly possible. I hope that I have the time to see Me the Tiger. I have seen them before and it was great.

Where do your strongest influences come from?

It changes from record to record, because I listen to so many different ones. Everything from Whitney Houston to Miles Davis to Scott Walker. But The Cure, Depeche Mode and Fad Gadget have probably had a big impact on my sound these last years. And so has Kelis.

If you would make a cover here and now, which doesn’t need to be a synth track, which song by which band would you choose and why?

I listened to ”Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits the other day, and I thought that I should do a cover of this. It is such an awesome song with a very strange text, and I think that I could make a cool version of it.

Which band would you like to see make a cover of one your songs and which song would suit them best?

Wow! What a question. I have never thought about it. I have actually received many cover versions of my songs but never any which I liked especially much. If Tom Waits had done a cover of my song, “Bending Albert’s Law,” then I would have been in Heaven.

Is there anything that you are especially nervous about?

No, I don’t think so.

When is it best to see you on stage?

22:30 is the best. Then I am in my element.

When is it best to listen to your music?

Definitely in the car. I make car music, I think.

How does the future look?

Fortunately, I have no idea. One can of course die tomorrow. But I will build a good studio in the autumn, I have been thinking, so it will be good to nest there a while before we tour again. It will be in part of the USA, too, it seems. It will be exciting.

Do you have new material or tours coming?

I have not done anything but write songs and tour these last ten years, so in the summer shall I actually go to the USA as a keyboardist in the noise-rock band Årabrot for a month. It will be something totally different and it will be like my holiday. My first in nine years. But then I am coming to Electronic Summer and other festivals. Keep track of where I am playing on my Facebook page!

Karin Park’s official Facebook page.

October 17, 2015

Electronic Summer: Project Pitchfork

by Jennifer Last October 17, 2015

written by Jennifer Last

With sixteen studio albums to their credit, Project Pitchfork are seasoned veterans of the dark electro scene. The German band first hit the scene in 1990, marking their territory with innovative, hard electronics, and last year’s Blood album found them refining the stuff nightmares are made of. We asked Peter Spilles to come into the light ahead of their show.

What do you expect from the audience at Electronic Summer 2015?

I expect them to have a great time and to have a wonderful party with us.

What can the audience expect from you?

We will play a lot of Project Pitchfork songs. We’re going to start a journey through our musical universe of more than 20 years creating electro-industrial music.

Who are you looking forward to seeing on stage at this year’s ES?

They are all really worth seeing live.

Have you ever visited Sweden before?

We have played in Sweden more than once, and I have visited your beautiful country before.

If you would do a cover, like right here, right now, which song would you choose – and why?

I wouldn’t do any cover song right now; but, if you’d force me to, I’d choose “Born to Lie” by Mesh.

If you were to do a collaboration on your next album, which would be your dream artist to collaborate with?

I fulfilled my dream collaborations with my project, IMATEM. Just wait for the next IMATEM album!

From where do you get your strongest influences?

Everyday life, politics and all the other shit that’s going on.

Is there anything you’re particularly nervous of?

Gigs.

When should people optimally see you on stage?

Everytime.

When is it most suitable to listen your music?

Anytime.

If Project Pitchfork were on a dating site, what would the profile say?

Twenty-four years young; will show you universes you never dared to dream of.

Project Pitchfork’s official Web site: project-pitchfork.eu

October 17, 2015

Electronic Summer: Solar Fake

by Jennifer Last October 17, 2015

written by Jennifer Last

Berlin-based act, Solar Fake, have three albums behind them, crossing genres while maintaining an electronic style and

dark, romantic feel. The project of Sven Friedrich (Zeraphine, Dreadful Shadows), Solar Fake has supported VNV Nation

and Covenant at European shows. We asked Friedrich to let us in on his thoughts about coming to Electronic Summer for

the first time.

What do you expect from the audience at Electronic Summer 2015?

I really don’t know. We never played in Sweden, so I can’t expect anything. In the past, we have always been positively surprised when we played in country for the first time, so I really hope it will be great.

What can the audience expect from you?

We play a mix of all three albums. We’re just two guys on stage loving music. It’s always a very special party atmosphere when we play. We’ll try to transfer it to the audience as well as we can.

Are there any bands in this year’s line-up that you look forward to seeing live?

I will definitely try to see as many bands as I can. I’m always interested in discovering new acts, so I’m especially interested in the bands I don’t know. Of course, I’m looking forward to seeing Project Pitchfork and VNV Nation – both of them are always a great experience when playing live. If my flight arrives early enough, I hope to see Psyche, as well.

Have either of you ever visited Sweden before?

Not yet, unfortunately. My parents have friends near Norrtälje, and they used to visit them quite often, but I never had the time to go there. So, I’m really looking forward to go to Sweden for the first time in my life.

If you would do a cover, like right here, right now, which song would you choose – and why?

Oh, it’s still a secret – I just worked on a cover version ten minutes ago. It’s for our next album, but I can’t tell yet which one it will be. I’m sorry but it would ruin the surprise. But it’s a great song in its original version…

If you were to do a collaboration on your next album, which would be your dream artist to collaborate with?

I’m collaborating with a few artists who are doing remixes for us. I only contacted musicians whose music I really love, but of course I still don’t know if they all can participate. I will do remixes for them in return. I’m quite sure Project Pitchfork, Aesthetic Perfection, Desireless and Operation of the Sun, Rotersand, Lord of the Lost, Saprozoon and proxy_view will do remixes. I’ve asked some others, and I hope they find some time to do it as well.

Solar Fake’s official Web site: solarfake.de

October 17, 2015

Electronic Summer: Me the Tiger

by Jennifer Last October 17, 2015

written by Jennifer Last

Since their founding in 2012, Me the Tiger have made waves with their intelligent and energetic synthpop. The trio from Falun come to Electronic Summer with a new EP on release and new tracks ready for a September album launch. We asked the band about their plans.

What can the audience expect from your concert at Electronic Summer 2015?

Energy, melancholy and strong choruses.

What do you expect from the audience?

Curiosity, presence and love.

Which bands in this year’s line-up do you look forward to seeing live?

There are a lot of interesting names, but Karin Park is brilliant in all ways possible. And she comes from Dalarna as well, which is obviously a nice bonus.

From where do you get your strongest influences?

We listen to pretty much everything – from ultra-commercial pop to death metal. Regarding the songwriting, Tobias is responsible for our material and he is strongly inspired by Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails and The Prodigy. You can never get enough of the 90s.

What are your previous experiences in playing live?

We are feeling incredibly fine together as band in general, and even better on stage. Whether it is five or five thousand people in the audience, we’re always giving 100%. And we always play WITH an audience. Not FOR them.

Is there anything you’re particularly nervous of?

That it will go to hell with our environment.

When should people optimally see you on stage?

In the dark, with a preference to be moving around a bit. At least some stamping with one foot.

When is it most suitable to listen to your music?

We hope that our music can work regardless of what mood you’re in – both at a pre-party and when you’re laying on a couch the day after.

If Me The Tiger were on a dating site, what would the profile say?

A band in its best years, looking for someone who likes to talk politics and to be up all night dancing, but who also likes staying home doing nothing but relaxing on the couch. If you’re into English football, that’d be a plus. Or manufacturing lampshades from old drumheads.

If you would do a cover, right here, right now, which song would you choose and why?

Any song by Orup.

Me the Tiger’s official Web site: methetiger.com

October 17, 2015

Electronic Summer: Psyche

by coldwarnightlife October 17, 2015

written by coldwarnightlife

Thirty years since Psyche’s first album, Insomnia Theatre, the godfathers of dark electro are still going strong. We caught up with Darrin Huss ahead of Psyche’s Electronic Summer show, which promises to be very special.

You have been recording new material at Psyche HQ in Germany. What secrets will you be unveiling at Electronic Summer?

We’re hoping to present one or two new songs, and also we will be doing something very special on the Saturday, but it’s still a secret for now.

What is in the pipeline for Psyche?

I have recently collaborated with Luminance (Belgian artist) and we have a 7” single with two songs coming out, limited and exclusive to ArtofFact Records. Also, I plan a 12” EP of my collaboration with Red Industrie from Mexico, and hopefully our new album tentatively entitled “Light Before Day” will come out by end of October. A limited new master re-release of our first ever 12” single, “Thundershowers (In Ivory Towers),” will also see its 30th anniversary as a collector’s issue, again on ArtofFact Records, later this year.

The Psyche tribute album, Unforgotten Rhymes, attracted a lot of artists. Was it surprising how much respect there is for Psyche’s material?

It was actually a surprise especially some of the song choices such as “Equinoxe” and Murder In Your Love” done by female vocalists of Future Trail, and Arcana Oscura respectively. I also like the way Come In Peace performed “Angel Lies Sleeping”, and Luminance’s version of “Prisoner To Desire”, and am quite fond of The Force Dimension’s version of “The Brain Collapses”. I am most happy with surprising twists and variations of interpretation that came about on some of the songs. I wasn’t even really sure I wanted to have this project happen at all, but other than missing out on contributions from Die Form, and Pankow, I feel “September Moon” by PsyGod, “The Sundial and “Gods And Monsters” from Parralox, as well as “Mr. Eyeball Ooze” from Echo West became equal highlights.

Psyche controls its own releases these days. Do you think that streaming helps or hurts independent artists?

It helps if you have at least your own publishing, or a company that works to make strong placement of your music through distribution. We have to live with this new format now, regardless of opinion, and learn to make the best of it. I think one actual benefit of Streaming is the democracy of choice. Anyone can get involved, but not everyone is going to stand at the top of the list of most seen or heard. Unfortunately there’s no real quality control with such a vast scale of competition, but I find it still more useful than harmful. One has to truly hone their skills to get attention these days. Cats or nudity? Choose your weapon!

You’ve been vocal in your opposition to the heavy-handed treatment of whistleblowers like Manning and Snowden. Why do you think that other artists have been more muted?

The whole point of calling my band Psyche was that I knew I was going to be documenting all aspects of human experience for the rest of my life. Sure I could just write about love, and only emotional aspects, but the mind also has intellectual concerns. I have always been close to the punk ethic, and outside of the mainstream, so I feel a kindred spirit with those brave enough to rock the status quo, and question what is going on behind the scenes of our system. As I also once wrote “the bible tells me what’s right or wrong, the government tells me what’s right or wrong, my mind tells me what’s right or wrong, but you tell me my mind is wrong!” and “it’s like a chess game where no one moves, and I won’t be your pawn” from “Wrench (In Your Plans)”. I think it’s important to stand up for your convictions even if it’s “non-commercial”. Obviously I prefer to communicate directly with my audience, and learn from life rather than just try and meet popular approval.

Psyche’s official Web site: psyche-hq.de

October 17, 2015

Electronic Summer: Marsheaux

by Jennifer Last October 17, 2015

written by Jennifer Last

Greece’s most popular export might be Marsheaux, the duo who recently covered Depeche Mode’s A Broken Frame in its entirety. The project was ambitious, but the Athenian act has proven its retro-futurist credentials in support slots for OMD and Client and through successive albums of exciting original songs and popular covers. This is their first appearance at Electronic Summer, so we caught them for a chat before their flight.

What do you expect from the audience at Electronic Summer 2015?

We love to watch the people from the stage, dancing and having fun with our songs. It is a great reward for our work. We hope the audience at Electronic Summer 2015 will be like that. People in Sweden seem to love our music, and we think they will be a great audience. We are also very happy because many friends around Europe will come to see us.

What can the audience expect from you?

We’ll play many songs from our version of A Broken Frame and a “Best Of” from our albums. We believe that people will have a good time and we hope to please them all.

Are there any bands in this year’s line-up that you look forward to seeing live?

Yes, we want to see Karin Park again, Darrin Huss and, of course, VNV Nation. Their gig in Athens some years ago was fantastic.

Have either of you ever visited Sweden before?

No, this is the first time for both of us and we are very excited about it. That is why we plan to stay a few days more for vacation.

Do you know if you have a strong fan-base in Sweden?

Yes, we have many fans in Sweden. Our label (Undo Records) told us that, after Germany and England, Sweden is the country where we sell most of our CDs. We had many proposals in the past for gigs in Stockholm and Gothenburg, but always something was happening and we couldn’t do it. Hopefully, this time all will go well.

You are known for making interesting cover versions. Can we expect more in the future?

We think that we did all the covers gathered together in A Broken Frame. Now we are putting all of our effort and enthusiasm towards writing new songs for our forthcoming album. We already have a cover version of Tears For Fears’ “Suffer the Children,” which will be included in the The Electricity Club compilation CD, which will be out later this year. We love doing covers, but we think it will take us a while until the next one!

If you would do a cover, like right here, right now, which song would you choose – and why?

Something from The Smiths (“Reel Around the Fountain,” for example) or Sparks (“Popularity”). Or Strawberry Switchblade’s “Since Yesterday,” which we believe is very, very Marsheaux. Or Siouxsie’s “Dazzle.”

If you were to do a collaboration on your next album, which would be your dream artist to collaborate with?

Haha, there are too many. We would say Sparks, but Franz Ferdinand did it already, so we’ll say Andy Bell from Erasure or the Pet Shop Boys. Also, when we started working on A Broken Frame, we were saying that it would be fantastic if we put lyrics to “Nothing to Fear” and had Martin Gore or Dave Gahan sing on it!

A Broken Frame has just been released. Do you have any plans for a new album of your own material?

We’ve already started working on the first demos for our next album, which we believe will be released at the beginning of 2016. We don’t know the title yet. We have done five or six demos, so far, but, as happened with the previous albums, all the first demos were rejected and the good tracks came at the end when we were under pressure.

Your record label Undo Records is known for putting a lot of effort into the artwork and packaging of their physical releases. Do you think you will continue to release your music on CD/vinyl, or will you go entirely digital some day?

This is one of the reasons that we are still working with Undo Records. But you never know what the next day will bring. We have learned in the last years to take nothing for granted in Greece. Everything changes really fast here, even in 24 hours. Last Friday, we went to bed knowing that our government “made” a deal for our debt with the Eurogroup, and the next day we woke up with the banks closed! So, we don’t know if we are going in the future to release our records in nice design packaging or not.

From where do you get your strongest influences?

Our strongest influences come from 80s pop. The chart music back then was brilliant. Take any week from 80-85 and check the Top 40: 90 percent of the songs are classics. We learned to listen to music with this kind of music, and when we started doing our own songs we worked this way – not on purpose, but it came out naturally. We love doing strong melodies and sing-along electropop songs. If you have grown up with Depeche Mode, OMD, The Human League and Tears For Fears, this is the only way.

When is it most suitable to listen your music?

All the time. Our songs are really uplifting and suitable for “all weather conditions.” Many people have said that they like listening to Marsheaux when they are driving or when they’re doing their homework.

If Marsheaux were on a dating site, what would the profile say?

If you can’t handle me at the worst, you don’t deserve me at the best.

Marsheaux’s official Web site: marsheaux.com

October 17, 2015