INTERVIEW: French Horn Rebellion

FRENCH HORN REBELLION are finally in the country, after bowling us over with their debut album, and sending blogs all over ablaze with buzz over this fresh talent. They're an intimate blend of basement dance party, taking some influence by some wildly popular psychedellic sounds. While they're here, we dragged them away from the summer sun and delicious beers for just a short time to ask them some quick questions. And this is what they said...

PS: French Horn Rebellion, give us the low down.

FHR (Robert): We are from Milwaukee, WI and we are two brothers who have formed together to bring you the best basement dance parties possible.  I started the group while I was still playing horn for the Chicago Civic Orchestra, and decided to bring a little spice into my life.  Since then we have been perfecting the art of doing a messy show, and making fun psychedelic music.

PS: What's with the name?

FHR: Long ago, I was playing French horn in orchestras as my profession.  It began to get very stifling creativity-wise, constantly listening to a conductor about everything, and playing the same music over, and over.  I started writing my own music as a creative outlet, then I decided to make a go of it as a profession.  I've been much happier ever since.

PS: What have you been up to recently?

FHR: At the end of last year (2010), we released our first album, 'The Infinite Music,' and since then have toured the world, playing two world tours playing in Europe, Asia, North, and South America.  We're coming for the first time ever to Australia next month and we are extremely excited about it!  These shows down under will be our last shows for the foreseeable future as we head back into the studio to concoct album number two.

PS: We first heard your album when it came out in the USA (yeah we are ahead of times like that!). In terms of club music it's very diverse sounding and quite long in track length, what is the story behind that?

FHR:  We're really into psychedelic sounds.  So, we tried to combine fun dance music with concept art.  Being it our first album, we were extremely ambitious, trying to combine all of our favorite genres into a cohesive story.  Basically, the album is a roller-coaster ride journey that starts on planet earth, and travels all the way to outer-space where you have an encounter with an alien.  On this journey, you travel through the lust of Brasilia, the icy rocks of Mawson's Peak, blast off from Antarctica, and land on an alien planet.  There's a lot to the album sonically as well-- when you start off in a familiar place (New Florida) our character only has the use of 5 pitches.  As the album progresses, it gains pitches, where eventually, in 'Geomancer's Compass,' we use influences of a 12-tone row.

PS: You guys have remixed some rad shit. Are the acts you produce remixes for reflective of the music you like? What stuff do you listen to in your own time?

FHR:  I think the best remixes we have done are usually for songs that we like.  It's really hard to make a remix of a track that doesn't work with you.  We've definitely come to learn that.  There was a time where we were taking on every remix that came in through the door, and a lot of them just didn't end up being very good.  As we're going forward we're trying to fuse what we like with the stuff we are remixing.  As for what we listen to on our own time, I've had this thing called "Rhapsody" that I've been loving.  Basically it's Spotify, but a version you can get in the States.  When I'm out and about I ask people what they are listening to, then I download it onto my phone.  Lately I've been getting into a lot of punk music-  so Black Flag, !!! (Chk Chk Chk), and The Minutemen.  Mostly because whenever I'm out and a punk band is playing I can't stop moving my feet.

PS: You seem to have a pretty tight Oz connection. You've remixed some Oz acts in the past and done remix swaps. Any plans for more downunder action in the future?

FHR:  Yes it's true, we have played with a lot of acts from Australia!  I was excited to come to Australia to see some of them and hang out with old buds, but now that I'm here, they are all on tour! I guess that's the way it goes being a musician.  I've been staying here for about a week, and some of my dear Aussie friends from Clubfeet aren't even here, being gone on rockstar holidays! In Sydney we are actually staying with Martin one of the Purple Sneakers DJs.

Anyways, on the road, we've played many times with Cut Copy, Miami Horror, The Presets, and G.L.O.V.E.S, remixed Clubfeet, Miami Horror, and others.  We've had a real Oz connection.  It's about time we did some shows here!

PS: Do you actually play French Horns?

FHR: YES it will rock your face off at the show.

PS: Anything in particular you are looking forward to? (this is your opportunity to say you want to 'pat a koala', 'throw a shrimp on the barbie' and other such stereotypical 'Aussie' shit.

FHR: This is our first time out here and I've already done all of those things:) haha  The only thing I haven't yet that I want to do it go surfing!!

PS: Where can we see you?...

FRENCH HORN REBELLION AUSTRALIAN DATES 

Friday 30 December 30

The Pyramid Rock Festival, VIC

Saturday 31 December 

NYE On The Harbour @ Cargo Bar, Sydney NSW

Tuesday 3 January 

IOHYOU Party w/ The Death Set, Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Roxanne Parlour, Melbourne VIC

Thursday 5 January 

Oh Hello! Fortitude Valley QLD