Excursion to the dream studio
In light of the real world’s daily slide into something barely recognisable, what better time for a little slice of pure electronic escapism by jaunting to Cornwall where former Cabaret Voltaire stalwart Steven Mallinder and Ben ‘Benge’ Edwards (of John Foxx and The Maths and erstwhile owner of Memetune Studios in London’s East End) are happily waiting to discuss matters relating to their superb new album, A Situation, while reclining among the wonders of Benge’s collection of vintage modulars and desirable synths and outboard.
With third member of Wrangler, Phill Winter (of excellent folktronica act Tuung) unfortunately in absentia, FM settles down with Mal and Benge to discuss modulars, vocal treatments and the almost self-fulfilling apocalyptic message of this their third album proper. As collaborations go, Wrangler is pretty much a template for how it can be done and done well. All this and FM has managed to not use the phrases ‘veritable Aladdin’s cave’ or ‘electronic treasure trove’ in relation to the synth-strewn studio… even though we were thinking it all through the interview. A Situation is genuinely one of the albums of the year so why wouldn’t we want to find out more about its creation.
Ben ‘Benge’ Edwards
Beat / Did you just decide to decamp the whole of your previous studio, Memetune, from London down to Cornwall?
Benge / I just wanted to move out of London, really. My lease was up at the London studio and I couldn’t renew it for various reasons, so I decided, rather than look for somewhere in London again I just wanted to get out and have a real change. I spent about a year and a half building this new studio space for the gear because it was just a normal house before. So, I still had the studio in London while I was doing that and commuted back and forth a fair bit before it was ready to start moving things in.
Beat / Was having the new space an opportunity to add even more choice bits of gear?
I generally just do that anyway. I always keep an eye out for things and I’m always adding to it. It’s about the same footprint as my London studio so it’s slightly bigger but not that
