This was the first time I’ve seen Daedelus (aka Alfred Weisberg-Roberts) since he was at the Keepintime gig at Cargo last year. He was looking really good and relaxed and looking forward to his trip to Banquet Records. After all, this was the birthplace of Beggars Banquet Records in 1997 with The Lurkers. The label’s early output covered many styles including Tubeway Army/Numan, Bauhaus and the classic Brit Jazz Funker by Freeez, ‘Summer Freeez’!

The shop is no longer linked to the label (having their own called Gravity DIP) but they certainly have a wide range of stock in the shop where Daedelus records feature prominently on Ninja Tune, Mush and Plug Research .

Billed as “An exciting in store appearance”, it certainly was as a mix of DJ, laptop, box where he contorts anything from classics like ‘Girls’ by Moments & Whatnauts, to Dublab, Latin, Techno, a bit of Drum’n’Bass, hip-hop and electro boogie disco with his own classics ‘Something Bells’ and ‘Impending Doom’ (with MF Doom). It was particularly good as by the end the speakers in the shop were beginning to struggle with the low end and sounded ready to blow up!

The enthusiastic crowd were mightily impressed and before he did a Q&A session and signed autographs, he cajoled Buddy Peace (who works in the shop) to record a short ‘rap’ into the laptop which Daedelus then manipulated with ‘the Box’ thus making Buddy an instant star.

Back on the train to London, I asked him how he thought it went?
I wanted to do something a bit different to what I’ve been doing on the tour (with Zero DB) so I wasn’t sure what I was going to do but I played a bit of everything and some new stuff.

The fans are always interested in ‘the box’ (which is now commercial available in a slightly different form as a Monome; pronounced mono-me)
I don’t like to use the laptop too much as it sucks away your soul but it was good to see everyone having a good time and the EMO kids hanging around to see what was going on.

I wondered if you remember saying to B+ and Eric “You’ve influenced my next album more than you’d think” last year? Have they heard Denies the Days Demise yet/what have they said?
They have heard odds and ends, decidedly early bits, and now with the finals I believe they have a few tracks they’ve played out. Of course their take on the action is quite different, I think they hear the dance in it more so than anything else.

At what point did you decide to go samba crazy on the tracks or did you get the inspiration first and the tracks came later?
Inspiration first on the whole. Not to get lost in concept, each person’s take on the sounds is as valid as my own, but samba is a decidedly huge musical form. My slight take on some of its edges was prolific enough for a record and for a change. It just came and swept me away.

‘Sunrise’ is one of your best tracks now and it fits perfectly between the old material and the Brazilian influences…
Nothing falls far from the tree and somehow ‘Sundown’ is this attempt at a mad pollination. The video then was trying to convey the big concept of the record, the world-on-fire-fight and the simple act of dreaming away. And then there’s the steam punk/Victorian stuff I like so much throw in as well (see links below to see the video).

Just for the record, what it is that’s said on the vocal snippet on ‘Lights Out’?
Various permutations of “When I’m saying my rhymes all the girlies look”.

You’ve already got the title to the next album sorted (Love To Make Music To), does that mean you’ve got tunes to compose?
Well it’s about halfway there or just about ready to be completely redone. I’m always on the fence about these things, not having the most confidence, but certainly it’s well along.

Can we have some more of your bass clarinet playing as it must be one of the most neglected instruments in music today and is that where you get your love of 50s cinema soundtracks?
Bass clarinet is a lovely one, and since it’s one of the few I play with any knowledge it’ll be a constant — guaranteed. My love of film music really stems first from the movies themselves, I think the music was an actor in much of those films, sometimes director in fact, I’m like a moth to the flame with that.

What are your favourite films of that period?
That might compromise trade secrets, if that’s vague enough.

It’s odd that Ammoncontact have gone and got even more collaborators than normal on their new album (With Voices) and you’ve gone solo. I think both albums compliment one another is a strange way?
I certainly hope so as we’re on the same label after all and Ninja does have some master plan, sinister or feigned. In Los Angeles, I think there is a lot of rubbing off on each other, I’m always listening to producers there and there never seems to be an end to their invention/s.

Getting back to the samba, what the gigs with Zero dB been like?
Fantastic, those two can DJ up a storm, sometimes a gusting things that rumbles in and then suddenly it’s calm as all that, then quick again, hurricanes. Talented nights and I’m just happy to listen in, but it’s been good for me as well. New technology, trying new stuff every nights, it’s been a blast.

Anything else our readers should be aware of happening?
A world of music just within reach everywhere is the best thing that’s ever happened in the history of the universe, seriously what could be better?

I know what he means and although he was just about to start his delayed honeymoon, I should have dragged him off to the Max Cole and Planet Rescue gig at Guanabara. Having said that, it continues to be a “busy month” for Daedelus as the next day he was off to record a session at Maida Vale Huw Stevens. They met at SXSW this year and Huw organised a gig with some Welsh rapping (Wales being Alfred’s imaginary homeland). From the write-up on the OneMusic site (13th June), it sounds like it was a great success and I for one will be definitely tuning in tonight even though there’s a great alternative!

Next UK Tour Dates:
Friday, 23 June: Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff - Daedelus, Live
Saturday, 24 June: Cargo, London - Soundclash: One Self, Live - Daedelus, Live - Safrolla Sounds, Live - Dj Food
Cargo, 83 Rivington St, London, EC2A, (Old St / Liverpool St) www.cargo-london.com

Links:
www.ninjatune.net
‘Sundown’ Video
www.myspace.com/daedelusdarling
www.beggars.com
Banquet Records. Address:, 52 Eden Street, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey. Phone:, 020 8549 5871. Times:, Open from 10:00 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday www.banquetrecords.com
LA Times - “Monome, oh my - Avant-beatmaker and noise experimentalist Daedelus ties the knot” monome.org:3000 Forums
www.myspace.com/ydiwygiad
Daedelus and Y Diwygiad in session for OneMusic
Huw Stevens : Tracklisting 6th June 2006 : Daedelus - ‘Sundown’ (LP - Denies the Days Demise) (Ninjatune)
www.waxdj.com WaxDj Invitational & Birthday Party! “First and foremost, WaxDj would like to thank everyone who has supported us for almost 1.5 years. While our huge anniversary party is still to come, we’re throwing another Invitational (where we invite WaxDjs to play) and celebrating the birthday of WaxDj’s Founder, Sumbry. Saturday June 24th, at Spundae LA, from 11pm-4am Sumbry and WaxDj will be taking over the Spundae Lounge (@ Circus) and dropping some dope beats for your enjoyment,