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Going with the Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow are an electro-synth band that have been around for a while now. Having done gigs with Die Form and Pouppée Fabrikk in the beginning of the 90's tells us a bit about their past. We recently found out that they are planning to record some new material...
Please start off by telling us some history about Scapa Flow.
- Scapa Flow was formed in Uppsala, Sweden back in 1988 out of different previous constellations. Beginning as a band of four, there are now three original members left in the band (Andreas Carlsson, Johan Nygren, Carl Sjöström). During 1989-1995 we did frequent live shows, including a Germany tour in 1991 with Pouppée Fabrikk. In the recent years there has been some good help from guest musicians, and what once was a pan-electronic band operating on rather old-fashioned synthesizers has gradually turned into a semi-acoustic, computerassisted one.
What about some "new" material? Are you working on something?
- We have been writing new material all since the 1994 "Heads Off To Freedom" album, but there has never been an opportunity to finish it thoroughly. Now we felt it just seemed to be a convenient time, and we wanted to summon up the early material to leave room for new songs. A collection of remastered, remixed and previously unreleased songs; “Pax Vobiscum 1988-2001” will be released in a short time. Depending on the interest, there will be further new material released further on.
We keep on talking about influences.
- Our early material do have some really obvious references. We listened a lot to some EBM and goth bands back then, and the inspiration from bands like Nitzer Ebb, Front 242, Skinny Puppy and Sisters of Mercy was great especially on live performances. But in our music there has always been some distance expressed to that kind of music, I think. Nowadays, the influences are by far more diverse.
And your lyrics?
- Our lyrics have never been a subject of discussion, but I´ve seen them described as “politically aware”, which could maybe give a hint of the source of inspiration for some of the older songs. But there would be some really strange politics made out if they were referred to as political messages, I´m sure. As artists, we always considered the lyrics as a strong part of a song, but in the past I think we also did some unashamed exceptions from that rule.
/Sami Sinervä
Discography:
1989: The Guide MLP
1990: The Guide LP/CD
1991: Chased By Sunset LP/CD
1994: Heads Off To Freedom CD
+ Div. Compilations.
Side Projects: No Hotel (A.C, C.S), The Wasteland Screwers (J.N)
The official Scapa Flow homepage.
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Photo by Scapa Flow.
Photo by Scapa Flow.
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