Chris Carter: IDOW Extended Interview #9

In June 2012, the I Dream of Wires team visited the Norfolk UK studio of pioneering industrial and synthpop musicians Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti, founding members of seminal outfits Throbbing Gristle, Industrial Records, and Chris & Cosey, to name but a few. We interviewed Chris Carter about his long history with DIY electronics, modular synthesizers, and the role they've played in his storied musical career. Busy putting the finishing touches on X-TG's recently released "Desertshore / The Final Report," an album initially intended to be Throbbing Gristle's final recording, Carter expressed his enthusiasm for the current crop of eurorack modular synthesizer modules, and how he integrates them with modern tabletop FX units, to create a present-day, cutting-edge revision of his early Throbbing Gristle set up.
"I Dream of Wires" is an upcoming, independent documentary film about the phenomenal resurgence of the modular synthesizer - exploring the passions, obsessions and dreams of people who have dedicated part of their lives to this esoteric electronic music machine. Written and directed by Robert Fantinatto, with Jason Amm (Ghostly International recording artist Solvent) serving as producer and co-writer, IDOW is set to receive it's festival premiere, May 2013.
This is the 9th in a series of extended interviews, which will be produced and released in various formats throughout the production, and following the release, of the film. I DREAM OF WIRES extended interview segments are sponsored by MATRIXSYNTH (m.matrixsynth.com). This video is also available in HD:
vimeo.com/idrea...
For more info on Chris Carter:
chriscarter.co.uk
chrisandcosey.com
industrial-reco...
throbbing-grist...
For info on the film:
idreamofwires.org
vimeo.com/idrea...
/ idreamofwiresdocumentary

[@regplasma7906]

Chris is a true legend and real inspiration to me.Please get time to checkout the new Carter / Tutti material out at the end of this month.

[@mixolydian2010]

Tg,Chris and Cosey and chrome were our favourite bands back then. Cheers guys.

[@gwet17]

9:21 "...and then I discovered Eurorack" *ominous music starts playing in the background*

[@killeragnew]

I'm new to synths and looking into making my own effects pedals and this is pure inspiration. I have zero training and knowing that Chris was in the same boat is amazing

[@cepheid4288]

Check out Look Mum no Computer if you haven't already. He makes all types of electronics himself, all music related stuff

[@soniccompost]

Also Simon the Magpie circuit bends stuff into pedals.

[@hughiedavies6069]

I wish I'd met Chris Carter. I love his experiments with sound.

[@JohnLRice]

So great! There isn't a single bad second of footage in the I Dream Of Wires documentary from what I've seen so far! :-)

[@mynmyself]

i like how he speaks about how people just to believe it was just pressing a button that would make the music... funny to see people nowadays are as ignorant as before

[@dixgun]

This is such a great interview . Quite informative . Have meant to watch this docco in its entirety but a pal of mine informed me that, while he likes IDOW quite a bit, "because there's no mention of Kraftwerk it gets zero stars" from him . Anyway ... I still must see it in its entirety .

[@mUbase]

great interview.

[@theeAnteePop]

absolutely love!

[@boris1387]

Pure genius

[@wombra8314]

so awesome interview o7🐛

[@rondelalexandre8987]

Excellent

[@regplasma7906]

LEGEND.

[@EbenezarGold]

I purchased a Gristleizer a couple years ago. Not smart enough to build one meself, but it's about the most fetishistic TG item I have, that and Wreckers of Civilization.

[@wombra8314]

ANARX BROS. nice

[@rexterrocks]

My most fetishistic TG items are a Kaossilator pad (could well be the yellow one on-screen at 8-44)that I bought from Chris and probably my Gristleism.

[@uvoikimovundutrauerblume3302]

I build one and bought one from Endangered Audio Research . There is a big sonic difference between the E.A.R. and de Diy kit . The kit's vcf is smoother and more musical the E.A.R. is a speakercone mover .

[@RCAvhstape]

Look at the photo at 2:00 In Britain even the tech nerds look cool.

[@DungeonStudio]

I'm with Chris on the software aspect. I'm no purist either, but I found the computer side TOO easy to make songs quickly. Good in one way to get ideas down, but then as Chris says - is it the sounds I really want? So then you wind up tweeking and twiddlying and never being satisfied really. With hardware gear, you're focused. But then you can get TOO focused on a particular sound or sequence/rhythm, and comes off very minimal in the final construct. Six of one, half dozen of the other basically.

[@Reprodestruxion]

I wonder who bought all that equipment from Chris

[@rexterrocks]

He's had a couple of clear-outs in more recent years and sold equipment. I was lucky enough to buy a 'Kaossilator' pad from him.

[@zyzdzy]

@@rexterrocks how much did it cost?

[@rexterrocks]

@@zyzdzy It's a Kaossilator KP3 effects processor. It's been a few years but it was exactly what they were selling for, around £100 I think. He didn't add any value because of who he is although he offered to autograph things if wanted. Many of the items listed had information on what projects they had been used on. Some of the things had been modified by him too.

[@zyzdzy]

@@rexterrocks Hey, thanks for replying! How were the objects sold in particular? Was it just a ever-so-slightly classier garage sale or something a bit more grand?

[@rexterrocks]

@@zyzdzy No problem, It was posted online. Check out chriscarter.co.uk. See for yourself

[@jocksilver7]

The DIY dimension of the whole story is remarkable, but TG's work, though original and pioneering, also had matching artistic/musical references (the general Kraut electronic/experimental vibe, not too far away from, say, early Faust or at times, also early Krftwrk and TDream). I don't see it as hindrances to TG's artistic intentions, on the contrary. TG was a group with 4 brilliant, creative minds, but it seems Carter was the hardware man, the guy who most definitely ''dreamt of wires'', whilst Gen (as HE were) functioned more like a ''prophet'' of HIS own, and Tutti and Sleazy as the free-hand ''primitive painters'' (to quote Felt's handy catchphrase) working over Carter's sonic structures. I wasn't there with them in the studio, but i assume TG were mostly loyal to improvisation, eliciting it to the point where themes actually morphed into proper tracks. I've come a long way with TG (45 years to be precise), and i'm glad the XXIst century, maybe the ante-chamber for the Aeon of Horus, is regarding them with the due historical respect. Either people believe it or not, in Portugal, between 1978 and 1980, some tracks by TG were aired on a particular National FM station, with strong links to the Holy See, by the hand of Portuguese Radio ''Educator'' António Sérgio ( i recall at least United, Adrenalin, Distant Dreams and Subhuman - Sérgio did acknowledge their work and relevance, but wasn't quite sure about the overall ideologic outfit, him being openly left-leaning, at a time when TG was being erroneously and negatively associated to things they overtly condemned, by prejudiced and biased sectors of press). When PTV 1 happened in 82, he was already on a ''secular'' station, with a bigger impact, and ''Force thee hand ov Chance'' was well played on ''Som da Frente'', his next proverbial radio show, going on for over a decade.

[@sebvoigtmusic]

What's the track around 7:30? It's totally amazing!

[@DJSTOEK]

🖤

[@temporoboto]

TG...ACE!!!!!!!

[@RipScissor]

It's amazing how Chris seems like he was the "odd one out" in TG both for his interests and technical skill, yet he was arguably the most important in establishing their signature sound. Also it's hilariously ironic how those moron punk audiences would hate electronic music for "needing no skill," when "technical skill" was usually shunned in punk circles to begin with. :P

[@eraunmuchacho]

anyone there, ID, know the song that starts on 4:15?

[@sonicdiscipline8323]

Throbbing Gristle - 20 Jazz Funk Greats

[@Snaveltong]

funny to see that physical modules have become the acquired taste, everybody is dependent on the radiating computer screen

[@lifeintheultraviolet]

OG 🎛

[@TheSynchronon]

cool

[@KIMHOLM1000]

Cool

[@4005atthetenthgate]

id anyone on the track starting at 9:24?

[@Yage-dy9qd]

It's "Stasis" from the X-TG, part Nico Cover Album "Desertshore / The Final Report".

[@tastelesstouch]

TIL two things: 1. Chris Carter is the Smoking Man WTF!? 2. Chris Carter is a synth afficionado WTF!?

[@electrosundays]

6.20 and 7.17 what are the tracks?

[@Yage-dy9qd]

6:20 - Chris & Cosey - Fantastique

[@Nuclearbones]

What's the track at 2:00?

[@Vlazhnyefission]

The studio version of Maggot Death off of 2nd Annual Report by TG

[@LFOVCF]

I clicked on the thumbs up and got to 101. If you don't know why that is cool, then you need to watch these videos! (or just cheat and google SH101 haha!)

[@liverawkstar]

other than the usual barrage of "hobby boys with modulars" making a racket of noise, bubbles, insects, and just out right annoying bullshit being called music--- but Chris Carter certainly knows what he is doing making "proper listenable music" with these machines....I got my pre payment in for the hardcore edition ... im just guessing all the best interviews are exposed there: no Steve Roach.... sorry , but i dont worship gear, I worship music