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Marsheaux were formed in
2003, but was it always in the cards that you would end up in the music
industry?
We were always music lovers
but we didnt have any plans to form a group until 2003. We decided to
form Marsheaux as a joke after a big doze of red wine
What was your knowledge
of The Human Leagus history before you began to work on one of their
tracks? Would you label yourself a fan?
Yes we were fans of the first HL darker period but we instantly fell in
love with them with Dare and Love And Dancing.
Dare is the best synth pop album ever made/produced. Love And dancing is
the album that we use often as a reference to all Marsheaux albums.
Especially on Peek A Boo period we've been listening to this on repeat.
We also think that they lost their way with Crash and the american
direction of the band but Octopus was again a big surprise for us. It
proved that Phil never lost the ability to write great melodies
How did it come about that you were picked out to do a remix of
latest single Sky?
Mark Jones was in contact with the boys of our label, as Undo was going
to distribute the Credo CD in Greece.They asked us to pick a track from
Credo that we would like to remix and we chose SKY without knowing that
this would be the 3rd single
Since this is the first new Human League material in almost 10 years,
what was your initial thoughts the first time you heard the track?
We were lucky because we listened to the album 2 months before its
release.
Together with Sky we also liked a lot Breaking The Chains and Never Let
Me Go, from the first listening.
You've done an awesome job, just love the way you've been faithful to
the original, but at the same time totally revamping the electronic
soundscape and groove of the track. So what were your ambitions with the
mix?
Thanks a lot. Many people have contacted us telling that they loved our
mix. When you have to deal with Phil's voice then you must be faithfull
to the original.
Actually we made a different production than a remix to the track.
We didn't have any ambitions. We were a bit disappointed with the
company not releasing not even one of the 3 singles in physical format,
only digitals. Its different when you have your music on physical cd.
As you deconstructed the
song for the remix, any particular parts you enjoyed the isolated sound
of?
Of course the voice of Phil. We 've been listening the acappella many
many times.
We' d love to do a duet with Phil. Maybe when Joanne and Suzanne leave
the band then Phil can tell us to do the backing vocals!!:)))
What kind of gear did you use for remixing? Is it all virtual synths
for you these days or do you like to "fiddle with the knobs" from time to time?
We use virtual synths when we're doing remixes (actually we try new
software everytime we remix) but we use a lot of analogues when we
record our albums
Did you do any more remixes of the song? And if you did, what did
they sound like?
Yes we did also a really great Dub version (it reminds us a lot of
Arthur Baker's remix of New Order's Confusion) and an extended mix of
the edit version. We have sent them to the record company but really
don't know if they have serviced them anywhere.
So far the remixes has only appeared digitally on various websites as
promotion, but are there any
plans to release your remix on a physical format like a promo 12"?
We really don't know.
We' ve been told that Undo will try to release the
3 Credo singles on CD (3 cd singles housed into a boxset) with all the
extra mixes + the Egomaniac (Fotonovela Remix) but we don't know if this
is going to see the light of the day. Would be a great idea though.
Your mix is part of a great remix package with Martin Brodin, The
Hacker, Plastic Plates and Fusty Delights also providing some excellent
remixes. So have you heard any of the other contributions?
We liked the Hacker's Mix and the funkier Plastic Plates Remix.
Their signing in late 2009 to Mark Jones cool Wall Of Sound looks
like a perfect match?
Wall Of Sound is really a cool record company. We think that groups like
The Human League, OMD, Blancmange, Heaven 17 need independent labels. Not big majors
So we believe that the WOS is a perfect choice.
The label released first
new album in 10 years with Credo in March 2011, have you had a chance to
hear it?
Yes and we liked it. Wasn't their best album but at least it didn't
disappoint us.
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If you could pick any
Human league song out of their vast back catalogue, which one would you
like the most to remix?
(Keep Feeling) Fascination, Seconds, Life On Your Own
Out of the bands huge back catalogue, can you name your favourite
Human League album, song and single?
Dare for album because it haunts us until now. When you listen to Dare
for the first time your first thought is: ' Oh God! I want a synthesiser
..'
Do Or Die for song because after 31 years it still works in its
brilliance and Love Action(I Believe In Love)/Hard Times for single because its one of the
most perfect A Side/B Side single of all times along with OMD's
Electricity/Almost , Depeche Mode's Stripped/But Not Tonight and China
Crisis's Wisful Thinking/This Occupation.
Philip Oakey is famed for collection old synths, so do you have any
favourite synth or gear yourself?
Our favoutires are when the KORGSQ10 play the MS10 and MS20.
Have you ever experienced a Human League concert? If you have, when
was it and what did you think of it?
We've both been on Steel City Tour in 2008 with ABC and Heaven 17. We had a
blast!
The band has some very loyal and dedicated fans that try to get to as
many shows as possible on a tour. Have you had the same passion for a
particular band? You know, following them around the country, crashing
on train stations as you wait for the first train home?
No, but maybe we could make it for Erasure. We never get bored wathcing
Andy Bell on stage.
The Sky remix isn't the first time you've knob twiddled your way through a
Human League tracks as you did a rather brilliant cover version of
Empire State Human back in 2007. What was the idea behind covering that
particular song?
We did this as an exclusive for the Electronically Yours site, to
promote the event in Hoxton, London back on 2007. We really belive that
this is a brilliant cover. Especially the music part, because we know
that we can't be compared with Phil's vocals on original.
Being as big a fan of Depeche Mode as Human League I have to ask you
about the work you've done with Basildons finest. Back in 2004 you did a
rather epic "Special Depeche Mode DJ Set", what was the thinking behind
this?
We have a really 'close' relationship with the boys from Hysterika
(greek Dépêche Mode ) fan club. We play as guest DJs at Hysterika's
party from time to time and that was the set we did on 2004 the night we
played with Andy Fletcher if we remember well.
We play a lot of DM elements at our DJ sets.
A year later you did a rather snappy version of New Life for a Greek
Tribute album to Depeche Mode. What made you choose that particular
track?
We would choose any track from Speak and Spell. We chose New Life
because it is really close to our sound. We had a lot of difficulties
choosing a Depeche Mode track to cover. If it wasn't New Life it would be one
from Ice Machine or Shout. We wanted to do something from Vince Clarke's
period.
You then did an absolutely brilliant remix of their 2005 single A
Pain I'm Used To. Can you remember what you wanted to achieve with this
mix? And I can't really work out if it was ever officially released by
EMI and Mute?
It is well known that we have the worst relationship with time. When EMI
asked us to remix the track and send it to MUTE for approval we were
very happy. But we managed to send the remix after the release of the
single!!
After all these years we
think that this worked well for us, because the hype with this 'lost'
remix was big through blogs and a lot of people were looking for it and
many Depeche Mode fans were getting to know us from this obscurity.
You've also been rubbing shoulders with another electro pop pioneer
as you've worked together with OMD on several occasions, including 2
amazing remixes of She's Leaving and If You Want as well as supporting
them on tour. So how did all that happen?
The truth is that our sound is closer to OMD than any other band. When
we start working a new song together we find many similarities to OMD
sound from the Architecture & Morality era. All our first demos are like they've come out
from Architecture & Morality.
We first met Andy + Paul in Athens and after that we have been in
contact.
You've also done some fantastic remixes for some of my other
favourite electro pop bands like Mesh, Client, Hurts and Parralox. Since
you seem to have impeccable taste when it comes to electronic music, any
other artist, new or old, you're itching to collaborate with?
We'd love to collaborate with Jane Birkin, Andy Bell, Sarah Blackwood,
Martin Ware and Mike Howlet.
The Marshaeux sound seems to evolve with each album, so what can fans
expect from your next longplayer?
Everybody thinks that Lumineux Noir is our roof but the new album will
be much better than LN.
You're signed to ubercool german label Ouf Of Line, who hosts a whole
bunch of the best alternative electronic artists. So how is it being
signed to a label that clearly understands electronic music?
We were not sure in the beginning that this was a right decision because
Marsheaux were the only pink dot inside the black canvas of OUT OF LINE,
but now we can understand that they have worked us with full of respect
and we are thankful. We have great reputation in Germany and this is
because of Out Of Line.
You seems to be some very busy ladies, so what are the future plans for Marshaux?
We are in the studio working our new album which will be ready in April
2012.
The Marsheaux Mix of Sky is
sadly not available anywhere at the moment, but you can buy the original
single release of Sky
here.
any
You can learn about
Marsheaux by checking out their official website;
www.marsheaux.com/ |
