Binary’s EP Amber came out right before the vernal equinox on March 18, released through their own imprint, Echoplex Records. The music on this, their latest, engages as it builds. The confessional symbolism on the first track (and their first single) “You Need the Blue Key” establishes the London-based band’s place in the universe of industrial shoegaze — watch the official music video below. It’s pretty sci-fi, faintly EXP. If you like Ministry, Jesus & Mary Chain, or A Place To Bury Strangers, Binary will engage. The band toured with Marilyn Manson in 2012, which must have given them if not magical powers at least a view of the innards of the deforming vortex of celebrity in the 21st century; their music could be the whirring echo of the greasy engine that trails behind the red carpet. Soul Asylum did a remix of their song “Memory”, which can be described as dramatic minimal techno. Think if The Cure subpoenaed itself for being too dramatic (incarcerated fairies). We were lucky enough to connect with Binary on their new release with our time tested and approved “To Whom It May Concern” Q&A — check out the full interview below…
Allow us to introduce ourselves, We’re…
I’m David [Troster], Franco [Bondi], Craig [Lowe], Jake [Sorbie] aka: BINARY.
You can find us in…
Soho, London, UK.
You might’ve heard of us because…
We play intense music that messes with your head (in a good way).
Our next order of business is…
Releasing our debut EP Amber on Echoplex Records. It’s a pretty unique record that we’re excited to put out. It’s a weird mash of noise, guitars and psychedelic electronic lovely-ness.
If it wasn’t for __Our obsessive love of sound and music_ we wouldn’t be where we are today…
The first piece of music I heard that I remember waking up my ears was…
Jane’s Addiction – “Up the Beach”
The last piece of music I heard that woke up my ears is…
Container – “Rattler”
I hate to admit it, but I almost gave music up when…
After the third show in a row on our first European tour when our equipment didn’t work. We just kept having malfunctioning amps and guitars. So we ended up wrecking a lot of our gear. It was frustrating and cathartic at the same time.
But it all came together when…
We were able to harness that intense energy and put it back into our shows and play to thousands of people.
If I was taking a train from Paris to Madrid, the one person I’d want to share the cabin with would be….
Jeffery Dahmer. We’ve been reading this book about him. He is literally one of the most terrifying and complex people in serial killer history. The brutality and sheer meticulous of his killings was truly disturbing. But if you see interviews with him, he’s this seemingly normal nerdy guy.
“You Need the Blue Key” below, plus hit the Jump to continue reading our Q&A with Binary…
“The person I admire most is Metta World Peace. I don’t even like basketball that much, he’s just fucking insane….”
If you want to put a smile on my face, you probably want to…
Quote anything from Bill Hicks.
If you want to wipe that smile away, then you should…
Invade my personal space.
The last time I saw the sun come up I was…
Yesterday. We usually work at night until early morning.
The person I admire most is…
Metta World Peace. I don’t even like basketball that much. He’s just fucking insane.
The last time I lied was because…
I wanted to look cool in this interview…
If you hit shuffle on my iPod you might be shocked to find…
That there is absolutely no bad music on it…
If you hit shuffle on my iPod I’d be embarrassed if it landed on…
My Music for Deep Sleep CD by Dr. Siddharth Shah. It’s great for insomnia.
When I get my first really big check, I’m gonna go score a…
Trip to space.
But it’ll never replace…
My 1978 Gibson SG guitar that I have lovingly restored.
My one magic power is…
Time Travel
I’d like to give a quick shout-out to…
The Oscillation (awesome band), Kouhei Matsunaga (great artist), Darren Lawson (our recording engineer), Sean Beavan (sonic guru), Forward Strategy Group and the good people at the David Lynch Foundation For Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace.
And lastly, If I was Lost In a Supermarket, you’d find me in the…
In the condiments section looking for hot sauce.
Binary’s “Prisoner” (Light Asylum Remix) video below…
