Interview: UnderViewer - September 2016

Interview withUNDERVIEWER, the “proto-Front 242” duo, releases a first album - exclusive interview and premiere!UNDERVIEWER is the duo formed in 1979 by Patrick Codenys and Jean-Luc De Meyer before they joined FRONT 242. In its brief existence, UNDERVIEWER had not issued any single or album under its own name. Only some tracks were offered as bonus tracks on the 2004 reissue of Front 242's ‘Geography’ and on an Alfa Matrix compilation.Today, 35 years later, the duo has reworked the songs using modern production tools and is about to release an album entitled ‘Wonders & Monsters,’ which is a total success. Their minimalist synth-pop music is transcended by a new, powerful sound, while keeping its experimental spirit. Our journalist Phil Blackmarquis had an interview with the duo in Brussels for the WAVES radio show and they agreed to give Reflections of Darkness the exclusivity of the album announcement for the English speaking online press. Let's join Jean-Luc, Patrick and Phil as they talk about the new album, the start of UNDERVIEWER and the FRONT 242 career.: Let's start with the beginnings of UNDERVIEWER and FRONT 242: we are in 1979-80?: And so the UNDERVIEWER album contains songs from this period?: Did you re-record everything or re-use existing tracks?: It was a bit of both. The tapes have over 30 years of existence; some sounds were damaged, so we took what could be recovered and re-built the rest identically.: And the vocals?: A TEAC, I believe?: So no automatic synchronization via MIDI?: The title track of the album, ‘Wonders and Monsters’, had already been published in 2004 on the Alfa-Matrix ‘Re: Connected [1.0]’ compilation, which allowed me to make the comparison. I found that the new version offers a much wider, more powerful, much clearer sound. There is also another difference: the ambient introduction, which was not on the original.: On the album, there are other tracks which had already been published before: more precisely those that were offered as “bonus tracks” on the 2004 reissue of ‘Geography’: ‘Syncussion’, ‘I Remember’, and ‘Trouble’. Which means that all the other tracks were completely unreleased to this day?: Not even released on tape?: For example: ‘Atomic Tears’?: It allows me, Jean-Luc, to evoke the theme of the lyrics. In the songs, we find the typical dystopian, science-fiction universe and sociological topics that are, in my opinion, your trademark.: This is research, as you said earlier, which, by the way, is in line with the name of the project: UNDERVIEWER.: What were your influences back in 1979-80? KRAFTWERK, OMD,...?: And for you, Jean-Luc?: There was also JOY DIVISION and I find that reference in your song ‘Trouble’, which has a very nice Factory sound, an atmosphere very ‘Atmosphere’... (laughs): There is the slow rhythm, the solemn aspect, the chords, the stripped arrangement,...: With William Burroughs doing a reading on the first floor!: To return to the beginning of FRONT 242: how would you describe the contribution that you both brought when joining the project?: The new sounds you mentioned were industrial sounds, I suppose?: And if you had to choose a FRONT 242 track, like a forgotten gem, a track that nobody plays, what would it be?: At the time, the term “Electronic Body Music” was created by FRONT 242, but other actors have also claimed to have coined it.: There is also D.A.F., who used the term “Körpermusik” (“Body Music”).: We previously spoke of sounds and synths, I read that you, Patrick, had bought an Emulator synth thanks to the lottery?: On which album did you use it first?: There is also the MINISTRY episode and the US tour. I read that MINISTRY changed their music because of or thanks to FRONT 242?: To conclude the interview, I cannot resist asking the usual question on future FRONT 242 productions. I understand that you are now focusing on concerts and that they won't be any news studio productions?To listen to the full interview in audio version and to discover some tracks from the new album, listen to the WAVES radio show on Mixcloud ! To order ‘Wonders & Monsters’, the new UNDERVIEWER album, go to www.alfa-matrix-store.com 01. Was soll ich tun02. A Minor Detail03. Litany04. Nobody but you05. I am the rain06. Trouble*07. Wonders & Monsters°08. What do you see09. Gone10. Atomic Tears11. Syncussion*12. I Remember*13. A September Morning14. These Days* Already published on the 2004 reissue of ‘Geography’° already appeared on the Alfa Matrix compilation ‘Re:Connected [1.0]’'Wonders & Monsters', the new UNDERVIEWER album, is not available yet. Go to www.alfa-matrix-store.com or follow Alfa Matrix on the social networks to be informed about the release date.All Pictures by Daniela Vorndran ( http://www.vorndranphotography.com