January 2002 - THE SATELLITE CIRCLE
Two years ago I received the debut EP of this Swedish power-trio and I still like it a lot. In 2001 THE SATELLITE CIRCLE released their outstanding debut album on ROA Records and it's just more than only a fine step forward. With their authentic mixture of Heavy Psych, Blues and Doom they stick out of the mass of average groups. So it was time to contact the band for the details and the background of their heavy blend.
Hey, how you're doing guys?
Fredrik Holmgren: Fine.
You've released an exciting debut album on Rage Of Achilles Records. Is it true, that they have re-released your first mini-CD and how did you get together with them ? I ask this, because in Sweden are also a lot of small independant label.
Fredrik: Yes, ROA also released our EP Way Beyond the Portal of the Bone White Rubber Sun. Duncan, who runs the label, first heard and read about us on the Internet I think. He then made contact with us and asked if we could send him some promostuff. A couple of tunes from the EP were on a number of compilations before we got in contact with ROA.
Although the mini-CD was very good, I think you've made a step forward with the debut. There's a bigger variety and the songwriting has progressed a lot. I would say, that the whole band sounds more matured. What do you think about it and how are the responses for the debut-CD ?
Fredrik: The idea behind the material on the album was to make it varied and dynamic. We didn't want to do a record that was heavy all the way, 'cause there are so many of them already. That stuff also sounds a bit boring when you have heard a couple of songs in a row. We wanted the psychedelia and the soft parts to make the heavy doomy bits sound heavier. The record has a lot of heavy riffing on it, but we have arranged everything to have chords and melodic passages in there as well. It gives the vocals possibilities to be more melodic, and create contrast to the heaviness.
The whole album sounds very organic. How much time have you spend in the studio? Have you recorded the tracks in Sweden or in the UK?
Fredrik: We recorded everything in four days or something like that, and then mixed it during three days or so. The album was recorded at a local studio here in Umea, Sweden, called Second Home. It was a great place for this kind of band. The guys who runs it really understands what is needed to get a 70s/psychedelic vibe. They also have lots of vintage equipment such as fuzz pedals, echos, keyboards and so on.
Douglas Knightbridge who recorded and mixed everything also plays in Spacious Mind, a well known act in the psychedelic scene. The album was then mastered at Tonteknik. We are very pleased with the outcome of the sessions as a whole. We're not the kind of band that would like to spend 6 months doing the basic tracks, we want to go in there and play together. Most of the tunes on the album are very early takes. A lot of mistakes have been left but we didn't want to change anything. The groove is always the most important thing to preserve, and I think we succeded.
One fact, that impresses me very much about THE SATELLITE CIRCLE is, that your sound is very close to all the legendary underground heavy-psych monster bands from the early 70's . You have managed it to capture the vibe of this musical period, without sounding like a boring retro act. Is it a thing that comes naturally out of the band ?
Fredrik: We are not really trying to sound exactly like the old acts of the 70s, we sure would like to, but we can't. They grew up with different music than us. The Satellite Circle are just trying to create an own version of 70s jam rock. It is impossible to copy the real thing. Somewhere we ended up with a sound and a groove of our own, a lot of people have told us that we have a special sound. We will develop that (hopefully) unique thing further.
In another interview you have been asked about Sir Lord Baltimore, one of those legendary bands that I've mentioned above. Are they a great influence for you, and what do you like about them?
Fredrik: They are one of those early hard rock powertrios whos sound has almost disappeared in modern day music. We like Sir Lord and other bands in the same tradition. Mountain, Cream, Blue Cheer, Who and Grand Funk are some others. The element of those bands that we are influenced of is the jamming feel. Every instrument works together as a whole and fills out the songs. The arrangements are made by feel and written during jams, not on a computer or something. It is a fun style both to hear and play.
