Maria & The Mirrors- ‘Let me out of 1979!’

"Oooh I do worry I've been living 1979 in the head over & over like some kind of Siberian Bill Murray with tape loops. Aaaah! Let me out of 1979!"

Tom Artrocker chats with one of his fave new bands. Proud holders of Artrocker Single of The Month back in February with 'Omar', Charlie Ashcroft described it as; '...one of the most weirdly compelling singles of the year so far', raising the flag for experimentalism like it was 1979...And wishing it was.

Tom: Hello there folks, please identify yourselves and your role in the band.

Keira Jade Fox - Sardinia via Stroud, sings, drums, occasional oscillator
Crystabel Efe-Otu - Nigeria via Norwich, sings, drums
Charlie Feinstein - Smolensk via Southampton, lanky tape goon, TR-707, remedial shouting

Tom: Where are you based - and why?

In Novaya Zemlya, an archipelago north of the Ural Mountains. We find for researching Siberian shamanic drum techniques, this place really is the tops, plus there are many unique types of flora + fauna here. Sometimes after really drumming one out we treat ourselves by popping down to Krasino & having a look at the deer.

Tom: How long have you been at it?

A couple of years, although in rather a different formation to begin with, songs about bereaved beloved felines in heavy Sunn O))) type instrumentation; 'Jack, Jack, bring back my dead cat'.

Tom: Terrible news about Sean Stewart of HTRK topping himself I'm sure you'd agree. Have you played with HTRK? Do you see (obviously I do) a link between HTRK and yourselves?

Yes that was awful news...still upset about Rowland S. Howard too...have never played with HTRK but can see similarities in atmosphere & some of their electronic textures, plus their disenchantment with traditional rock operating procedure.

Tom: With influences like TG and the early 80s industrial scene, do you feel out of time? Would you have liked to have been active at that time?

Oooh I do worry I've been living 1979 in the head over & over like some kind of Siberian Bill Murray with tape loops. Aaaah! Let me out of 1979! AAAAH. I'm not sure I would like to wake up in post punk world though...I've got really into soya milk, particularly the Alpro Light brand, it's really great with a nutty aftertaste. Though Alpro commenced producing soy-delight in Belgium 1980, the light variant only began production in 2006...the thought of going back to dairy...is... VERBOTEN. However, I would've loved to have seen the Fall with two drummers 1981 - 1984, when Mark wore those tight pink nylon shirts. So, to summarise, yes but only if you let me take a stash of soya and a copy of '1 Thing' by Amerie.

Tom: Which of your contemporaries are doing a similar thing to yourselves? Factory Floor spring to mind - any others?

I can't think of too many others in London Town, but others around world, like OOIOO, Nisennenmondai & Gang Gang Dance come to mind...



Tom: What are your immediate plans?

I really want to find a black or purple choker, and a proper tea set.

Tom: Where and when can folks get to see you live?

The Feminist Festival in Dalston New Empowering Church with special 3-Drum line up....and the 1234 Shoreditch Park festival thing...check ourspace for future events www.myspace.com/mariamirrors

Tom: Any plans for digging up The ICA stage with a power-hammer?

How did you guess???

Tom: Where would you stage your ideal gig?

At the top of Koryaksky volcano in Kamchatka...or on top of the large perspex cat outside the Catford Centre. One of those two.

Tom: Do you see yourselves as artists or musicians - or both.

Ermmm when it comes to sonic worlds I think those two terms are rarely mutually exclusive...unless you're just playing remedial bass overdubs on the new Donald Fagen LP whereby creativity has nothing to do with it...although on Aja Chuck Rainey snuck in some slap bass against Donald Fagen's wishes, so even in the most stultifying technical environs of musics, creativity can still linger. And triumph.

Tom: Do you see yourselves as having a European rather than British future market?

We seem to be selling most in Japan at the moment, so we would naturally like to get to Honshu as soon as possible. Hopefully by next month, as Perfume are playing in Osaka.

Tom: What's the greatest record ever made?

Maybe George McCrae 'Rock Your Baby'...or Schoolly D 'Gucci Time'.... or Dinosaur 'Kiss Me Again'....or Amerie!

Tom: And the worst?

Level 42 'Running in the Family' actually makes me heave.

Tom: Do you have a message for the Artrocker Massive?

Stick on Elastica's 'The Menace' today...see how contemporary it sounds...truly a lost classic...time for a complete critical re-evaluation. Love in 2010 xxxx

Tom: I can only endorse that sentiment, Menace is a great album. My thanks To Maria & The Mirrors for taking time to chat. My thanks to Maria and The Mirrors for existing.

myspace.com/mariamirrors

See Maria & The Mirrors Live;
28 Apr - The Macbeth, Hoxton Street, Shoreditch
06 May - God Don't Like It 2nd Birthday Party @ Bardens Boudoir, Dalston (w/ Rayographs & Bo Ningen)