Efter en lång tids tystnad så presenterade kanadensiska Psyche äntligen nytt material, när man i tidigare den här månaden släppte den nya singeln “Youth of Tomorrow” (se videon nedan).

I samband med detta släppte man även samlingen “Brave New Waves Session” och nu är det dags igen när den klassiska synthpopakten, med Darrin Huss i spetsen, presenterar den kommande “Under the Radar”, som utöver ett antal samarbeten, remixer, alternativa versioner, covers och spår som tidigare endast har släppts digitalt, även presenterar en demoversion av den nya låten med samma titel som är skriven av DJ Shunt.

Bland kollaboratörerna så finner vi bland andra Robert Enforsen (Elegant Machinery, Hype), Red Industrie och Luminance och bland de medverkande remixmakarna i sin tur akter som RadicalG, Netz och DJ Ram.

Psyche albumdebuterade med “Insomnia Theatre” (1985), har släppt ett dussin studioalbum och var senast aktuella med “The 11th Hour” som släpptes via Metropolis Records 2005.

“Under the Radar” släpps den 12 januari via Other Voices Records.

Tracklist

01. Disorder (Elegy Mix)
02. Unveilling The Secret 30
03. Angel Lies Sleeping (Spanish Extended Mix)
04. Haunted (Noche Mix)
05. Defenseless (Cease Fire Mix by Netz)
06. Things That Dreams Are Made Of (Party Monster Mix)
07. My Preservation (DJ RAM Original Mix)
08. Left Out (ft. Luminance)
09. Uncivillized (Train Station Radio)
10. Lie To Me
11. The Damned Don’t Cry
12. Strength (Single Mix)
13. The Saint Became A Lush (RadicalG Rework)
14. The Crawler (Elektrokombinat-Ost Remix)
15. Sanctuary (Drunkness Remix)
16. The Hiding Place (Acoustic)
17. Under The Radar

I år är det 30 år sedan kanadensiska Psyche debuterade med “Insomnia Theatre”.

Först ut i raden av hyllningar till den legendariska akten kommer från Radio Body Music som nu ger nu ut det digitala hyllningsalbumet “Unforgotten Rhymes – A Tribute to Psyche”.

Bland de 21 spåren som inkluderar bidrag från Parralox, Leaether Strip, The Invincible Spirit och Technoir för att nämna några finner vi även nordiska inslag från Neurobash, Dead Eyes Open och Technomancer.

Se hela tracklisten, lyssna på några smakprov och förbeställ albumet nedan!

Psyche bildades av bröderna Darrin och Stephen Huss i Edmonton 1982 och fick sitt stora genombrott med undergroundhiten “The Brain Collapses” och har sedan slutet av åttiotalet släppt ett antal starka album med klassiker som “Unveiling the Secret”, “Goodbye Horses”, “Murder in Your Love” och “Sanctuary”.

“Unforgotten Tears – A Tribute to Psyche” släpps den 4 maj via Radio Body Music.

Samtidigt som Psyche arbetar på ett nytt album, som är planerat för släpp under nästa år, så passar man på att ge fansen chansen att ta del av samlingen “Rare Mixes & B-sides.

Alltsammans görs tillgängligt digitalt på bandcamp och bland de dryga dussinet utvalda spåren finner vi bland annat ett antal utgångna CD-singlar, livespår och andra rariteter.

Samtliga spår har remastrats speciellt för detta ändamål.

I samma veva presenterar man även en digital utgåva av klassikern “Insomnia Theatre” (via itunes) som även kommer kompletteras med en helt ny “Halloween EP”.

Till alla de som beställer via bandcamp ges även en tidigare helt outgiven version av “The Crawler” som exklusivt bonusspår, men det gäller att snabba sig då detta bara ligger uppe de första sju dagarna.

De som vill se Psyche live bör bege sig till K17 i Berlin och Start the Engine Festivalen där bandet spelar den 21 september.

Nu är det officiellt. Darrin Huss’ Psyche ersätter tyska And One i London den 19 februari för att fira 25-års jubileum för debutalbumet “Insomnia Theatre”. Albumet har nyligen släppts i en jubileumsutgåva.

Psyche får sällskap på O2 Academy Islington den 19 februari av Tenek, Cybercide och Artemis Rise.

Bandet släppte nyligen “Re-Membering Dwayne” till den tidige (nu avlidne) Psyche – och Skinny Puppy-medlemmen Dwayne R. Goettel‘s ära. Missa inte heller vår senaste intervju med Darrin Huss, samt intervjun från Psyche‘s senaste sverigebesök i våras.

Vi tog ett snack med Psyche‘s Darrin Huss med tanke på nyss släppta hyllningsalbumet till Dwayne Goettel – “Re-Membering Dwayne”. Läs vår recension av albumet här. Vi gjorde även en intervju med Darrin Huss i samband med Psyche‘s sverigebesök i våras som du finner här. (Intervju publiceras efter önskemål på originalspråket.)

ElektroSkull: Hi Darrin, so how are things?

Darrin Huss: Hi Jens! Well, crazy as usual actually, just getting ready to fly home for the EBM-fest (Canada).

ElektroSkull: Great! So, how is the good old heart? Still ticking?

Darrin Huss: Yeah, it’s been 1 year since the OP. But it does have it’s interesting challenges. My performance is not affected though so far.

ElektroSkull: That sounds great! So it’s been a few months since the last interview with us at ElektroSkull – Synthportalen. At that time you told us briefly about the upcoming “Re-Membering Dwayne” release. And now we finally got it in our hands. This release must have been very special and emotional for you. In what way would you describe it? What’s it been like to dive into that vault again?

Darrin Huss: It’s actually hard to do in a way. I don’t like to look back too much. I tend to get very melancholic with nostalgia, but listening to the demos we made with Dwayne again was actually very worthwhile, and inspiring as I have actually not been to creative with new music the last five years. It was good to hear what Psyche started with, and I am still a fan of my early work.

ElektroSkull: Is it all just nostalgia, or are there any reminders that could be inspirational for forthcoming stuff?

Darrin Huss: Actually yes, I mean I still relate to my lyrics for Krieg, and tracks like Torture and the Crawler are still very unique, so I hope maybe I will find a way to follow this sound a bit closer than i have in the past.

ElektroSkull: That sounds interesting. So you’re saying that making this album of all those old demos could actually give us a retro-Psyche-kind of sound on future songs? Or atleast give you that kind of inspiration through your work you with the old recordings?

Darrin Huss: Yes, I have been looking for the right continuation for a while. I’ll be honest I have made compromises, with The 11th Hour I was slowly finding my way back, but it was much too dark and Psyche is in fact synthpop with a psychedelic twist. I think it would be great to follow up “Re-Membering Dwayne” with the right sound, but keeping it relevant for now.

ElektroSkull: Yes. But the minimal synthpop of the eighties sure is coming back even on the mainstream scene. Even Robyn is doing minimal electropop now. So are there thoughts of actually getting another album out soon? Anything floating around in there, new songs, ideas and so on?

Darrin Huss: I’m still a born rebel, I hate the fact that Robyn and La roux are hip now. Robyn even sample DAF, but that doesn’t make these people great. I mean sure I would love it if Yazoo came back, but like I said one must still move on and not become a pastiche of their old sound. I want to surprise people, but at the same time continue with something that can be discovered years later. We’re definitely in strange times. But electronic music means too much to me not to try and continue to be challenging.

ElektroSkull: No I guess you’re right there. But I think you’ve managed that very well with Psyche over the years. You’ve kept your sound but the development is obvious and ofcourse you have to find new ways of doing things as an artist. What about the side projects and guest appearances? Have there been any since the guest vocals you made for Red Industrie’s “My Victory”?

Darrin Huss: I did a remix and a bit of a vocal for Plastikman. I believe that will be out in October. There’s a few other things, but mainly it’s time for a new Psyche album soon.

ElektroSkull: How would you decribe “Re-Membering Dwayne”, from a fan point of view, listener point of view and from a Psyche point of view? What do we get here?

Darrin Huss: As for “Re-Membering Dwayne” I just love the atmosphere it creates. It’s before people cared about club hits, and all that nonsense. It’s pure atmospheric electronic music. I figure Krieg is a song people of any age can relate to.

ElektroSkull: And then Michael Arthur Halloway (Dead When I found her) and a couple of others actually made brand new remixes of a couple of the old songs that make them live further into the future. I’m actually putting the DWIFH remix in a DJ-set soon positive it will work fine at club-level even in 2010, that must also be inspirational?

Darrin Huss: Thanks, yeah I really like the DWIFH mix, it’s clubby but tasteful!

ElektroSkull: I chose not to grade “Re-membering Dwayne” in my review, because as a huge Psyche-fan I didnt want to grade it, because there are different sort of grading to this kind of work. To me it was more of a interesting kind of background. A look into what started it all. What do you think of the reponsen so far to this album?

Darrin Huss: We’re playing Krieg and The Crawler now in our set. I am having fun reliving these songs as a part of our present repertoire. It gives me a feeling of security, like a homecoming to what you’re all about. A nice way to feel young again as well. The response has been quite good. I hope it appeals in general to people who just like to discover what makes synth music so unique without an agenda.

ElektroSkull: Great stuff! So what are the plans as for right now? Any special things planned? And could you give any hint about when a new album could possibly be around?

Darrin Huss: Well, we’ve been doing special shows under the heading “Electronic Legends” with NO MORE (famous for the song Suicide Commando). The combination seems to be working well for both bands, bringing in slightly different audiences. I will be at the airport tomorrow on the way to Canada for our one off appearance at Toronto’s EBM Fest. I am making demos for a new album, but first we will re-release “Insomnia Theatre” on vinyl!

ElektroSkull: Vinyl! OOH! Damn, it is all coming back isnt it? I went to MediaMarkt the other day and there was a 20 feet shelve with vinyls and record players!

Darrin Huss: We’ll play with DAF next year. Yeah, I’m kinda riding the nostalgia wave a bit while I gather my thoughts for the new Psyche.

ElektroSkull: Great stuff! DAF and Psyche would work for me for sure!! So, any last words for the fans?

Darrin Huss: Definitely! I am grateful that despite never being in the charts that we’ve always had such a warm welcome in Sweden and that so many have supported us in the last 25 years. It does my heart proud to have given people something with my music, and I continue to enjoy it. Hope to see our Scandinavian audience again soon!

Psyche‘s frontman Darrin Huss släppte nyligen “Re-Membering Dwayne”, en hyllningsskiva till den avlidne Psyche – och sedmera Skinny Puppy-medlemmen Dwayne R. Goettel. Darrin fortsätter nu gräva i sina arkiv.

Lagom till dess 25-års jubileum släpper man nu en helt nyremastrad utgåva av debutalbumet – “Insomnia Theatre” från 1985. Utgåvan släpps på 2 x LP via V.O.D. Records (Vinyl On Demand Records).

Första leveranserna kommer enligt rykten kunna ske under december.

Psyche kommer också spela live tillsammans med tyska D.A.F. under Mars 2011 och är bokad till svenska SGA Festival 2011 som hålls utomhus norr om Stockholm nästa sommar.

Efter att ha släppt diverse egenproducerat material på kassett under det tidiga åttiotalet fick Psyche kontrakt med franska New Rose Records. Efter en uppdatering av originalmixen av det tidiga materialet samt tillägg med låtar som “Mr. Eyeball Ooze”, “On The Edge” och “Wrench” släpptes debutalbumet “Insomnia Theatre” 1985.

Fantastiska recensioner i brittiska pressen (som NME och Melody Maker) samt bra skivförsäljning runtom i hela världen gav Psyche möjligheter att pröva lyckan på allvar även i Europa.

Efter ett par uppföljande EP’s – “Contorting The Image” (som bland annat innehöll hiten “Why Should I?”) och den sedan länge utgångna rariteten “Thundershowers”, anlände Psyche i Paris för att spela in det andra albumet “Unveiling The Secret” (1986).

Vår recension av “Re-Membering Dwayne” hittar du här. Vi gjorde även en intervju med Darrin Huss i samband med sverigebesöket i maj, som du finner här.

ElektroSkulls huvudskribent Jens Atterstrand tog ett snack med Darrin C. Huss i samband med Psyche‘s sverigebesök i mitten av maj. Det blev ett intressant djupdyk i musikskapande, dåtid, nutid, och framtid. Om gästspel på andra skivor, men också om den trogna fanskaran i små länder som Sverige och Norge.

Vi får en intressant inblick i hur frontmannen själv analyserar tiden  som passerat sedan Psyche mötte synthpubliken för första gången, för snart tre decennium sedan.

Låt oss för en stund förflytta oss tillbaka till åttiotalet, precis som om det var förra veckan! – Vadå?? Det var ju förra veckan?! Nåväl, åtminstone för en del av oss..

ElektroSkull: Welcome back to Sweden, Darrin! It has been five years since the your last visit, and your first time ever in Stockholm. Are there any special reasons for that, or just the simple fact of fitting concerts in a tour schedule, among the tough financial situation for club owners on our small scene?

Darrin: Yes, you answered it really. I have asked to be in Tinnitus, and some other events in Stockholm over the years, but Psyche was never booked for these shows, and the last show in Sweden was five years ago at Klub Statisch, and before that Romo Night in Gothenburg. We used to play regularly in Gothenburg because of one promoter there. The same with Norway. It’s all about who you know in this small scene, and also who is interested. Also now, many events don’t happen anymore, and also some of the club owners look for other bands, or whatever. Psyche hasn’t had an official new album to promote since 2005, but we never really only went on tour for that reason, so it all depends. Thanks to Karl’s interest in having Psyche play at Rotor, we finally made it to Stockholm.

Psyche med Magnus Gladén, Live i Stockholm, Nalen/Alcazar (Club Rotor) 2010-05-12

Foto: Diana Malm

ElektroSkull: Do you have any special memories from Sweden in the past?

Darrin: Yes, we had an amazing time at a Student Union location in Lund. It was one hell of a hot concert, and crazy audience. The performance of “Prisoner To Desire” is on our “Imaginary Life” DVD. You can see what a great audience we have in Sweden. For awhile Göteborg was like a second home for Psyche shows. I’ll also never forget our nights at Nuclear Nation in Linköping, and our summer tour with S.P.O.C.K in 1991.

ElektroSkull: Considering the quite small fanbase in Sweden and Norway (compared to Germany and bigger countries) we still have got our fair share of Psyche on stage down the years. Have Sweden and Norway always been special, or are there any special reasons?

Darrin: Interestingly when Psyche had their first European Tour we had a massive audience at our first show in Sweden, so this country has really been as big a market for synthpop as Germany ever was. Norway, and Denmark followed later, and we have some true fans in Norway who bring us over every two years or so. I know that we were even an inspiration for Apoptygma Bezerk in the beginning, and we also had Icon Of Coil as our support for their first ever show in their home country, so we have a good history with the Scandinavian audience.

ElektroSkull: You’ve been around for quite some time now. We’re looking at 25 years since “Insomnia Theatre” (Psyche’s debutalbum red. anm.) this year. In what way can you look back at the different decades,  and in what way have the times been different for Psyche?

Darrin: Yeah, soon it’s going to be a wheelchair and walking cane for me, ha ha. I can still remember alot of the early performances, and my feelings about creating the songs, but it does seem like a different person sometimes. I know why I wrote Brain Collapses, and Children Carry Knives, and what came later, and if I just look at the music and albums I’ve made, it seems to be consistent and make sense to me. In relation to alot of what has happened in the different decades, I don’t know, it’s weird, but “the more things change the more they stay the same” almost seems true these days. Only I still believe the 80s were better than the 90s. The latest decade has been interesting, but things seem to regulated and I think we’re losing the younger audience to fashion trends. However there is hope as the teenagers today are discovering the sounds of the 80s through their parents, and some are into this sound again now. We’ve always been like the outcast band, even in our own scene, so that hasn’t changed much really!

Psyche med Magnus Gladén, Live i Stockholm, Nalen/Alcazar (Club Rotor) 2010-05-12

Foto: Diana Malm

ElektroSkull: You have done alot of other things beside Psyche. You’ve worked with Vanishing Heat,The Eternal Afflict, and obviously the sideproject Inside aswell. Then we’ve heard you with you with Aiboforcen, Fading Colours, Sara Noxx, and as backing vocalist on Invisble Limits “Violence” album. Recently you’ve also made a vocal guest appearence on Red Industrie’s debut album Switch on the song My Victory. I suppose all of the other work have been in some way inspirational but are there any special ones you remember for some special reason? How was working with Electro-legends like Anne Clarke and Sara Noxx for example?

Darrin: Anne Clark is a legend, Sara Noxx isn’t quite there in my opinion. My most enjoyable collaboration was taking part on the Fading Colours EP. Decoy has a fantastic and powerful voice, and I really liked that song. Inside was fun, but the sounds weren’t as good as what Psyche does. I really enjoyed the Red Industrie guest vocal, and I recently did something for the Polish band CABARET that I’m looking forward to hearing on their final album. Another highlight for me was when I covered Rational Youth’s “City Of Night” and they did “Unveiling The Secret” in return on a compilation called Undercover.

ElektroSkull: Musical development from your earlier years until today are obvious, but I still I think you’ve always kept the balance and never got too far away from your sound. Are there any special thought of musical development for Psyche or does it just come naturally in what you want to achieve?

Darrin: Thanks for that, other people seem to think we changed completely, and I realize that we are not exactly using the same instruments like on the first two albums, but I am still writing my classic Psyche lyrics, and the song structures are still very unique to what we started with. I guess my voice is definitely a recognizable aspect, and also I do have an ingrown loyalty to continuing what my brother and I first started. I have a specific feeling for what makes the “Psyche” sound even with other collaborators.

ElektroSkull: You obviously started up with your brother back in the eighties. Since then we’ve seen changes and additions to the Psyche lineup. It what ways have this affected the work as a band in the studio, on stage and so on?

Darrin: Psyche has remained pretty much a duo, especially in the studio. When I decided to stay in Germany, I asked my brother if I could continue Psyche without him, and started in 1995 anew with Per-Anders Kurenbach who in fact is Swedish/German. That was for the next 5 years, then I had Remi Szyszka as a member from 2000 up to 2005. He’s originally from Poland, so it’s kind of funny that my keyboarders were related to the country that we were extra popular in at the time. My connection to Poland has been really cool since the early 90s in fact. At the moment I haven’t a permanent band lineup, so I’ve had to hire different people for some recent shows. I’m still working on a solution to that situation.

Psyche med Magnus Gladén, Live i Stockholm, Nalen/Alcazar (Club Rotor) 2010-05-12

Foto: Diana Malm

ElektroSkull: Last summer was the first time for almost ten years in Poland and the Castle Party festival for example. What festivals and shows are you especially looking forward to this summer and why?

Darrin: I would’ve been looking forward to something like Mera Luna, or Arvika, but for some reason we’ve never been considered, so the summer is pretty empty this year. I have only the Secret Garden Festival in Hannover, and Dungeon Open Air in August.

ElektroSkull: You’ve travelled the world in the past and have been on stage on alot of continents and many countries. Do you feel you’ve “seen it all” or are there still any special places you would like to go?

Darrin: I’m really glad we’ve played in Australia, and that was quite a highlight. Cape Town in South Africa was also amazing. But I still want to experience South America, and eventually Japan. I’d be happy with that I guess. Russia never worked out so far unfortunately, but for some reason I’m more attracted to France and Germany where Psyche was initially welcomed. We’ve only made a few small steps in North America, but I’m not obsessed with being bigger there. Anyway whether or not with Psyche, or just as a tourist, there’s still a few places I’d like to see, and also go back to again. I love Mexico too, only been twice, and would like to see more.

ElektroSkull: So summertime is around the corner. Have you scheduled any time off or will there be all work during the summer? What do you personally do to relax? Are there any hobbies apart from the music, the film interest I know you have? Fishing? Camping or Sunbathing?

Darrin: I actually have free time this summer because we had a fair amount of shows last summer, and then I had my heart operation which I’m still kind of dealing with. I am happy to relax a bit this summer, but keep recording on the rainy days because it has been a bit long since the last album. I’m trying to deal with being over 40 now as well. Sometimes I just can’t believe I’ve been standing on stage since I was 17! I was obsessed with the TV series Supernatural, but now I’ve watched all 5 seasons, so I’m looking for films again, but I have seen so many, and there hasn’t been alot that came out lately that I’ve been excited about. The new Star Trek was kind of the last time I was really looking forward to something. My hobby is mainly surfing the internet for music that I might like through people’s blogs. Not necessarily new stuff, more like weird and rare recordings that people go to the trouble of putting online. I read books still, but more like 2 a year.

ElektroSkull: Finally. We haven’t seen any new Psyche material since The 11th Hour album. As a musician you’re obviously always working on something I guess – can you reveal any new material on in near future? 11th hour was very well recieved all of the world and obviously went number one in the DAC. Is that a problem as a composer sort of competing with yourself after such a success or are you experienced enough to cast it aside?

Darrin: Sadly all the praise for this heavy album didn’t translate to great sales. Not everyone liked “Babylon Deluxe” when it first came out, but it did better in terms of sales, and I still perform at least 3 songs from that album in my shows. “The 11th Hour” was actually a bit of a swan song. Until I manage a new album it remains my goodbye statement. I think it was too dark perhaps, I am recording cover versions of really odd choices at the moment, and I have my own songs ready too, but it’s been slow as I am hoping to create a new sound for me that excites and fascinates me. I don’t like to repeat what is expected, as I’m sure most people have noticed by now. I have seriously enjoyed performing my repertoire over the last 5 years though, I have over 150 songs to choose from and so the challenge will be to have 10-15 new titles that thrill me and Psyche’s audience as much as what they already know. I never record just for the sake of filling airspace. I need to really have something that I can’t wait to present to my audience. It is a great challenge actually, but I’m pretty sure I’m ready. I actually just finished preparing a release with Artoffact Records called “Re-Membering Dwayne” which is a collection of our old recordings with Mr. Dwayne Goettel (RIP, Skinny Puppy). also includes some slightly remixed stuff, and had to be ready by this week.

(Intervju publicerad enligt önskemål på originalspråk)

Stort tack, som alltid, till fantastiska Diana Malm för fotot från kvällen!

Tack också till Club Rotor och Magnus Gladén.

OBS! MISSA INTE DEL 2 I DENNA ARTIKELSERIE. YTTERLIGARE EN INTERVJU, SAMT FLER LIVEBILDER FRÅN KVÄLLEN! HÅLL UTKIK!