Sub Ordnance interview

                    

Ahead of the ABE SADA/SUB ORDNANCE split 12” release, we took some time to chat with KFORD (Sub Ordnance/Abe Sada).

1 : Sub Ordnance originally started as a duo and were named ‘Chainsore’. Why the name change and who else contributes/plays in Sub Ordnance (live incarnation) now? 

If I remember rightly I had to come up with a name and fast for the BEAP+- show and ‘Chainsore’ was the best I could come up with at the time. After that show both Charles and I realized that gigs with this set up would be few and far between. We both had a background in rock or heavy music and wanted to also write music as a guitar and drum duo. We had already had a few sessions in a rehearsal room prior to experimenting with the chainsaw and thought that the  name ‘Chainsore’ was a little to literal and restricting to the other avenues we wanted to pursue. Plus no offence to the online gaming community but there were way to many avatars with that name.

For our first show we asked Lee from Suffer to do vocals with us. We had both played together in Phalemik. He is a great musician and has a good insight and interest in the broad genres of music. I told him of our plan and he agreed to join us.

Charles and I are the core members but it is always nice to incorporate other like minded people into our performances. This show we have Andrew/Non Linear Circuits and Dirty Haint. Andrew Builds synthesizers, not the keyboard type but amazing wall sized patchable ones. He will be bringing along and audio and a video synth to mess with your eyes and twist your ears. Dirty Haint has a performance background and runs a multi disiplinary arts company here in Perth. Haint will add the vocal element to our set and his presence will be in the form of a shapeless octopus.

2: The chainsaw is predominant sound in Sub Ordnance, what other sounds/instruments are used in Sub Ordnance?

In the past we have used tone oscillators which Charles controls along with playing the drums. Apart from the element guest performers bring, the sounds are either direct or processed chainsaw sound. The petrol chainsaw has a a great mix of low two stroke idling and some nice revved up highs. Funnily enough this is the recipe for most of the music I enjoy listening to. The chainsaw is essentially a loud violent and dirty sound source which is nice to process.

3: The track on the 12” ‘organ grinder’ has a driving, almost ‘punk’ beat. Was the track an Improv or was it layered over time? How was the recording process?

The first part we recorded were the drums so it pretty much set the pace for the rest of the track. It was laid down in one take which was the guideline for this recording: set up the next instrument or sound source, press record and improvise for thirteen minutes, repeat. We both took turns at adding things to the mix which included ruined piano, oscillators, motor driven bass, vocals, some turntable parts and of course chainsaw. It was all very DIY and we recorded it all over the place. The backyard, the kitchen, in a rehearsal space, the lounge room. This allowed us to add tracks where and when we wanted to. In all it was about a three week process including mixing.
With the help of my friend Mal (Malnos Feratu) we mastered it and off it went.

4: Tell us a bit about the launch and the bands that are playing.

The night is the launch of the 12”split record between us and Abe Sada and is being held at The Bakery on Saturday the 2nd. Abe Sada have played there a few times in the past and also recorded ‘SubZilla’ there before it was revamped. I got to crank up the saw for one of the tracks on that record. For us this will be our second time since our first show in 2007. 

I think we have a solid line up for the night which includes Steve Matzkov, Drowning Horse, The Butchers and THEINTENSOBAND. Steve is an amazing solo instrumentalist that ventures into improvised soundscape/shoegaze. I’ve known Steve for years and witnessed him perform under the name High Impedance on many occasions. It is always a pleasure to see him play and I’m really looking forward to it.

I saw Drowning Horse at the Heirs show and in my mind they blew the headliners off the stage. I thought they’d be perfect for the launch. They are doing an instrumental set on the night so it should be a little different but just as bludgeoning. I have to be honest in saying that I haven’t seen the Butchers or THEINTENSOBAND before but friends have recommend them both with high regards. Both bands have members with a history in the Perth music scene (Air Assemble and the Futurists). Can’t go wrong there. 

The doors open at 8:00pm and Sub Ordnance start at 8:30. If you want to see the chainsaw in action get there early. Go to nowbaking.com for presale tickets or it will be $15 on the night. The delicious red vinyl record will be on sale also for $15 on the night. Bear in mind that your system will eventually flush that pint or two but the record will last forever.

5: Sub Ordnance live shows are rare and using a Chainsaw live carries an air of danger. What are your thoughts on live acts that push the envelope of live performance vs more ‘static’ live bands? 

It might seem strange but I spend most of my time at shows with my eyes closed.
Its sounds a bit pretentious but it is more about sound for me. Some acts incorporate a visual element and others don’t but as long as it sounds good I don’t think it matters. There are performers such as Attila from Mayhem (looking like a dead pope playing with the devils rubix cube) or Justice Yeldham (playing sheet glass with his sliced and bleeding face) were you just cant look away. Justice Yeldhams performance was brutal to the eyes and ears and fueled the idea fire for me to give the chainsaw thing a go.

I myself am a static performer. If you ever saw Phalemik I’m as inanimate as the Angel’s guitarist but without the element of cool. Put a chainsaw in my hands and it adds some edge to the performance but for me it falls into the  realm of watching motor sports. Some want to see the cars go round but others (myself included) want to see the cars smash into each other. Luckily for me I’m a safety nut so it should all be fairly safe. Things have gone crazy in the past but the less said about that the better. Just watch the end of http://youtu.be/FAKfs8ruRg0 to see what I’m talking about.

http://youtu.be/FAKfs8ruRg0