BLANK DOGS mysterious atmosphere Julen Azpitarte
There is a mysterious personality behind the name Blank Dogs. There is never a photo on the records and interviews and concerts are hardly ever given. Recently there was a fake interview published in the mythical Stateside punk fanzine Maximum Rockandroll. So how is it that media and fans from all over the world have got interested? The answer is in the records. New York's Blank Dogs is a complete workaholic. Every year a long list of recordings are brought out on numerous labels, always in limited editions and mostly on vinyl. What is to be found on this mysterious artist's recordings? To put it in a few words, they could be lo-fi Joy Division covers. The sound brings together the punk group Chrome and Kraftwerk's electronica, becoming acid-dream drenched pop melodies. "I love pop music. 60's pop, 70's power-pop, c86-style English groups and Kiwi material (New Zealand pop-rock). Many of my favourite groups are pure pop. The Go Betweens, Television Personalities and stuff like that. I'd say my stuff is pop too, but with a particular atmosphere", said Blank Dogs to the balde via e-mail.
Be that as it may, until now Blank Dogs has got most attention from the Internet-based garage band network. "I don't much care for modern garage-punk, although there are some good groups. I don't think anybody could get close to the 60's garage or 70's and 80's punk. And if you put the two style together, who could reach the standards set by the Oblivians, Headcoats and Dead Moon? Nobody. I think that scene's a little bit stuck, and that means that groups with one foot in indie rock and the other in the noise/experimental area have infiltrated it. The experimental scene's beating the garagepunk fans".
After bringing out numerous records on lots of different labels, a new record is about to be released on the In The Red label and I'm sure the commercial magazines will start talking about it right away. "It could happen. For me it's important to work with as many labels as possible and to do what I want. In The Red gave me the chance to do what I want to. With no limits".
Speaking about that, we asked where so many songs had come from for so many records: "It's different each time. I don't have a bag full of songs. For me it's normal to write a lot of songs. Look at the artists from the 60's, they've got a huge catalogue. For them it was normal to bring out a couple of LPs and a few singles every year". Just like Blank Dogs. In addition to that, the songs' lo fi sound is significant. The amateur daring used in recording synthesizers, psychodelic atmospheres and post-punk rhythms gives the work a special charm. "Sometimes I record at home, sometimes other places. Never in a typical studio atmosphere". The atmosphere is essential, what makes it special.
Be that as it may, until now Blank Dogs has got most attention from the Internet-based garage band network. "I don't much care for modern garage-punk, although there are some good groups. I don't think anybody could get close to the 60's garage or 70's and 80's punk. And if you put the two style together, who could reach the standards set by the Oblivians, Headcoats and Dead Moon? Nobody. I think that scene's a little bit stuck, and that means that groups with one foot in indie rock and the other in the noise/experimental area have infiltrated it. The experimental scene's beating the garagepunk fans".
After bringing out numerous records on lots of different labels, a new record is about to be released on the In The Red label and I'm sure the commercial magazines will start talking about it right away. "It could happen. For me it's important to work with as many labels as possible and to do what I want. In The Red gave me the chance to do what I want to. With no limits".
Speaking about that, we asked where so many songs had come from for so many records: "It's different each time. I don't have a bag full of songs. For me it's normal to write a lot of songs. Look at the artists from the 60's, they've got a huge catalogue. For them it was normal to bring out a couple of LPs and a few singles every year". Just like Blank Dogs. In addition to that, the songs' lo fi sound is significant. The amateur daring used in recording synthesizers, psychodelic atmospheres and post-punk rhythms gives the work a special charm. "Sometimes I record at home, sometimes other places. Never in a typical studio atmosphere". The atmosphere is essential, what makes it special.
