Wildildlife - The turmoil of wild life

They come from San Francisco, they're a trio, and with “Six” (released on Crucial Blast) they've proven to be one of the most promising bands of the moment, as well as one of the revelations of the past year. They blend psychedelia, doom, stoner, noise, and traces of liquefied free-folk, all with a very, very deranged artsy streak. We had a chat with guitarist Matt, a truly one-of-a-kind character…

So, Matt… want to tell us a bit about how the Wildildlife adventure began?

It happened in a mold-infested basement, with staves branded by fire into the tattered carpet. Andy and I lived there, each playing in different bands, but often having fun putting something together together, just for kicks, remembering when we were younger. Then we started our own two-piece project called Bestdeathever: I played drums and sang, while Andy “shredded” various strings… We even did a Nas cover… something like that. Later on, though, we shifted the band's center of gravity toward the drums; we became even more nomadic and pissed off, turning into what we are today!

How would you define your music?

I'd say our way of creating is very "reactive". We react to each other constantly while we're playing or working on songs. Positively or negatively. We react to the audience and to our own souls when we play live. Basically, our style depends on our reactions to whatever surrounds us and influences us, letting all of that shape our sound and our performance. Our style is a kind of "reactive" channel. And a very noisy one too.

What are the psychological forces and factors behind your sound?

As far as I'm concerned, when I'm dealing with my music, I start thinking about all the roaring bullshit cluttering my mind, and I imagine fighting tooth and nail against it, trying to demolish it. Then, obviously, there's the "battle of love". And the shitty days…

Yeah, there's never a shortage of those… So, what does "Wildildlife" mean?

Uhhhhhhhhh. Smoking marijuana.

Ah, so I'd guessed something after all! Then again, there's something "hallucinated" about your music… But let's get back to it: what kind of music do you listen to, and which books/paintings/films have inspired you?

We all listen to a ton of stuff! There's a lot of things flying around our ears… and it's honestly hard to say which ones have influenced us the most. For a long time, I listened to a lot of Chain Reaction and Basic Channel. Andy, on the other hand, only listens to Mexican pop and Blue Oyster Cult, while Will just listens to the sound of his own blood. And even the bands we know personally are amazing!

Like who, for example?

New Thrill Parade, from San Francisco, are one of those bands everyone should listen to; Mammatus, on the other hand, are the greatest stoner outfit of all time!

Yeah, Mammatus are pretty badass, I have to admit, even though they haven't yet recorded an album worthy of their potential…

Then there's the new Black Dice: (“Load Blown“, editor's note) I quite like that one too, while the second Psychic TV album, which my roommate lent me, has become one of my essential listens. Truly great music, man!

I just finished reading Bataille's "Story of the Eye", and now I'm waiting for my Erection to catch up with my Brain… (!, editor's note).

Hahahaha… I can imagine, I can imagine… Meanwhile, over here in Italy, politics keeps getting worse. There's this whole mass of cut-rate politicians who only care about their own interests. What about over there? What's your take on the current American socio-political situation?

It's kind of like: "We don't agree with any of it, not with a single thing… and we try to steer clear of it, even though that turns out to be pretty hard to do!".

I know it's not easy, especially because sooner or later you find yourself dragged in one way or another. Still, pretending nothing's happening doesn't get you very far... So: Obama or Hillary Clinton?

I'd say Obama... though in the end they're all just a bunch of politicians.

Right, there's no escaping it! Anyway, I'm rooting for Obama too: let's hope for the best! You know I write for a webzine... What do you think about the spread of this new kind of "music journalism"?

Honestly – and I think I can speak for the other two members of the band too – I don't think any of us really has a clear idea of what's going on... though it does seem "cool" to me, and the internet is really something strange and "impressive," and I want to release our next record exclusively on Second Life... and I want to stop moving house... or something like that. By the way: your webzine looks really interesting and well put together!

Ah, thanks! We've actually been "in the scene" for a few years now and I have to admit things are really taking off for us... And what do you think about peer-to-peer, about being able to download pretty much all the music in the world?

"Peer-to-peer" to me means playing ping-pong with my roommates!

And what about the i-pod revolution?

The i-pod, on the other hand, is good for killing them! I have a "nano." It's small. The smaller ones are the best, I've always said that!

I've never wanted to buy one... Also, I refuse to put a CD player in my car... The old cassette tapes still reign supreme... and I really enjoy "Six" while stuck in city traffic. Oh, speaking of tapes: tell me about your USPUTUSPUD project? Somewhere online I read something about "dark and droney ambience"... for fans of Yellow Swans, Skaters and Quetzolcoatl...

Well, yeah... a few guitars, a harmonica... a 4-track recorder... Come on, I'll send you something... and then you tell me what you think.

To me your music has a twofold meaning: physical and spiritual (I'm thinking, for instance, of that gem "Magic Jordan").

I'd rather talk to you in person than sit here typing on the computer... I'd like to ask you what you mean by "physical" and "spiritual." I don't know how those two concepts differ from each other, or whether instead they converge, blending together... Then again, I'm not sure about a lot of things... But I'll tell you this: if that song has a meaning, it only has one! BUT! I don't want any of our songs to stay tied down to what it means or might mean to us... I mean... that old story about how everyone can find something of their own in it, and blah-blah, blah-blah...

"Six" is the best album of 2007, as far as I'm concerned. I'd be curious to hear your favorites, though...

Thanks so much, Francesco! Hmm... a lot of my favorite records from 2007 are actually things that came out more than twenty years ago... so, I don't know, I don't think I can really answer that question... I will say, though, that "The Coast Explodes" by Mammatus is one of the greatest albums ever... and it happens to be a 2007 record. The The Field album ("From Here We Go Sublime," ed.) is also a great listen. I also like the Valet record ("Blood Is Clean," ed.) and the Monarch one ("Die Tonight") out on Crucial Blast. Monarch have recorded a ton of great stuff... it's really hard to narrow it down.

Did you know the guitar on "Things Will Grow" reminds me a bit of certain Les Savy Fav? Am I crazy?

I'd be tempted to say yes, Francesco, if it weren't for the fact that I love that band! I think it's because of the delay! I also think there's something of Big Country in that track. Are you a fan of Big Country, by any chance?

No. But I'll work hard at it! Anyway, I'm a curious guy... so I'd love to know more about the music that influenced you most, the stuff that shaped your musical, human and spiritual makeup the most...

Man, that's a really tough question to answer, my friend... Still, I'll give it a shot... even if the names I come up with are mostly about me and not the rest of the band... So, let's see... in no particular order:

1) Harvey Milk – "Courtesy And Goodwill Towards Men/My Love Is Higher"... (these records showed me just how "heaviness" can be "amazing", musically speaking! Plus, they tug at my heartstrings and make me feel like "shit"!)

2) Yes – "Close To The Edge" (some of my best friends played it for me at a particular moment in my life... back then, I only knew "Fragile"... another great record. But "Close To The Edge" is probably the best record I've ever heard. It's the one I've played the most by far, and I think it's influenced what I do in one way or another.

3) Swans – "The Great Annihilator" (this was the first Swans record I ever heard, and it's still one of my favourites in their catalogue. These days I love them all. I really can't tell you how much power this music has had over my mind!

4) Kiss – "Destroyer" (fuck yeah!)

There'd be others too, but I really couldn't say right now...

Will we ever see Wildildlife in Italy?

We'd all be very honoured! Maybe you can tell us how to make that happen! Give us some pointers... I hope to be in Italy this year... if everything goes the right way.

Okay then... let's see what we can do... But tell me, do you like any Italian bands?

Well, definitely Ufomammut... They're truly "HEAAAAAVYYYYYY" and they kick ass! Then there's "Pollution" by Battiato, which recently made it into my favourite records. A friend of mine once had me listen to Starfuckers on repeat, and I liked them a ton, but I haven't been able to track them down since!

Yes, they're among the best bands to come out of Italy... Maybe I'll send you a copy...

Italy rules, my friend.

… though maybe a bit less so lately…

Ha, maybe you'll tell me about it later…

What should we expect from your next record? Right now there's this Ep out, “Peas Feast“, which is pretty great!

Ah, speaking of which: thanks for reviewing it… I don't read Italian, but I know you did a good job! As for our next record, right now we're in a reflection phase… We're waiting to see what happens… But I think it'll sound like Judas Priest. Luckily, in the meantime we've got a few Eps to keep in circulation, like this “Peas Feast”. Hell Bent For Pleather, forever!

Ok, I think that'll do it. What can I say: thanks so much for your time and for your music!

Thank you, Francesco… I know we'll be good friends…

I have no doubt. See you soon!

(07/02/2008)

Ride the wave of great music

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