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Interviewed by
Kim Alexander
via email
8 March, 1999

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Last Edit/Update
02 April, 2000

A Pre "Can Tour" Interview
with

Mark Spybey

we dataist.
(Click the logo above to read the Post Can Tour Interview)

Mark Spybey is best known for his work with Dead Voices On Air,
Download and Zoviet France, and has worked with such artists
as Damo Suzuki, Ryan Moore, James Plotkin, Eric Pounder and many others.
As of this writing, Mark was getting ready to tour in Germany with
the 30th anniversary of Can in April, 1999.
Here is what he has to say about this upcoming event in his life.

Last Sigh: You were pretty busy with your last DVOA release of Piss Frond. Now you are getting ready to leave for Europe on the Can tour. Who are you going to be working with over there, how long will you be staying in Europe?

Spybey: It's ironic really. Once a cd has been released, I feel little attachment to it. Reviews are usually received with a"ho-hum," kind of response. I do not operate at a level where I have to tour cd's to death (although I wouldn't, in theory, be against that ). So I haven't been busy with Piss Frond per se. The work for that finished a year ago. I *could* have toured it but I got the opportunity to tour with Damo Suzuki's Network instead, playing with James Plotkin. I would have been foolish to turn that offer down and if I had, this opportunity to play with Michael Karoli wouldn't have happened. DVOA is essentially a band now and we couldn't have taken five people out on Damo's tour , it would have been prohibitively expensive. I cannot really imagine a Can fan turning down such an offer. It's vital to network. *Especially* with members of Can!
    I was asked by Michael Karoli, who is Can's guitarist to accompany him as part of a project called SOFORTKONTAKT that he has assembled for a Can Anniversary tour. Their 30th anniversary. In addition, we will be joined by Thomas Hopf who played drums for Damo on his North American tour. I have to go to Michaels Outer Space Studio near Nice in France to rehearse and then to Germany, where the four Can shows will take place. I'll be away for close to 3 weeks. Each member of Can is doing a solo set. There are no plans apparently for them to play together.

Last Sigh: I imagine you are pretty excited to be going over there. How did that come about for you?

Spybey: Well Michael is a pretty shrewd observer! It's not as though he saw me on stage and said, " I want to work with you." After the tour ended with Damo, he contacted me quite out of the blue. Apparently, he listened to some tapes of the shows that I played as part of Damo's band and seemed to like what he heard. He has a very specific role for me. It's quite different to what I tend to do live but very inspiring.... and challenging. It's a great honour.

Last Sigh: What will you be presenting on this tour in terms of your music?  Who will you be doing what with?

Spybey: The concept is rooted in improvisation, attentive listening and chance. I am to focus on processing sound sources, those that are made by Michael and Thomas. As such I will be at times, an accomplice and at others a catalyst. It really depends on what I hear. I will have the ability to sample live. I use the word sample loosely. I am actually using a sampler but in a very direct way. I would say in an occasionally aggressive way. I will have inputs from the other musicians and a roving microphone so I can wander around the stage and capture sounds I like. Kind of like an acoustic archaeologist. I can then compose if I wish and directly influence what happens. It will be quite demanding.

Last Sigh: Are you currently working with anyone on other side projects? Or have you been asked to remix/cover anyone lately? Is there anyone you would be particularly interested in working with if you had the time to do so?

Spybey: There is a strong group of people who I feel creatively close to at the moment. The core is here in Vancouver. Darryl Neudorf, Sugarpill and Alexander Varty from the Piss Frond line-up. I recently jammed with Tim Olive who used to play with my friend Zev Asher, in Nimrod. He's a fabulous improviser. There's Ryan Moore [Twilight Circus, LPD] too, who is absolutely part of what I want to do. In Chicago I have Eric Pounder and Stephen Collins at The Lab. There's Dave Wright and Drew Fitzgerald from Not Breathing. In San Francisco there is I Am Spoonbender and Dropstar. Ironically, all those people are connected. I am close to Michael Rother and Dieter Moebius who I met through my manager Thomas Ziegler.  Thomas has made a significant difference to my work. He really has opened many doors. I want to do more work with cEvin but our schedules are in conflict at the moment. I have recorded many things since Piss Frond, mainly under the name Propeller and continue to collaborate as widely as I can.
    I see this Can trip as a watershed really. I hope it leads to other projects but if it doesn't at the very least I can say, " I was there." I totally oscillate between thinking, " that's it, I'm finished with all of this..it's becoming too important, too time consuming, too much work.." and longing to be able to devote myself wholly to my "art."  Whatever that is.
    Right now, there are a bunch of German bands that I'd love to connect with. The guys from Oval, Microstoria, Schlammpeitziger, Pluramon etc. Also a seriously great band from Toronto called " Do Make Say Think," whose cd for Constellation Records is one of the best things I've heard for ages. I love that kind of music.

Last Sigh: Can we get a report from you when you get back from Europe about the Can tour?

Spybey: Of course. I'd be delighted to.

Last Sigh: Thanks for your time in these busy days of yours. Is there anything else
you would like to comment on?

Spybey: You're welcome, I think I'll leave it at that.

Last Sigh: Have fun !

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