Videoiid, « Sovtek zoo » EP

On peut dire que cette deuxième sortie du trio franco-suédois Videoiid s’est faite dans la plus grande discrétion. Pour tout dire, je ne crois pas avoir vu passer une seule chronique mais il faut préciser qu’il s’agit d’une cassette réalisée, il me semble, à l’occasion d’une tournée en Espagne. Un nouveau guitariste est d’ailleurs venu prendre la place d’Arvid – lassé par les tournées, justement – auprès de Sarah (guitare, voix) et Frank, alias Sheik anorak (batterie, voix).

Pour le reste, les trois titres de cette cassette sont dans le droit fil du premier enregistrement, à savoir une noise virulente et dissonante sur laquelle plane le spectre d’Arab on radar. Peut-être même que ces trois morceaux gagnent encore en cohérence et en efficacité, avec des structures à la simplicté toujours plus assumée – un morceau = un riff poussé vers son autodestruction – et des voix particulièrement bien posées, que ce soient les vociférations aigues de Sarah ou les incantations détraquées à la Eric Paul de la voix masculine.

Nécessairement discret au milieu des nombreux projets qui occupent ses membres, on devrait avoir des nouvelles de Videoiid dans pas trop longtemps, vers mars. La cassette risque d’être bien usée d’ici là.

>>>>>>>>>> VIDEOIID

« Doing it together » : an interview with Videoiid

French and Swedish threesome Videoiid played Annecy’s Bistro des Tilleuls last December. Their set was a noisy, ear-splitting affair for sure and yet the memory of it is crystal clear, like one of those moments where everything falls naturally into place. After the gig, I met with Arvid (guitar), Sara (guitar) and Frank (drums) in the back room of the bar. Surrounded by whisky bottles, we had a little chat. Here it is.

So, what did you think of the gig tonight ?

Arvid : I think it was the best gig so far !

Frank : I think so too ! We have a new set and two of the new songs we played for the first time at the gig before this one, in Paris. We’re really happy with this new set !

Sara : We wrote the new songs in Brussels, three days ago…

On tour ?

F : Yeah, one morning we had a bit of time and wrote two new songs.

Pretty quick !

F : I think it took us two hours or so. They’re pretty easy but they work !

Talking about your music with a friend, we were saying that it sounds like it’s quite rythm-driven. Do the drums come first in your way of writing ?

F : No, only for one song. All the other songs start with guitar ideas. Also because they write songs when I’m on tour with another band.

Coming back to the history of the band, how did it start ? How did you meet ?

S : I posted a message on this Facebook group of musicians in Göteborg saying I was looking for people to start an experimental music project. I mentioned Suicide and Swans, I think. I got two separate answers, first Frank and then Arvid. We met and discussed. While Frank was on tour, we rehearsed and I got back in touch with Frank saying things worked pretty well and would he be OK to rehearse with us and he was fine with that.

F : Of course ! It went super fast. After the first rehearsal, we already had two songs, working on a third one. Second rehearsal : we basically had the first EP ! Well not quite but it went really fast !

How do yo explain that ? Do you have some really clear common ground ? You mentioned Swans but you don’t sound like them…

S : And neither like Suicide ! (Laughs)

F : Even if we never mention it, the common ground is early Sonic youth, Arab on radar, US Maple, that kind of stuff.

S : No wave…

F : Yeah, no-wave, noise…

For sure I was going to ask about Arab on radar because it’s mentioned in almost all the reviews. I swear I didn’t read them before writing mine and then I realized I had been writing almost word for word what everybody else had written !! (Laughs)

F : It’s great ! If everybody says the same thing then maybe it’s true !

I found interesting that the reviews said that the influences kind of came through clearly but also that is still sounded fresh and spontaneous and natural…

F : We never talk about how we want to sound. We bring our own ideas but we never say « I’d like the guitar or the drums to sound like that ». At the end it sounds a bit like this or a bit like that but it’s never been an intention.

S : We have a very open-minded approach to each other’s way of making music. We’re really supportive of each other’s music making. It’s a really creative environment to be in.

F : The idea is that anyone can try anything.

S : Exactly !

F : If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, but at least we try !

Starting a punk-rock band today can be quite daunting in the sense that so much has been done before by so many great bands. Is that scary for you or not a problem at all ?

F : It’s not scary in the sense that we never wanted to do something that nobody had done before. I just want to play music that I consider to be good music with them and have fun. I don’t consider that we have to be super original. If it happens, it happens, but if someone comes up and says this songs sounds like this other song, well, whatever ! We don’t try to copy on purpose but we don’t try to sound super original on purpose !

A : I think our set-up kind of makes it easier for us. Two guitars and drums, that’s not as common as the typical bass – drums – guitar.

F : And we don’t try to create a bass sound. Often when you see this kind of set-up, the guy is playing on a big bass amp or a baritone guitar. But we have no bass and we don’t care !

Frank, I’ve read that you moved to Sweden to become a full-time musician…

F : Yeah, I quit my job in France and thought that what I wanted to do was playing music. And if I want to play music then I don’t have to stay in Lyon ! Sweden wasn’t my first choice but I finally ended up there and it’s even better than what I thought. Music is really a big part of the culture. It’s super easy to find a practice room, to make contacts, to find venues. And there are shitloads of bands – super good bands ! When I arrived in Gẗheborg, I rented this room and thought I was going to stay for one or two months, but then I was like « Oh, fuck it ! It’s so awesome, I’m gonna stay here ! » (Laughs)

You’re touring in a DIY network, do you find that this is a good way to tour as a full-time musician ?

F : For me, it’s the best way. With my solo project, Sheik anorak, I played some bigger venues and festivals and I have to say that DIY – the way we’re doing it right now – is my favourite way. When you play bigger venues, you don’t really meet people and I have the feeling that, especially for the music we do, I’d rather play smaller venues for 30 or 40 people who are really into it than on big stages in front of thousands of people who are basically waiting for us to be finished to see the band after. Basically, it’s what happens. I mean, until you are big and have a name, playing bigger places doesn’t make sense to me. It feels you’re in-between. Too big to play the small venues and not big enough to be the headliner. Being the constant opening band for bigger acts, for me, it’s not interesting at all. I’d rather stay in this DIY scene and enjoy the touring, meeting people, make contacts and have a good time instead of being more professional and doing it as a job.

So you don’t see it as a job…

F : No, not at all. I’ve been doing this for so many years but if someone came and said this DIY thing, playing for 30 or 40 people every night, it’s gonna stay like this forever, I’d sign directly ! I love it !

Do you manage to live from it ?

F : Yeah, sometimes it’s pretty tough but I kinda like it… More money would be nice but more money is more concessions and I don’t want to do it. I’m glad the way it is now.

About the EP : I think it was released on tape. Whay did you choose that format and how do you consider the actual object on which the music is released ?

F : We have different opinions… (Laughs)

S : Well, I’m a PhD student and I do my research, among other things, on record collectors so I know that there are at least some people who find value in the physical object ! Walter Benjamin wrote about the aura of the art object – or the withering of the aura but that’s a story for another day. I personally collect vinyls myself and I think a lot of people like to have something tangible to hold and touch when it comes to music. To have a tape and pay money for that, not just for a download code, makes a difference I think. And Ben Sanair did an amazing artwork…

Can we have a different point of view, now ?

A : I usually just listen to Spotify… It doesn’t matter as much what I’m listening to.

F : I used to have lots of vinyls – I also have a record label (Gaffer records – Ed.) – but for some reason I lost that interest in the object. I was paying a lot of attention to details, I love 7’’ and 10’’ and I did these series of 7’’ with different colours, black transparent sleeves and stuff. As a label I would still want to do that but as a person I don’t care anymore. I sold all my vinyls. I just listen to MP3 and Spotify. Now if I want to support a band, I would buy a tee-shirt but I won’t buy records anymore. I don’t like records anymore.

Is that a way to be simpler in your way of life ?

F : I just realized I didn’t need this anymore but it’s completely personal. Maybe because I don’t have the money anymore (Laughs).

And that’s where my recording device decided to stop, for some reason. There was a little bit of talking about music websites, fanzines and books, unanimous appraisal of the Skull defects being the one cool band to come out of Göteborg you had to listen to and then Frank expanding on how old school skateboarding gave him the original inspiration to play music. Streets on fire rules ! SST style ! For more information on the guy you can check this interview (in French !) published in 2012 but lots of information still relevant today.

>>>>>>>>>> VIDEOIID

>>>>>>>>>> GAFFER RECORDS

« Jeudi noise » (Black Mont-Blanc, Videoiid – Tilleuls, 6 déc.)

Virée aux Tilleuls un jeudi soir. Arrivé à l’arrache mais assez tôt pour passer un moment avec les groupes de la soirée. Alors qu’on avait prévu de les faire jouer tous deux ce soir, on a eu la surprise d’apprendre que les batteurs respectifs des deux groupes se connaissaient et avaient même joué ensemble à une époque ! La soirée part sous de bons auspices. Frank raconte sa tournée en autonomie en Russie, du nord jusqu’à la Crimée avec son projet solo Sheik anorak. Ca ferait un tour report d’enfer !

Il y a déjà un public assez nombreux – pour un jeudi – lorsque commence le concert de Black Mont-Blanc. Faut dire que le trio comporte la section rythmique des Don caballero locaux – We are the incredible noise – et qu’en plus ce groupe dont on compte les concerts sur les doigts de la main jouait pour la première fois à Annecy, il me semble bien.

Probablement à cause du son, leur musique fait une impression moins violente, moins rentre-dedans que lors de leur prestation au Poulpe. Post-hardcore technique, en ébullition. Voix gueulée qui se débat dans ses entrailles. Basse retorse, perverse, qui cherche le point de faiblesse, de rupture.

Quelques moments qui respirent davantage mais le trio ne laisse guère de repos au public et son set punitif le laisse pantelant, avec toujours l’envie lancinante d’en entendre plus. Quand sortiront-il quelque chose ? Un jour, peut-être, peut-être.

Le deuxième trio de la soirée, Videoiid donc, est un groupe plutôt groupe récent formé par Frank, lyonnais exilé à Göteborg, et Arvind et Sara, deux musiciens suédois. Ils n’ont pas tant tourné en France que ça et viennent de sortir leur premier EP, donc c’était plutôt cool de les recevoir ce soir-là aux Tilleuls

Punk dissonant, tribal, hypnotique. Gerbes de guitares qui déraillent. Sur scène, la musique de Videoiid est en éruption continue et leur set court mais intense fait une impression plus urgente, plus primaire encore que sur leur enregistrement.

Ou peut-être que c’était un de ces moments spéciaux où il se passe quelque chose, puisque le groupe lui-même nous racontera après que ce concert était pour eux particulièrement réussi. En tous cas, il laissera sa marque dans nos cerveaux sidérés, de même que cette excellente soirée qu’on prolonge par une interview à paraître très bientôt.

>>>>>>>>>> BLACK MONT-BLANC

>>>>>>>>>> VIDEOIID

>>>>>>>>>>BISTRO DES TILLEULS

Videoiid, EP

Sons synthétiques grouillants en guise d’accueil. Voix trainante, répétitive. Riff minimaliste, sec. Guitare amélodique, triturée, succombant peu à peu sous la force centrifuge du morceau. Bienvenue dans le monde de Videoiid, nouveau trio propulsé par le batteur Franck Garcia (Gaffer records, Neige morte, Sheik anorak…) et deux guitaristes suédois(e)s, tous trois se partageant les voix. Six titres composent ce premier EP disponible en format cassette. Six titres d’un format rock et d’une durée assez classiques mais qui choisissent tous la déviance et se cassent la gueule d’une manière ou d’une autre. Go away (Deleuze) et Crackhead jazz ont une nette préférence pour les riffs couinants, suraigus et tranchants comme des cutters. Le groupe prend un malin plaisir à les faire vriller lentement et sadiquement à force de répétitions, d’une façon qui évoque bien sûr Arab on radar. Mais la musique du groupe possède également un versant pop, même si c’est pour tourner à l’amer comme sur Flowers (La la song). Les voix ne sont jamais forcées et Sunn 636, le morceau central et le plus long du EP, est aussi le plus ouvertement et candidement pop. Plein de douceur et de mélancolie distordues et sucrées à la Yo la tengo – même dans sa déconstruction bruitiste finale. Ca a l’air très référencé tout ça mais la musique de Videoiid transpire en fait la fraicheur et la spontanéité. La reprise de Suicide, Why be blue ?, s’intègre tout naturellement dans cet ensemble et clôt parfaitement ce bouquet de chansons acides.

PS Le groupe sera en concert au Bistro des Tilleuls le jeudi 6 décembre avec Black Mont-Blanc.

>>>>>>>>>> VIDEOIID