DMC World Magazine

Uppers
Mirror System – System 7 Get Reflective

A large new album swinging our way ‘Reflector’ under your more chilled Mirror System guise that you’re launching at The Inspiral Lounge on April 24th in London with a very special party can we expect a live element on the night?

“Yes – there will be a mixture of live interludes and overlays and some rather nifty DJing.”

Steve, you used to play in the progressive rock band Gong with Miquette in the mid 70s and re-formed last year for a new album ‘2032’, you produced early Simple Minds and Charlatans too – what made you decide to move into the world of techno and ambience – and what’s with the Jimi Hendrix obsession?

“Right from the very beginning I’ve always been fascinated by the mix of psychedelia and electronica. When I witnessed people dancing in a disco to Kraftwerk in 1978 I realised instantly that electronic dance music would be a massive phenomenon. We got bored with playing rock music in the early eighties, and as well as me producing bands like Simple Minds we went clubbing quite a lot and observed the rise of house music from the start. Some of my friends were involved in organising sound systems at early rave parties and I guess hooking up with Alex Paterson and the beginning of the Orb was the final catalyst for us to start making our own music again in the dance and ambient context. That’s where we felt most at home artistically, and still do. Doing Gong again last year was an interesting and enjoyable side project – but System 7 and Mirror System are our first loves. Regarding Hendrix – I saw him early on at the Marquee club sitting 6 feet from him when I was 15. Blew my head off – I was never the same since. He has an overwhelming musical influence that goes far beyond the world of rock and blues. When I see Jeff Mills performing I see a bit of Hendrix in there.”

Where did you two first meet and decide to hook up musically?

“Miquette and I met in Paris in December 1972 just before I joined Gong. She was already part of the Gong community, and before that was living in Ibiza.”


What was the first ‘dance’ club you went to?

“Went to various discos in the 70s – can’t remember the names. I spent a bit of time at Heaven in 1982, just after Branson bought it. I used to go in the DJ booth and watch DJs doing beat mixing, which was relatively new at the time.”

What are the big tunes you are playing at the moment?

“System 7 DJ sets:-   Josh Wink – ‘Stay Out All Night’ (Radio Slave Remix)  mixed with  Dubfire – ‘Rabid’ (Original Mix)  :   System 7 – ‘Plasmatic Park’  (unreleased)

Mirror System:-     Alex Kenji – ‘Adelante’ (Ahmet Sendil Remix)   :    Tripswitch – ‘Cartwheel’  (Mirror System Remix)

So is the rumour true that you lot are responsible for bringing dance music to Glastonbury?

“In some respects yes it is true in that I personally persuaded Michael Eavis to stop being paranoid about Glastonbury turning into some kind of “rave” and to start a proper official Glastonbury dance stage. I think he kinda trusted me because he saw me as a somewhat respected musical figure from the 70s who understood what Glastonbury was all about, as I had been involved with the festival organisation in the late 70s, and I knew Michael quite well. But in reality, getting recognition for dance music at Glastonbury was a collective effort by a whole bunch people, many of whom are now behind the Glade Festival as well.”

Is Glastonbury the best festival in the world – and  if so, why?

“I don’t really go around rating things in such a stark way, but certainly Glastonbury is a massive, very special and unique event. I think my two favourite monents at Glastonbury were Carl Cox’s set in 1995 in the first ever dance tent, which was like an atom bomb going off – and also Jay Z’s fantastic set on the main stage in 08.”


What is the best new record you have heard this week?

“Space Train – a bootleg mash-up of our Space Bird Dubfire Remix and  Train Man by D-Unity.”


Where is the best ‘chill-out’ venue in the world – and where has been the most beautiful sunset you’ve witnessed?

“The best sunset’s are in Bali – so doing a sunset chill set at Ku De Ta in Bali, which we’ve done, is pretty unbeatable. But I think the best venue of all would have to be the Universo Paralello NYE party on the beach in Bahia, Brazil.”


So we come back to yours after a club, what are the big chill out albums you play for us?

“The choice would be endless, particularly if we brought Mixmaster Morris back home with us! But if it was just down to me there’d likely be some Trentemoller, Bluetech, early Orb and perhaps our Mirror System stuff as well.”


You’ve travelled the world with your live and DJ sets, which country has seen the best reception – and which country would you retire and live in?

“Our best two territories for playing live would have to be Japan and the UK. As far as going away to live somewhere it would have to be Bali. Several of our friends have studios there.”


‘Rainbow Dome Musick’ – the best ever Ambient album of all time you released in 1979 – if not, what is?

“We’re certainly pretty proud of ‘Rainbow Dome Musick’ and it still sounds good today, but another truly great early ambient record I’d have to mention is ‘E2-E4’ by our good friend Manuel Gottsching. Hearing it sampled by Sueno Latino had a massive effect on me in 1989.”

Best DJ in the world you have rocked to?

“It’s a tie-  Carl Cox  &  Jeff Mills”


How much of an influence was Dr Alex Paterson back in the day and are you enjoying the new High Frequency Bandwidth material?

“With Alex it was a fantastic meeting of minds. It was the start of System 7 and the start of The Orb as a band. It was the start of a wonderful new chapter in our lives. We still love Alex and his unique feeling in what he does, and he’s been doing some really cool stuff with Dom Bekin for the HFB project.”


System 7 are renowned for your collaborations with superstar DJs, who have you really enjoyed working with – who has really amazed you?

“We’ve enjoyed fruitful and enriching collaborations with nearly everyone we’ve worked with. We’ve learned a lot and hope they’ve picked up some interesting perspectives from us, as a true interchange. I should in particular mention Derrick May, who we first worked with in 1990. Watching him for the first time playing a 909 like a live human percussion instrument was truly astonishing!”


What is the maddest site you have ever seen at the Fuji Rock festival in Japan?

“We spent one evening at the Crystal Palace stage, run by a Japanese friend of ours. There was a great performance by a Japanese 1950’s Bill Haley style rhythm and blues guitarist – followed directly by a killer set from top Japanese techno DJ Takkyu Ishino – followed directly by a wild Mongolian band mixing heavy metal with traditional Mongolian istruments. Maddest programming ever! But all three acts were great”

What is the best New Years Eve you have ever had?

“Universo Paralello in Brazil.”

Some incredible albums and singles over the years – what releases are you most proudest of?

“Difficult question – but they say you’re only as good as your most recent project, so I’d have to say I’m particularly proud of the last System 7 album Phoenix, the new Mirror System Reflector DJ mix and of course Richie Hawtin’s classic mix of AlphaWave that we’re also re-releasing in June.”


What’s next from System 7/Mirror System?

“We’ve just started a new System 7 album for 2011 release. System 7 and Mirror System will be playing at Glastonbury Festival Glade Stage on Sunday June 27th, and Mirror System are at the Glade Festival on Sunday July 18th.”