Amorphous Androgynous - Blowing Psychedelic Bubbles
3D’s evilchris dons his interviewing cap and speaks to Amorphous Androgynous (the other project of the Future Sound Of London guys) about their new mix-CD, a Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble.
You’ve stated that one of the aims behind the ‘Psychedelic Cosmic Space Music’ concept was to reclaim psychedelic music and prevent it from simply being a fossilised ’60s concept; do you think the term ‘psychedelic music’ is a misunderstood one these days-
Obviously you can’t ignore history; the psychedelic movement or counterculture exploded in the late ’60s and history has fossilised it there in that moment. To us, though, the word psychedelic means a transformative capability and is as much the domain of shamanism or the spiritual timeless search as it is a fashion or specific period. The aim of Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble is to show a lineage from ’67 to the present to show this timeless transformative quality and potential. We have also called it ‘Cosmic Space Music’ in case the baggage of history is too great to bear. Part of our thinking also is that in modern culture the psychedelic is the unexpected, which is in the collage of surprising sounds. Thus the language of DJing has a part to play also. It’s a glorious excuse to be free of genre and to play with a liberating positive exploratory soundfield – one that has its roots in the spiritual quest, too!
This is the first Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble in an ongoing series; what sorts of things do you have planned for future volumes-
We plan to curate more volumes and then start offering it to surprising luminaries and other resonant artists to present their visions for it. We are also planning events and shows around the ‘Bubble’ ethos. For starters we are curating seven hours at the Green Man Festival – bands and DJs. It should be kaleidoscopic, to say the least! Also talking about a TV concept… also we have extended the ‘Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble’ concept to describe the AA remixes such as the new Oasis 22-minute remix we have just finished.
Your next studio album as Amorphous Androgynous, The Peppermint Tree and the Seeds of Superconsciousness, is out towards the middle of 2009; can you give any hints of what’s in store here-
Well, you can already buy it through us at fsoldigital.com, but I guess the physical release will be hitting Australian shops around that time. Peppermint Tree is a collection of unreleased tracks that didn’t quite fit on to the other albums (or we forgot about them!) and a couple of new things. Oh, you know – more cosmic space music, featuring guest appearances from people such as Gary Lucas (Captain Beefheart and co-writer of Mojo Pin/Grace with Jeff Buckley) plus Linda Lewis and Baluji Shrivastav (legendary sitarist).
You toured Australia as part of the Earthcore festival bill a few years back – are there any particular memories that stand out here-
I can say without doubt that we loved playing for the Australian people and we still get a lot of good comments about the shows we did there. It all ended up being a bit too rock n roll though for my tastes – courtesy of a promoter who insisted on ripping anyone off he could. On the one hand we had the warmth, open-mindedness and open-heartedness of the Australian audiences in a beautiful country – all expansive stuff. But on the other it was underpinned by a petty thief promoter lying and cheating his way through the two weeks: a really desperate character. Therefore, I’d have to say another favourite memory was kicking him and seeing him evicted from his own gig – you gotta laugh at that. He was outside threatening to not pay the soundman if he continued with the gig. Needless to say everyone ignore him. We played for free – the music won. It could be time to regulate promoters in Australia, folks! Is it the last ever Earthcore again this year, haha-!
In other words, don’t sue me – I’m liquidating. Anyway one cowboy doesn’t make a country and it didn’t affect our view: the open heartedness of Australian people, the beautiful country and the growth of my band – it was a very special time and a huge learning experience.
WHO: Amorphous Androgynous
WHAT: A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble through Platipus / Stomp
WHEN: Out now
MORE: futuresoundoflondon.com/amorphous