In Conversation with Aether Flux – April 2004

 

A little background:

 

 

As you may have seen from looking elsewhere on this website, I am /

have been involved in doing remix projects for other bands / artists, most

noticeably Matt Elliott / Third Eye Foundation which are posted up on his

website and is enclosed on the links page of Setting Sun.

 

On that page, the contact e-mail for it is actually my musical partner,

Keith Hicc (My comrade in D.I.H) and it was from that, Aether Flux,

a young band from Scotland approached Keith in regard to us remixing

them like we had remixed Matt Elliott / Third Eye Foundation.

 

Although the band actually approached us ages ago (October 2003),

such is the way Hicc works sometimes, we are still actually working

on them at the moment (April 2004), but after listening to their mp3s

available for download on their website, here was a band that managed

to mix about twenty different influences. Keith for example heard bits of

Ride alongside Aphex Twin while it reminded in a weird way of

Sonic Youth almost jamming with Third Eye Foundation….

 

So it made natural sense, I guess to approach them to do an interview for

Setting Sun…. And both Matt and Leigh answered….

 

Thanks to both of the guys for this highly amusing in places interview and

I wish you both good luck for the future with your music.

 

For more details, they can be contacted on:

 

drones from afar [email protected]

 

Or their website which is www.aetherflux.com

 

 

 

Setting Sun: How are you and what’s happening at the moment?

 

Matt:

I'm fine. Myself and those other two vagabonds have been slaving

over a moist sequencer for the past year and a bit. Mainly we've been

attempting to piece together an E.P for release although we haven't quite

figured out how to put sounds in time with overdriven tumble dryers!

 

Leigh:

I’m good thanx, yeah as he says (points) we have been slowly trying

to release the beast that is 'don't do kids drugs' apart from that I have

been trying to forge myself a career as a drone architect.

 

Setting Sun: Now I know I have been in contact with yourselves for a

short while now, but clearly there will be people in the world who or

won't know who you are, so can you introduce yourself to us, tell how you

all met up and who fired the starting pistol etc, etc?

 

Matt:

My name is Matt. I hooked up with Lee whilst buzzing' poppers in the

bushes at our local park! We shared a similar interest in music and film

so decided we should make a go of it after our second bottle of cider.

Names may have been changed to protect the innocent.

 

Leigh:

I was already inside Matthew when he decided to fire that pistol, he

asked about making music and I agreed as I shot my loa... anyways

my name is lee aged 26 and I’m heterosexual.

 

Yeah we met down at a field in cumbernauld and thought we were

cool enough to start a foppish pop sonic youth meets suede. The terrible

twist in this tale is that my mum and dad were cousins so I wasn't pretty

enough for that foppish pop. Instead we got rid of the pretty boy and decided

to make ugly noise though guitars, drums and tape loops. The music itself

would sound inbred.

 

Setting Sun: Who have you been listening to recently and who

are your general influences for the sound of Aether Flux (which

after listening to your tracks I reckon must be pretty varied).

 

Matt:

I'm into film soundtracks and admire the work of artists such as

Ennio Morricone, Angelo Badalamenti and various classical composers

as well as acts like Sonic Youth, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada,

Radiohead, Autechre, Third Eye Foundation to name but a few...

 

Leigh:

As inspiration for Aether Flux, I would say john carpenters early

soundtrack work; like escape from New York and assault on precinct

13. Old tom (waits) for that wobbly bashed out of focus sound, to the

monstrous drones of sonic youth and the sexual tones and sensual

moans from my bloody valentine.

 

Current music I have been listening to: bonnie prince Billy,

themselves and the Donnie Darko soundtrack.

 

Setting Sun: Why Aether Flux as a name it is certainly an interesting

name for a band - I must admit I am not even sure what it means?

 

Matt:

I could tell you what it was named after but it is so terminally sad I won't

admit to it. Meanings we have found by chance are things like a technical

term for a discrepancy in an electrical circuit to the air that the gods breathe

(Aether).

 

Leigh:

Matthew you are a pussy!! The real reason why he won't tell is cos

the name Aether flux is related to an old geeky mundane past time he

and a couple of under sexed geeky pals use to partake in. I had to endure

this cult he was in for two years..... Two years (points two fingers)... though

I admit! I used to play role-play but this was worse far far worse. In fact best

not to talk about this any further.

 

Setting Sun: What are your gigs like? How do they compare to your studio

recordings? Is there one you prefer over the other?

 

Matt:

Gigs are shambolic at the best of times for us although we still enjoy

playing for whoever wants so hear! I’d say we stay true to the recordings

when playing live but I really don't know for sure as I’ve never been able

to stand in front of the P.A system whilst we assault our instruments.

 

Leigh:

Yeah we do enjoy playing gigs and as Matthew says they are shamboliuc,

well nah I would rather say chaotic. I enjoy recording as well though

nothing beats live performance. Plugging Ur guitar into an amp, fucking

about with a sampler and making controlled noise love to a confounded

crowd for at least twenty-five minutes of their life.

 

Setting Sun: Probably my favourite track so far off the tracks off your

mp3s is " Ketamined " -What is the story behind that track etc, etc?

 

Matt:

Better let Lee explain this one I can't remember anymore..

 

Leigh:

I don't think I told u matt (scratches chin) we don't really ask each other

about what the song titles mean, just fanzine writers I think;) the story

behind ketamined isn't pretty and not worth public consumption but the

name came from a moment; where self indulgence (too much) meet a

world of grim (a death)

 

Setting Sun: What has been your best / worst experiences of been in a

band? Been in a band myself I've had some fun to tell certainly so I could

guess you are the same?

 

Matt:

Worst has to be a gig in Edinburgh. Walking up and down Princess Street

all night in the dead of winter carrying the equivalent weight of a small fat

pony on each arm after missing the last bus home! The best? Erm..Winning

a Jock Rock award for best newcomer, beating off the likes of the Cosmic

Rough Riders. We cheated of course but that’s another story!

 

Leigh:

Hmmm the worst would have been the first time in Edinburgh...btw nothing

against the city just by chance out of the three times we have visited,

twice things never went write..(At all) ...all of our own accord.

 

...................(Apart from the shitey sound cough...splutter)

 

This gig was terrible, real shitty p.a and I was laced with a heavy cold.

We miss our bus and end up crashing at these strangers flat. The stranger

who turned out to be French had already been to a couple of gigs already.

So we thought we would be safe.

 

Her name was Claire and she kindly put us up for the night, kindly took

pictures of us while we were sleeping. I found out about this the next day

and I felt.........well a bit odd and violated.

 

The best though would be at the soundtrax nite at the thirteenth note,

bands play to visuals for a gig, we played to Disney’s dumbo, the pink

elephant scene and it was loud intense fun, which ended with an

overwhelming applause at the end.

 

Setting Sun: What plans do you have for the future - do you have any more

plans for gigs / recording etc? How do you see your newer tracks

developing?

 

Matt:

We are currently working on a shed load of new sounds but it's been a slow

process due to work commitments and geography. Keep your eyes peeled for

previews on the website which should be coming sooner than later.

 

Leigh:

Yeah just trimming away on new drones, we will release kids drugs

again then follow that up with another record 'dark like snow'

 

Setting Sun: What would do you when you are not a rock n roll star?

 

Matt:

I'd be working for the Man till he torches me and puts me out with

his iron slipper.

 

Leigh:

I would be sniffing glue in playgrounds as fas as the eye can see.

 

Setting Sun: Lastly, something light to finish off with (Nicked from

a pal's Zine almost) "Imagine you were ship wrecked on a desert Island

and could have (clearly have second sight here - lol) the choice of having

5 records or Cds with you with a stereo of course - what would be your

desert Island Discs?

 

Matt:

1.Boards of Canada - Music Has The Right to Children

2.Nirvana - Nevermind

3.The Thing Soundtrack - Ennio Morricone

4.Radiohead - Ok Computer

5.Dick Dale - King of the Surf Guitar

 

Leigh:

If I were shipwrecked on an island with Matthew I would wait till

he fell asleep then I would bash his body with a sock stuffed with my

c.d collection.

 

1.Tom waits 'franks wild years'

2.Tortoise 't.n.t'

3.Sonic youth 'washing machine'

4.Leonard Cohen 'songs of'

5.Deus 'in a bar, under the sea'

 

After stealing his record collection, for which I craft and

weave into a raft.

 

...............I leave that mysterious island hoping for a better

future.