Ectogram

Ectogram
Interview for Glitter January 1998

Tell us a little about yourselves!

Mayec (Drums) is a 39 year old faild artist who believes that mediocrity is the sublime greatness and that all measurements must be approximately accurate. He likes drugs, books, music, film, time, science, art and swearing. He dislikes wine bars, sport, success, praise, sociology and fashion.

Alan (guitar) was described in "The Independent" as the "Welsh underground godfather" but in reality is Britpop's undertaker. His venomous dislike of bad things (rugby, Paul Weller, "celtic" things, sport, hunting, lads, eggs, swingbeat, mountain climbers, the royal family, violence, etc...) is matched only by his heartfelt love of good things (forest, The Fall, films, Faust, mountains, beer, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, dogs, William Boroughs, Pere Ubu, snow, psychedelica, Can, Joan Mir�, etc...) His brain is so big it has pushed out most of his hair!

Ann (guitar & singing) is the same colour that trying to say left and right at the same time with a mouth on the other side of her ears. She likes many things, especially if they are turquoise or dogs but doesn't like Northern Uproar, illness or Ocean Colour Scene. Her pioneering use of syntax has opened doors as well as windows and she was once set on fire by Jean-Herv� Peron from Faust!

Collectively: our deep misunderstanding of the basic principles of rhythm and harmony prevent us from playing reggae, death metal, cajung or indeed swingbeat! Also, none of us eats British beef because we're not stupid.

What do you sing about?

People, places, things, I hope! I enjoy being obtuse and atmospheric, so the sounds of the words are as much a consideration as their meaning.

What are your influences?

British transport, travel, weather, dreams, time, shape, the Cabinet of Dr Caligari, rotation, bears, language, Jan Svankmajer, Colour (especily turquoise), symbolism, other people's music, memory, etc...

Is image important?

Apparently.

Do you speak Welsh?

Only Ann Speaks Welsh fluently, but fortunately Alan and Mayec can play drums and guitar in Welsh, so we all play our music entirely in Welsh and Ann sings in Welsh about half the time.

Is there such a thing as a Welsh scene?

There used to be, but it was destroyed by outside interests in it and Welsh groups' interests in the outside world. It was small with no way to grow, it was nepotistic and when that went there was nothing left. It is not missed! Welsh groups have improved a thousand fold since there's been no "scene" to imprison them!

Is There a difference between North and South Wales music wise?

Not at all - well known groups like Catatonia and Super Furry Animals have equal members from both North and South Wales. There are good and bad groups from both regions (and from mid Wales!) Can you detect a South Wales sound common to Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and Manic Street Preachers? A North Wales similarity between Ectogtam and Rheinallt H Rowlands? We suspect not! There may be a difference between Welsh groups in general and English groups - here we play much less attention to trends and the media; groups just develop in relative isolation, which is probably why you get groups like Gorky's, SFA and even the Manics, who sound like no-one else, but at the same time don't sound contrived and deliberately "weird". Hopefully, the same comes through in our music - certainly we don't sit down and try to make up music to appeal to a certain audience, something you get the impression that most English bands do!

Discuss the North/South Wales divide.

It is horizontal. There's much more of an divide between welsh speakers and non Welsh speakers. Only about 25% of us speaks Welsh but many Welsh speakers have influential potitions in the local media and the local government. We are an archaic nation trying hard to be modern and usually getting it widely wrong!

Who do you regard as cool?

Ann: Kim Gordon, Beck, sonic Boom and my dog Bryndy
Mayec: Beck, Boroughs, Bartok, Iggy Pop.
Alan: John Peel, Jarvis Cocker, Gruff Rhys.

What makes you happy as individuals and as a band?

Ann: Space, windy beaches, books, friends.
Mayec: Frustration.
Alan: Confusion.
Collectively: Sonic exploration.

What do you dream about?

Ann: Walking, floating, trying to stop bad things happening, blue, blue skies.
Mayec: Aeroplanes crashing, myself falling from high places to impact.
Alan: Permafrost and furniture.

Who did you look up to as children?

Mayec: Napoleon Solo from U.N.K.L.E, Steve Zodiac, Biggles.
Ann: Writers and heroes/ heroines, people who had animals and my dad.
Alan: Buzz Adrian, Mickey Dolenz, Agent X20, Champion the wonderhorse, Zoony, Dr. Baker, phones, Dr. Zachary Smith.

Name three records that chaned your life.

Ann: Bert Kampfert - Swinging Safari, Sonic Youth - Flower, Syd Barret - The Madcap Laughs.
Mayec: Faust - The Faust Tapes, Black Sabbath - Master of Reality, Bartok- String Quartets 5& 6
Alan: The Modern Lovers - The Modern Lovers, Datblygu - Hwgr-Grawth-Og EP, Van Der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts (and about 100 others)

Have you been involved in the making of a fanzine?

Ann and Alan once tried and failed! We got as far as interviewing lots of people like the Sugarcubes, Datblygu and The Membranes, but it never appeared (it's too much hard work for us!) Mayec's cartoons have appeared in fanzines and we have all had bits and pieces published in them.