Rodion

Interview by Dan Prince
The new album Generator by Rodion out now on Nein Records incorporates hippie dance grooves, middle eastern vibes, Simon & Garfunkel-esque vocals, lisergic synth licks, and future kraut atmospheres. Rodion introduces an interesting trio of long time friends from Italy, elite musicians in their own right with deluxe CV knowledge of music and film. Tso is the tight bass guitarist and also a talented illustrator, who has designed incredible artwork for reputable releases. Rodion describes his drummer and percussionist, Gilberto, as being able to reproduce every single drum groove from Moroder to Cerrone or Celso Valli Recording, labelling him the human sample library machine! What started off as a series of psychedelic jam sessions, gradually turned into two years of solid rehearsals, and quickly developed itself into a finished and complete album of epic proportions. Check him out…

Edoardo, a huge welcome to DMCWORLD…where on planet earth are you right now?

I am currently in Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy, one of Italy’s best kept secrets, visiting my beloved friend Fabrizio Mammarella.

What has been the best piece of music you have heard today?

I listened at the whole album of Alfio Antico, who I had the pleasure to play live with in a festival in Rome on last Sunday. Amazing tribal obscure and poetic music from a 60 yrs old former Sicilian shepherd. An absolute must listen in my humble opinion.

So young man, exciting times for you at the moment with the release of ‘Generator’, the first material from your new live band project. And it has been getting some GREAT press, early Daft Punk, comparisons to Röyksopp…you must be overjoyed at the response?

I am actually very happy about the excitement and response I am receiving, also for our live act. 9 yrs is a long gap in between two albums, but I m proud to see there’s people who followed and loved me throughout all these years.

How long did the album take to create? We believe it was made in Rome’s legendary Telecinesound studios?

It took quite a long time in the making: we started working on it in 2012, spending weekly nights playing and putting ideas together in a basement. Then we recorded those ideas in Rome before I left for Berlin in 2013, at the legendary Telecinesound (same gear and same sound guy from the early 70ies). Then it took us a couple more years to edit and mix the whole thing in my new studio in Berlin, so it took almost 3 years total in the making.

So, 10 new musical babies…please give us a few words on each…

Phobos

It’s the ideal album opener. It tells you already much about the album to come. It reminds me of some Pink Floyd electronic moments, it is a pop tune in psychedelic electronic disguise.

Bosphorus Hippie

One of my album favorites. I wrote it with Istanbul in my mind, I love the spicy contrast in between the auto-tuned muezzin style lead vocals and the vaguely morriconesque melodies which follow.

Aspetta!

I am proud of the interludes we did. I had some early boards of Canada works in my mind, mysterious and often too short tunes which help the album to breath and flow. We used some of my analog synths, like the Arp Odissey , Elka Synthex or Prophet 5 programmed in a droning style: it is a dialogue between machines on top of which we recorded some whisphers and percussion toys, with creepy and functional results.

Bococa Hills

The DJ’s favorite number. Deliberately ultra funk, willing to sound NY, in between ESG and Tom Tom Club.

Allee der Kosmonauten

Probably the simplest and catchiest album tune. The vocal hook draws inspiration from Lucio Battisti and Simon & Garfunkel, but the pop tune form is embedded into a wild afro psychedelic beat orgy.

Colazione!

A sweet interlude reminding me of warm summer days along the river, with cicadas buzzing in the background

Gamma

Gamma is the most kraut, the most prog, the most carpenterish number. It’s central refrain comes like an unexpected ray of light in the middle of a dark cosmic storm.

Alta Marea

Another song with both pop and psychedelic elements, driven by an insisting acid freak sequence made with my beloved Elka Synthex.

Riposa!

The last of the three interludes, all Italian titled. Riposa means “take a rest”, but keep in mind that nightmares and bad memories might also populate your sleep as soon as you close your eyes…

Run-Out

Run-Out is the wildest album tune, the one we use to close our live gigs with. A run-out is an often unperceivable misalignment of two apparently innocuous elements. But when you put it on a cosmic scale, it can often lead to unforeseen stellar disasters.

Shit question, but here it comes. What track are you most proud of…?

Bosphorus hippies and Colazione!.

Tell us all about Tso and Gilberto…have you discovered a drum groove the latter cannot reproduce yet?!?!?!

It is very cool to work with the guys, to share the stage with them and to see them happy about the album results. We are playing live a lot lately, and even if we still have a lot to learn, I am totally happy about the magic we are able to create among us on stage.

Okay let’s rewind for a moment. What is your earliest musical memory growing up?

Me listening to JS Bach, little fugue in G minor, on my uncle’s massive 70ies headphones.

What was the first musical instrument you picked up?

Piano.

At what age did a career in music first start to form in your mind. If it hadn’t have been music, what would have it been?

I started with music when I was 5. I never ever had a single doubt in my entire life regarding the fact that I would have been a musician.

Who were your early musical influences?

Classical music, especially the one of JS Bach. and Japanese synth music of the late 70ies and early 80ies, the soundtrack of the TV cartoons I used to watch when I was a kid.

Where can we catch you live over the summer?

We have many requests from France and Italy, so good chances are that you might find us in one of those two countries.

And finally, what’s next music wise from you?

I already have some Rodion releases lined up on nice labels (including my own Roccodisco) for the next fall and winter, plus I continue working on my Alien Alien project with Hugo Sanchez, and producing music of the amazing Chinese band Nova Heart.

Rodion’s epic new album Generator is out now on Nein Records

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