In Conversation with

 

‘The Cloud Archive’

 

 

January 2008

 

A little background:

 

 

The Silent Ball Record Labellyeapr device

Describe ‘The Cloud Archive’ beautifully

In my mind by simply saying

 

"Twenty minutes of music shouldn't be allowed to sound

this convincing. Cloud Archive is California's latest

offering, showcasing a smooth rhythmic foundation with

progressive and ambient elements balanced in perfect

harmony.

 

The band knows how to pack a punch, as it wastes

no time going straight for the jugular when it so desires;

however, Cloud Archive is not all brawn and no brains.

 

Several tracks on this short EP demonstrate an adept

knowledge of cinematic soundscapes, complementing their

rowdy compositions with splashes of panacean sounds."

 

As I always do with Setting Sun, I discovered this lot

By chance and was left purring for more by their ambient

Elements that just don’t drift in the background of

Their music.

 

Of course, with some of the ambient based acts Setting Sun

Has interviewed in the past and left wanting more,

It made perfect sense I approach them for a interview

And in due course, this interview soon followed suit.

 

Thanks for the interview, lads and who knows I may

Well see you in England someday.

 

Cheers

 

Andy N

 

For more information - please go to:

 

http://www.myspace.com/cloudarchive

 

 

Cheers

 

Andy N

 

Setting Sun:

 

How are things and what's happening at the moment?

 

The Cloud Archive:

 

Things are good. We have started writing for our first full

length and things are going really well. we just got a new

bass player which has evolved the dynamic in a really

positive way. we are delving into some really exciting

territory and hope to make the next record a lot more textural

and dynamic. throw some new things into the mix

 

Setting Sun:

 

Next, can you tell us a little bit about

'Cloudarchive' - what started you off or as I

like to say who fired the starting pistol?

 

The Cloud Archive:

 

The Cloud Archive stemmed from a band we had back

in the day called singforstereo. that band sort of dissolved

and some of the members (myself, Matt, and Brian) decided

to apply our ideas in a bit of a different context. we've been

described as being heavy and cinematic. we just want to

always be expanding the definition of the sound and the

art behind it.

 

Setting Sun:

 

Music wise, what are your influences and

what are you listening to at the moment?

 

The Cloud Archive:

 

Influences come from all over the place. music, film,

paintings, nature. It’s infinite really.. music wise cats

like Telefon Tel Aviv, Prefuse 73, and Richard Devine

are doing a lot of electronic type stuff that’s really

inspiring..ummm... Jaga Jazziest is dope, Battles, Helios,

Blonde Redhead, Dungeon, Failure, the Cinematic Orchestra,

SUNN o))), Slayer...hip-hop, jazz, you know.. everything

that people listen to..whatever

 

Setting Sun:

 

Do you play concerts? If so, how do they

compare to your recordings?

 

The Cloud Archive:

 

we play shows .. a lot of stuff around the bay area,

and we'll be touring in the first half of 2008. We have really

been trying to hone in on our live performance as much as

possible, making everything as sonically cohesive as we

can. .playing live is sometimes about breathing new life into

the songs on a record. we tend to be really quite loud ..

it would be rad to play on an aircraft carrier

 

Setting Sun:

 

I have being listening to all of your songs so far

and have being really enjoying all of them on your

myspace.com <http://myspace.com>, but I think so far my favourite song of

them is 'Deer'… Can you tell us a little bit more

about this song?

 

The Cloud Archive:

 

thanks. that is a song that me and our drummer matty

did at his house just kind of messing around one day. .

he and brain make a lot of electronic music outside of the

band so that song is just an acoustic guitar and some

simple beat type stuff.... a lot of people seem to dig that

track and I think some of the production on our next record

will be kind of in that vain of things... deer is a little side

thing we do.. its casual

 

Setting Sun:

 

What is the inspiration behind your name

'Cloudarchive'?

 

The Cloud Archive:

 

It came from a poem.. to me, it just defines a place to

catalogue all sorts of different artistic ideas. I think the

name is pretty telling of the type of band we are. it conjures

a certain space primarily cloud archive is a band, and the

music comes first, but we are working on a book of

some the visual art we do and would like to make that

synonymous with the sound as well.. we try to

keep it open

 

Setting Sun:

 

I love the saying on your myspace.com http://myspace.com

pages 'Cloud rchive is a home to our imaginations, memories,

ideas, and environments.' Can you tell us a little bit

how this relates to your music?

 

The Cloud Archive:

 

See answer above

Setting Sun:

 

A few more lighter questions to finish off

with, firstly.. I notice you are from Oakland,

California, in the United States. What's the music

scene like where you are nowadays> been to any good

concerts recently?

 

The Cloud Archive:

 

There’s some pretty rad bands out here in the bay, and

especially California.... a label called Daly City records is

always putting on shows with a lot of electronic artists

that are always pushing shit forward in a good direction...

ummm, the new rogue wave album is incredible..

they're from Oakland... stuff on thread records, Silian Rail,

dredg, Tristeza, from monument to masses.. all bands that

we have an affinity for.

 

Setting Sun:

 

What would you like to be doing when you are 60?

 

The Cloud Archive:

 

Painting next to a mountain while drinking whisky

and practicing telepathy

 

Setting Sun:

 

Lastly, what will you be doing when you are 60?

 

The Cloud Archive:

 

Practicing next to whisky while painting

telepathy and drinking a mountain.