January 1, 1996

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ZERO ZERO: NEW WAVE LENGTHS
Initially Influenced by new wave denizens The Cure, Joy Division, The Smiths, and Siouxsie & The Banshees, plus motivated by a former goth girlfriend dressed in black, Zero Zero's Dave Idea first released records with bandmate Ari Katz when they were in a local band Lifetime.

Hardcore scenesters inspired by Dag Nasty, Bad Brains, and Minor Threat, Lifetime dropped pop elements into the context of fast beats and raw energy, imploding after a five-year run when its members tried to branch out in different directions.

In the interim Idea went in an electronic direction, bought synthesizers, ands et up a home studio, while Katz got off on garage rock. A few years hence, the boys got back together as Zero Zero released a split single with pals the Bouncing Souls.

Now hooked up with singer/multi-instrumentalist Tanis Kristjanson, the Brooklyn-via-New Brunswick trio have released their delightful long player debut, AM Gold, a diligent melange of French lounge-core, gary Numan-esque electro-pop, and gothic ambiance.

I spoke to Idea one hot, sweaty My night over the phone
Why title the record AM Gold?

Ari's first experience at being confused by music was in grammar school. At that time AM radio stations played good stuff. That's where he got his first musical ideas. Hall and Oates are actually a big influence on Ari
'D Minus' and 'True Zero' have a spiffy, new wave groove similar to Gary Numan's late '70s output and M's #1 hit 'Pop Musik'.

Those were written with a live drummer, bass, and guitar set-up. We recorded them as straightforward rock songs, then took out the beats and basses and played the song. Everything we recorded started from live tracks. We'd go the studio, do drums live, add bass and guitar, strip it down to almost nothing, and build it back up with a Pro Tools rig. 'AM Gold' was a nice drum and guitar track. Ari had that vocal. We thought, 'Let's get rod of all the drums and put in samples we like'.
Is 'Xanadu' a tribute to the Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra soundtrack of the same name?

Xanadu was a very formative movie for Tanis. Her childhood and personality are defined by that movie- very over-the-top Olivia Newton-John rollerskating queen. When we were making that song, we were thinking of that over-the-top instrumental jam sound. It all started wuth this trumpet loop by a French pop band.
There's also an undeniable French pop twist to the record

The first song we did contained a Serge Gainsbourg loop from 'Je T'aime'. We never put it out cause the loop was too obvious.
How'd you get immersed in French pop? Was it through Sterolab?

It's got to be Stereolab. I won't deny that. When I comb through record bins, I'l look for anything that has thick instrumental style or Italian, Morricone soundtrack production. I came by Morricone theough DJ Shadow from reading about what stuff he was using on records.
Do you find these boring boy bands as insulting as I do? Their songs lack volatility and sexuality. And worse, mom and dads endorse their vapidity.

When we were doing 'Pink and Green', Tanis was working on vocals, and I told her to be as sexy as possible. Let it come out like you're really feeling sex. To be able to do that and not be afraid of using sex to work the song is important. A lot of our songs are about sex and drugs, of course.
Did you ever think of doing soundtrack work?

Not as a profession. We'd like to work visuals into what we do. Maybe have internet releases where we could do Flash animations mixed with cool audio. But definitely working the visual imagery of our music. You know, a 'Let's All Go To The Lobby' video with candy and druggy-looking things dancing around. (laughter)

PUBLICATION
East Coast Rocker

AUTHOR
John Forunato

DIRECT LINK TO ARTICLE
http://www.angelfire.com/nj2/chrissystuph/interview2.html