Fuck Buttons interview
Wed 28 Jul 2010
Subliminal Binaural Frequencies
Their abrasive electronic music has cast shadows over the pop world, producing two critically acclaimed albums that delve into unexplored psychedelic territory. Ben Power from UK band Fuck Buttons spoke with EMJ’s David Klein about making music with his friend Andrew Hung and sounding out infectious subliminal frequencies.
Even a passing listen to anything Fuck Buttons has released will immediately alert you to the fact that it’s unlike a lot of music being made today. It sounds as though it could be from some sort of deconstructionist future, or a mythical submerged city. As it stands, it hails from the UK city of Bristol, though as Ben Power explains their otherworldly sound results from Fuck Buttons’ own vision. “We’ve reached the point in the life of Fuck Buttons now where we don’t necessarily need to look to what is going on around us, where we are or what music is happening. We’ve always been a band that never really had a sense of location, or at least one that places importance on what we’re writing.” Rather, he and band mate Andrew Hung work together to reach the sound they’re after. “We jam with whatever instrumentation we have in front of us at any given point and that is at the core of what we do, exploring what sounds we can get out of the equipment and obviously the filter is our tastes or what we actually like the sound of. Once we’ve got a sound that we’re interested in we build upon it that way. Our biggest inspiration is ourselves, and our sensibilities and the equipment we use.”
The relationship between the two seems to be serving them well. They both grew up in Worcester and used to skateboard together as teenagers, before independently deciding to move to Bristol to attend art school (Ben studied illustration and Andy fine arts and video making). “We just kind of got talking together when we were at college. Andy needed a soundtrack for a short film he’d made and we decided to have a go at it together. It worked out really well so we just decided to carry on making music together from that point onwards.”
“Listening to the same frequencies over and over again, it’s nearly like you’re infecting yourself with some kind of subliminal binaural frequencies.”
Their artistic know-how serves them well and they have a very hands-on approach to everything they do. “We like the fact that every aspect of what we do in Fuck Buttons is done in-house by us – whether it be the music or the visual aesthetic. I do all of the artwork for the band, any kind of record sleeves or t-shirt designs, that’s all me. Andy makes the videos.”
The visual side of Fuck Buttons wonderfully compliments their audio side; wide repetitive expanses, bright symmetrical colours, everything intersecting everything. The cover for their first album Street Horrrsing is a chaotic collage, which makes perfect sense upon listening. Harsh tribal beats collide, snarly screaming vocals pop in and out and everything is washed in acidic distortion. “Street Horrrsing is very direct, it’s more like a slap in the face.” It prominently features a heavily affected kid’s microphone, which Ben still uses live, though the gear they use is always in a state of flux. “We’re constantly on the lookout for new bits of kit, no matter how expensive or cheap it is, anything that makes a sound. Some of these signal processes go through so many different effects that they just sound so completely different at the other end. It’s almost a futile exercise trying to find something that has a great sound to begin with because it changes so much. Some things do need a lot of manipulation if we think they can be used somewhere down the line.”
Their sophomore album, Tarot Sport, was released late last year. It has the same propulsive beats and complex layers, but is a smoother overall listen. “I think it’s more of a voyage (than Street Horrrsing). I hate it when I hear people say things like that, but it is something that is important to us - the ebb and flow of the whole thing is as considered as the songs are themselves.” Vocals seem to be entirely absent as well, but not so according to Ben. “They don’t really feature so much on Tarot Sport, not because we dislike the sound, it’s just that the album was rich enough with texture anyway. We often get asked ‘why are there no vocals?’ Well, there is, they’re just not the kind of ones you’re used to from Street Horrrsing, and if you actually picked your ears up and had a listen a little bit you’ll hear some in there. There’s vocals going on, but it’s not as obvious.”
“Even if we were to pick up two guitars somewhere down the line and completely ditch all the keyboards, it’d still be Fuck Buttons.”
Recording of Tarot Sport took four weeks, and the guys worked with producer/DJ Andrew Weatherall. “The whole experience was really hands on and intense. It was surreal to come out of working on a record down in this basement. It’d feel like I’d been away for a week after working down there for a day – everything seemed so bizarre and I guess the textures and the sounds are so thick and rich. It’s pummelling to be listening to that for 12 hours a day.” The intensity paid off, with Tarot Sport feeling like a note-perfect album, built from a handful of ideas and expanded in to an hour of blissful drone. The repetitive nature of the recording had some unexpected results however.
“Listening to the same frequencies over and over again, it’s nearly like you’re infecting yourself with some kind of subliminal binaural frequencies. Sometimes you’d come out and you’d be in a great mood; sometimes you’d feel so sleepy, others you’d feel really awake.” Tracks from the two albums are brought together in their live show, which is approaching cult status. Signed to ATP/R, they frequently play at All Tomorrow’s Parties shows, a perk that comes with being involved with the label. In the next few months, they’re playing shows in Europe, Brazil, ATP New York and supporting The Pixies on their North American Doolittle Tour. While there are no concrete plans to visit New Zealand, they’d love to come and he says it is “definitely something we’ll be doing”.
Whether playing live or on record, Ben and Andy strive to make music that has meaning to them. “When we write the music, if it conjures up some kind of emotion with us, then that’s the most important thing. Andy and I have such a good relationship and we’ve been friends for years. Even if we were to pick up two guitars somewhere down the line and completely ditch all the keyboards, it’d still be Fuck Buttons.” Sharing the music they make with others is the last step in an enjoyable process. “It’s just these two people, and we make this music because it makes us feel warm and good, and we really enjoy it. The fact that other people seem to have the same feeling is really rewarding.”
Fuck Buttons- Surf Solar (7″ Edit): MP3
Posted by David Klein under Bristol, UK
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