by
Aereogramme’s sound is an apocalyptic
blend of electronica, hardcore, lo-fi and metal. As far as releases go,
they’ve had two singles ‘Translations’ and ‘Hatred’ on their own Babi
Yaga label, the first has sold out but if your quick you might get the second
via Cargo Distribution. Their next release will be a four-track E.P on Chemikal
Underground, which should be the launch pad to their career and maybe even get
them a gig in England, although they might not want to play in London.
So how did Aereogramme start?
Campbell and I started the band with a view to playing some acoustic songs with
fucked up electronic noises behind it. We both worked in the same shitty job
together and realized that we both hated the public we had to deal with every
day so that was perfect for starting up a band.
**Apart from the line-up what are the main differences between Aereogramme and
your previous band Ganger?**
We are better. Ha, only kidding! Aerogramme was built upon being an outlet for
the songs I had written before and while I was in Ganger and I found that
Aereogramme was far more fulfilling to me. Ganger was also becoming far too
intense. I will let your imaginations run riot buy telling you no more.
**Your music is really hard to categorise, what genre do you think you fit
into?**
Good question, I have no idea. I love listening to really heavy bands and also
really quiet minimal bands so I guess we are a mixture of both with electronica
thrown in to confuse others and ourselves. How about Stink-core?
**Who else would fit into the Stink-core
genre?
**
Anyone who is as hairy and unclean as we
are.
**Are there any new bands you've come
across that you're particularly keen on?
**
From Glasgow there’s The James Orr Complex he’s the best songwriter I have
heard in years. Its Chris from Eska and if you want your life changed, go see
him soon. Also Fault are the best hardcore band in Glasgow and will return soon.
Churn, Biffy Clyro etc, etc.
Outside of Glasgow there’s Turin Brakes,
The Dillinger Escape Plan and Neurosis who are the Godspeed You Black Emperor of
Metal, fucking incredible.
**Is Glasgow music community based or just
a coincidence that it produces so many great bands?
**
I think there is a freedom up here that you
don’t get anywhere else. It’s so far away from London, which is important
because London stinks and there is no pressure. There is also an important base
set up by all the previous great bands that have come from Glasgow which help
bands like us. Kind of like a great big snowball that collects "cred"
instead of snow. That sounds like i’m on drugs but i’m actually painfully
sober.
**Do you think the British press has a
tendency to crucify it's own and praise bands from elsewhere?
**
God, I hate the press. The press can be just
as patriotic even although it does tend to feel that bands from other countries
are "cooler". I just think that it really doesn’t matter what the
press say, good or bad, just get on with what you are doing. I think there is a
place for people to find new bands within the papers but it’s certainly not
the final say on whether a band is good or bad. I’m so fed up of seeing these
bands that have quite obviously done nothing to deserve the coverage they get
except for the fact that they drink in the same pub as a lot of London
journalists. I really think the N.M.E and Smash Hits, oops sorry, I mean Melody
Maker have lost the importance they once had.
**How's the album coming along? Does it
differ from previous releases?
**
Fine thanks, we haven’t recorded a note
yet but it’s coming along fine in our heads. It’ll be a lot heavier because
now we have a budget to record the heavy songs. They always were, we just
couldn’t afford to record them as well as we wanted to.
**Have you sorted out your deal with
Chemikal Underground now?
**
Nah, but i’m not worried. A new E.P is due
out in October, we’ve already recorded it. We recorded ‘Fuel To Burn’,
‘The Ocean Red’, ‘Fireworks’ and then a remixed ‘Fireworks’. It’s
an incredible remix by the way, not some shitty add-on. We will sign the deal
when it’s ready.
**Are there any plans to release stuff by other bands on Babi Yaga?
**
We want to release records by three bands
but i’m keeping that secret. We have no money at the moment though.
**
What do you feel about Napster?**
I can see how it is beneficial to bands as
it would be great if some wee guy in Mexico heard our music but at the same time
I can see what Lars Ulrich is pissed off about it. He does not care about the
money, he cares that his music is not under control and someone else is
benefiting from his work. There are many arguments and not enough room here. I
don’t want a CDR of an album though, I want the artwork, I want the colour and
I want the fucking vinyl!!!!
**Can you tell us a Rock n Roll story?
**
We ended up in a warehouse in Norway run by
the Norwegian hells angels. They only had two records to play all night,
AC/DC’s ‘Stiff upper lip’ and Metallica’s ‘Kill em all’. There was a
giant piece of wood in the middle of the floor where they all took turns to try
and hammer in a 6-inch nail as far as it would go with one hit. The only
requirement is that you are very drunk. We left at dawn and we walked along an
unused railway line until we got to a pitch-black tunnel. We had no idea where
we were, but we were told that if we walked through the tunnel we would get to
where we wanted to go. Even though we were under the influence of several
different substances we decided to risk it. About a mile of pitch darkness is an
experience I wouldn’t recommend but we made it out and i never felt so
happy to be alive.
**Finally have you got anything to say to
the heckler at the Radio 1 ‘United Nations’ gig?**
You
fuckinlittleshitprickwankbastardcumguzzlingfuckpig
