I learned that you started as a group as early as 1988-1993 formerly members of "the bottles", can you tell us some brief info on how u started as fsandC? and who are behind it. ;) A year before we did our final gig as The Bottles, we already had fs&c as a side project with me, jem, and a revolving cast of thousandsJ. Back then we never considered ourselves as a duo, its only in the late 90’s when most of our mates went abroad that we seriously considered the matter. But then, most of our early demos, as well as in our other side projects like hidden agenda r.p., the high command, and most recently FFF, we normally work as a duo.
-How do u describe your music?
It’s fair to say that we have our roots in proto-punk bands like The Stooges, Velvet Underground, as well as classic rock faves like the Who, Bowie, The Doors, Et. Al
As for the electronic part, its because its what we already have at our disposal. I’m talking bout cheap-ass keyboards with built-in drum presets and those 80’s Yamaha synth-drum pads which are oh-so-useful in writing and recording songs. And this we’ve always done since our days as “the bottles”. We just get live drummers (that’s plural coz as the bottles we used to have 2 drummers at one time! No kidding mates) for gigs that is. Also, we grew up during the heyday of synthpop not to mention that we’re big fans of Kraftwerk, so its quite logical really. As for the question…errrr, perhaps we’re “electro-punk” with pop, metal and dance overtones?!
-What is your favorite production gear in making sounds?
Our vintage Tascam 4 track porta-studio (which uses the very unreliable audiocassette),
Jem’s 5 stringed Ibanez bass, Korg drum machine which was so old we have to replaced its lcd screen, and a Korg guitar fx processor which we used in almost everything, including feeding the entire 4 track machine output to its inputs while mixing down tracks (notably in the 1995 version of our song “The Pharmacy” , included in our CRACKED ep, released there in Metro Manila via Triad Records in 2005).Also, a 70’s issue AKG mic which has built-in eq presets (I wont trade this for any other mic!). And of course, our lowly generic PC which we use to digitize our tracks (and download porn!)
-Is there any band/artist out there that you would like us to check out?
As of this interview, we’re knee deep into Electric 6 (their 4 cds just won’t leave ears alone). Also, this new crazy duo (not us, ok!) Shy Child (they got videos posted in youtube, unfortunately their debut cd is yet to be released), and kids…there’s this mofos called Holy Fuck, that you need to check out now! Other fairly recent acts like The Gossip, The Klaxons, Hot Chip, Reverend and the Makers, Vampire Weekend, High on Fire. TV on the Radio, The Knife. among others, are staples whenever we’re hangin out and shooting the breezeJ and of course, we never forget to play the classics like the Pistols, Human League, Talking Heads, Steely Dan, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, et. Al.
-Can you give us at least 5 in your current playlist?
I usually listen to at least 1 David Bowie and! Prince album every month, just to remind me that I’m just a little prick in the vast sea of dicks, hahaha. And whenever I need some lyrical inspiration, I listen to some classic Elvis Costello lps (yeah, I know I’m a pretentious bastard, but any musician who says he’s not is a damn liar, hehe).
Anyhoo, let’s see what’s in my playa over the past few weeks…(these are albums)
1. Bob Mould- the district line
2. Roisin Murphy – overpowered
3. The Cult- born into this
4. The Charlatans- you cross my path
5. Electric Six – (all their cds, and I can also say the same for Jem coz he’s been buggin out on E6 lately too!)
-You have released an album and side projects, can you tell us something about them? :)
We have released around 10 full-lengths, 2 dvds, and 1 e.p. as fs&c. we used to sell em via mail order (pre-internet days kids) on cassettes (including stuff from our side projects), though we have a few of ‘em digitized notably the soundtrack we did for the Alamat comicbook BAYLANS (2000), our covers album OTHERPEOPLESSONGS (1997), our recent 2cd compilation COME AGAIN 1992-2007, and of course the CRACKED ep mentioned earlier. Also, we’ve been featured in the compilation cd “8 TRACK”(2006), along with the likes of Names Are for Tombstones, The Sleepyheads, Shiela and the Insects, among others. And an international online compilation “Dismantle the Machinery” (2007) along with acts from Japan, USA, and other Asian countries as well.
Apparently, we’ve already made available for free most of our tracks since 3 years ago (check the mp3 links in our myspace page, including access to some of the videos from our dvds). If you want hard copies, you can email us at fsandc@gmail.com
By the way, we’ve made a decision since a few years back, that we would no longer make “proper” albums. Only singles and or e.p.s, and perhaps just compile ‘em when needed. You might be askin why? Well simply because we reckon unless you have a particular concept like say Pink Floyd’s The Wall, or The Who’s Tommy most albums are just a bunch of songs lumped together anyways, hehe. Also, most kids would rather just download the tracks they like and forget the rest. So sad but true eh?
Now, for fear that I might bore you regarding our side projects (you can just check em out at our official site http://www.geocities.com/fscbrigade just click the “sideshow” icon when yer there) I’ll just tell you bout the recent ones though, which are FFF (that’s FUCKTHEFUCKINGFUCKERS, if you need a full translation hehe) a full-on grindcore project fronted by jem (he does the vocals, bass, drum programs) while I add the odd “electronic” bits and production work. And STRIPSTRIP a collaboration with TRIHEXY a Vegas-based junglist (nee drum n bass) producer, wherein we’ll be releasing an online e.p. this coming April.
-Do u collaborate with other artists?
Aside from the above-mentioned STRIPSTRIP, we did an online project with Japan-based technohead Tokyo Sundown back in 2005 dubbed as THE GOVERNMENT ( www,myspace.com/dgov ). But we mostly do remix jobs for other artists notably with the Manila-based metal outfit RELIGIOUS NIGHTMARE, L.A.-based dubhead LIGHTSLEEPER, and experimental-popster MUTED FILM, and most recently with Manila-based electrohead SPAZZKID to which we sorta returned the favor cause he remixed a track (Bum Baby) for us last year.
How was it?
Its definitely cool! Needless to say, this is a wonderful time for such endeavors. And our thanks to the gods of technology we can now do this virtually in a snap (albeit without leaving the confines of our homes, not to mention taking a shower and putting our pants on, hehe). Though we’re still hoping someday that we could do this live in a gig. Now that’ll be such a thrill!
-What can you say about the music scene in our country?
Well sorry to say but unless you can hook up with Satan or Raymund Marasigan, you can forget bout yer dreams of becoming a rockstar (no matter how tight yer skinny jeans or thick yer eyeliners are!)! Hahaha. Seriously though…in the mainstream, there’s not much to say that hasn’t been said before (albeit negatively). It all boils down to politics really, you just need to know somebody to be anybody. Like don’t ever just expect yer songs to be played on the radio, or on myx or mtv unless you have a great machinery for yer” campaign” (yup, like I said its very political). Or in the case of myx, for sure if yer a contract artist of Star records then it’s a done deal. Whilst in mtv phils., if you have a marketing tie-up with any of their corporate sponsors (e.g. a restaurant, footwear. softdrink, etc) then presto! Yer a video star!
On a happy note though, im just glad that the underground scene continues to thrive oh-so-strongly. The only problem now, is that its getting saturated that most of the time we tend to overlook a lot of the deserving ones. Also, aside from music there’s too much shit around that competes for everyone’s attention (and money) these days. I’m talking bout the internet, cellphones, videogames, dvds, , etc. I’m pretty sure, a kid would rather use his allowance to buy an E load for his cell, than a damn cd (yup, even a pirated one). So to all ye pirates out there, you can add more revenues if you can find a way to hack em filthy rich telecom companies, and maybe produce pirated cell cards that works and sell em at say, 100 bucks for a 1000 worth of loadJ
-Any Thing else you would like to say?
i can go on and on ranting and raving but im sure most of you have already opened multiple browser windows to check on yer myspaces, friendsters, facebooks, multiplys, or better yet for some funky amateur porn! Hehe so how can I compete with that?
Anyhoo, thanks so much for this opportunity to share our music (and thoughts)
Right here right now. This certainly gives us more juice to go on and feed our egos. By the way, interested artists (we don’t care what genre yer in) out there who might wanna work with us sometime soon…please feel free to give us a hollaJCheers and lotsa luck to y’allJ
Link Myspace:FSandC
Link Multiply: FSandC Multiply
Genre: Electro/Punk/Rock
Location: Bacolod, Philippines
Here's a new band from Laguna that reminds me of The National when I heard their song "Song and Dance Man" which is my favorite by the way, something about the voice I guess. The rest of the songs have a touch of either goth rockin' blues harmonica songs like "Guilty Conscience" and "Something Got Lost Somewhere." Stigmatics is a diy home project according to Grandioso and Funboy. Having Radiohead, The Velvet Underground, Sex Pistols, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Johnny Cash and Iggy and the Stooges as their priced possession, their music combined with each style which I find kind of unique, they've created such deep soulful soundscapes. Grandioso is also a member of Dr. StrangeLuv, a side project with his brother which I will feature on the next post soon. Overall, this isn't your normal everyday alt-goth-rockish trend, the music infused with a sort of strange and soul into it.
