Gliss
UK Tour
July 2009
Questionnaire: Steve Bateman

“GLISS is hazy experimental fucked up pop.....delightfully wrecked..…GLISS is that split second of breathless exhilaration.....GLISS will turn you on with their fuzzed-out guitars and krautrock rhythms…..GLISS will love you back…..GLISS is happiest blowing your mind…..DEVOTION IMPLOSION feels like the morning after…..GLISS is being up all night.....swirling ominous fuzz.....an overdose of sound.....chaos…..dark propulsion beauty..…rock ‘n’ roll.….excess.….drowned in aural pleasure…..GLISS is shattered soundscapes that melt you into a DEVOTION IMPLOSION.” OFFICIAL GLISS BIOG EXTRACT

If you’re a fan of dark and dreamy, wall-of-sound fomenting rock ‘n’ roll, doused in reverb – the kind favoured by the likes of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Duke Spirit, Glasvegas, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Joy Formidable, My Bloody Valentine, The Raveonettes and The Smashing Pumpkins – then Gliss will most certainly be for you! Made up of Martin Klingman, Victoria Cecilia (an expatriate of Denmark) and Dave Reiss since 2004, after the original line-up split. The LA trio have just released their magnificent sophomore album, Devotion Implosion (Cordless Recordings), in the USA and are now set to hit British shores this coming July to promote their new single, Morning Light, which precedes the autumn release of Devotion Implosion here in the UK.

Regarded as “a more confident and cohesive record” than their debut EP, Kick In Your Heart, and debut LP, Love The Virgins. Devotion Implosion was self-produced, then mixed by Gareth Jones (Depeche Mode, Liars, Wire, Nick Cave, These New Puritans) and has been described as “conveying a sweet blend of harmonies that your ears will absolutely adore.” With other classifications including: “Mind-Altering”, “Crackling Guitar Work And Detached Fractured Beauty”, “Lush Shoegazed Nebulae” and “Icy Fuzzed-Out Rock Noir”. Or to put it another way, this is the blueprint, compass point or nerve-centre of Gliss, with the band’s effortless songs coming from laid-back jam sessions and their lyrics developing through a freeform style.

With renowned live shows that see the group constantly switching guitar, bass and drum duties throughout their sets – when asked about how this idea came about, Klingman told Paste Magazine: “You know when you get out of your comfort zone and it’s refreshing? That's exactly what it was. It was so refreshing to do the abnormal.” With Reiss adding: “Yeah, sometimes when we write the songs, we'll start jamming on this bass part and like, whatever, “Ah, it's not quite working. But I can hear you playing drums on that better than I can play drums on it, so let's switch and see what happens.” Sometimes it gels and fits. Martin: That's what it is. And it's almost like being too good on some things sometimes hinders bands. Sometimes it's great to be a little naïve. It brings that innocent energy back. That lack of knowledge, that lack of experience, benefits music.”

The three-piece also understands the importance of the Internet and fully harnesses its powers, by interacting with fans through regular blogs (www.gliss.tv) and linking users to important Gliss media coverage. Likening their songs to “following a path and inhabiting another world,” of Klingman himself, one music journalist wrote: “Singer Martin Klingman, like the deeply textured music he creates with multi-instrumentalists David Reiss and Victoria Cecilia, voices everything with hot immediacy and sharp detail. Gliss sound wrecked – but awesomely so.” Having been commended by and supported the likes of Billy Corgan, BRMC, Editors and the reformed Smashing Pumpkins in 2007 (even covering Rhinoceros for a tribute compilation co-ordinated by MySpace), 2009 will hopefully be the time when Gliss get their just deserts!

As an impressed newcomer, I sent a message to the group’s Management who then arranged for Victoria to partake in an e-mail Q&A – and like myself, I’m sure you’ll find the music of Gliss to be nothing but pure bliss…

1.Growing up, was there a song that changed your life or that stirred something deep inside of you?
“Black Sabbath - Sweet Leaf.”

2.Is it fulfilling for you all, to think that your work is now starting to be noticed on a much wider scale – and have the desires / inspirations that originally made you want to form a band, evolved over the years?
“It is fulfilling. My desires are still the same, and will probably never change.”

3.Do you have any special memories of places you’ve visited, bands you’ve met, or standout gigs so far?
“Plenty of great tours, but my greatest memory is the first tour I ever did. I remember the bus taking off after a gig, and I was lying in bed looking out the window thinking, “This is what I want to do with my life.”

4.What’s the story behind your name Gliss?
“There really isn't one.”

5.In reference to one of the ‘Top Five Lists’ in the novel / film, High Fidelity, from your personal record collection, what would you choose as your ‘Five Best Side One Track Ones’?
The Cure - Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me (Kiss)
Slowdive - Just For A Day (Spanish Air)
Gliss - Devotion Implosion (Morning Light)
AC/DC - Back In Black (Hell’s Bells)
The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust (Aly Walk With Me)

6.How long does it take you to distance yourselves from your songs, and to date, whose opinions on your work have had the biggest influence on the music that you make, i.e. people close to the band, fans or the music press?
“I never distance myself from the songs. Biggest influence would be bandmates.”

7.I read that you have your own recording space and can “mess with sounds as you wish,” but would you agree that making a record is like putting an intricate puzzle together?
“No, more like diving into a scary ocean.”

8.On a similar note, there was a recent debate about what the darkest and most uplifting albums ever recorded are. But what’s the darkest album and the most uplifting album in your record collection?
Darkest Album: Slowdive - Just For A Day
Most Uplifting Album: Bob Dylan - Highway 61

9.Do you think Pop Culture gets the recognition it deserves, and what inspires you outside of music?
“I don't have an opinion on Pop Culture. Outside of music, I get inspired by well-made movies.”

10.What’s the most interesting story behind one of your songs, and have you ever been left with the feeling, “We couldn’t have written that when we first started”?
“When we recorded Sister Sister, it was just a long jam. We love that.”

11.Can you reveal any of the lyrical themes in your new songs, and of all your lyrics to date, which line or song are you most proud of writing?
“Lyric themes are usually related to love and drugs.”

12.As music fans, can you remember your first ever gig and what does it mean to you to now play your songs live?
“It feels great to finally be able to tour all the time. I don't want it to ever change.”

13.To date, what has been the biggest surprise in your career?
“Getting a manager.”

14.If you could ask a musical hero anything, who would it be and what would you ask them?
“I would have liked to have met Jaco Pastorius. I wouldn't ask him anything, I would just like to watch him play.”

15.Lastly, chips or cream buns?
“Neither, I am a health freak ;-)”

A very special thanks to Victoria, and to Gliss’ Management Ray + Zuhair, for all of their time and help.

www.gliss.tv

www.myspace.com/gliss

“Sitting next to me
Nobody could sympathise
Only in my dreams
Everything comes to life”