SONS OF ALPHA CENTAURI – The Space Rock Travelers!
- What was your main inspiration for your new album “Buried Memories”?
Basically I was with Justin Broadrick backstage at an ISIS show and we discussed the idea then. We recorded an extended version of a track form our debut called ‘Hitman’ and turned it into ‘Hitmen’. We linked up with Justin again in 2014 to work through the album concepts and started bringing it all together. All of the Justin material came to like nearly half an hour but we didn’t want it to be an EP so decided to work the same idea through with James Plotkin who shares a similar vision to Justin. James mastered our debut and he chose the track SS Montgomery from that album for his reinterpretation. The track War Hero was from the same sessions as Continuum. Originally we were gonna do a whole album with Justin but he ended up working on an expanded version of Infinity by Jesu so we had some time constraints.
2. The album consists of six tracks, although the track “Hitmen” is repeated 3 times with different remixes. How did you choose the remixers and did you have any involvement with the final result or did you allow each remixer to do his own thing?
We wanted James and Justin to create their own visions by integrating some of their signature styles into our initial tracks. As opposed to just taking the tracks that we recorded they also added their own beats and additional instrumentation. Working with both of these guys was awesome and I think it was the fact that they had a 10 minute track to mix and work with and then freedom to bring together their own interpretations and integrate it all together into a single cohesive piece it what makes it a pretty unique release.
3. The tracks are instrumental, however is any concept behind each track?
Always!
4. I notice that you release your music in all formats including vinyl. What your personal experience with the vinyl sales of your music?
We’re definite believers in the physical format in terms of artwork presentation and musical fidelity. We worked with our label to produce six different colour vinyl each available only through a specific region, distributor, label or the band. For the Robotic Empire edition of the album in the United States / Canada then there is a 3” CD entitled ‘Ambient Visions II’ containing four tracks. We released Ambient Visions originally as a really limited split years ago with A Death Cinematic. Ambient Visions II has some remixes and intros from our live shows and actually a remix of 34 from our debut on there by Stephen Hoper who did the soundtrack to ‘The Zombie Diaries’ – great guy and an ambient master for sure. We’ve also got an edition of the album that is 2LP with the second LP being Continuum as we set these as part of a set and also why we release a 2CD digipak of the album too. Another version has a hand silkscreened alternative sleeve and there is a 2 x c60 cassette release too. Yan Sek did the cassette artwork and the accompanying poster. We’ve included a copy of Continuum with the CD and cassette editions as the two albums are part of the same concept arc. Essentially we really put a lot into the physical releases – and as a result listeners are responsive to that which is great.
5. Is there any conceptual connection to your previous album Continuum?
We wanted to bring together all of our heavier material into a single concept. Continuum was the journey which ended with a wormhole and Buried Memories is the crash landing in the dystopian nearer than you’d think future…
6. What are the “Buried Memories” of the album’s cover artwork?
The cover is a photo that Marlon took when we were in Zócalo in Mexico City on the day after Mexican Day of Independence ‘Grito de Dolores’. The band were there and after all of the parties and the celebration I have never seen so many soldiers in a single place. There were honestly hundreds pouring out of army vans, on patrol and it was a real show of force. It was like they were reinforcing that people can celebrate their independence but then the day after reality bites and send the army in to supress any revolutionary ideas. One of the themes in Continuum was linked to the potential of humanity if it invested its engineering prowess elsewhere beside military development. Whereas Buried Memories is exploring the darkness that we cannot escape humanities desire to supress the weakest and most vulnerable persons. Combining both of those spells out a very dark, and limited future for the species.
7. Have you ever thought of adding vocals to your music?
Unlike our brothers in Karma to Burn we don’t think that we’ll be ‘instrumental forever’…
8. How would you visualize the new album’s music if you were a painter or a director?
For a few years we had visuals accompanying the band. We did some dedicated film work and for some of the tracks we had post apocalyptic dystopian scenes which worked really well with the dark, heavier material. This record has really just been pushing the darker themes of the band with musicians who embark on that aspect of the musical coin. We’re pushing it as far as we can go, and then we’ll flip the coin back over – but not just yet.
9. Do you think that the mix of different music genres is your main attraction point?
Blending the heavy, ambient, introspective darkness is certainly a focal point of the band right now. Blending the genres is important for us but we really feel that this release and our next one will cauterise the heavier side of the band and we’re unlikely to return to that vibe for a while. We really hope that this phase and the concepts are recognised as part of the overarching concept and delivery of what we’re trying to do. Each phase tells a chapter, this chapter is exploring the heavier and darker side.
10. Any plans for touring?
Yes.
Band information: https://www.facebook.com/sonsofalphacentauri/
