The Modus Vivendi

*10 copies limited edition* The Modus Vivendi - You Are the Wooden Spoon, I Am the Casualty, was the 2nd release to be published under the Fr33zehead DIY collective back in 2006. Originally released, pre bandcamp, as a 5 track cd only to be sold at a handful of shows, it sees the MK based quartet’s movement away from their post-hardcore roots making way for a more dub laced avant-noise rock. Paired with early unearthed ‘Work Tapes’ the 20th anniversary reissue is erratically woven and sonically disjointed throughout. 

"The initial concept and themes for this record stemmed from various nights out that dragged on for days. We would visit the studio most evenings, hashing out ideas till late. It all came together quickly and the records opener and ender were both recorded as improvised 1 take tracks. Around this time I had an obsession with taking photos of friends who would pass out drunk at parties, a collection I would file under ‘casualty’s’. The records title and some of my lyrics were taken from ‘in jokes’ and phrases friends had said at social gatherings that were at the time always long haul. The ‘Wooden Spoon’ is forever a nod to my good friend Neil Bennett.

A large group of us had attended ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties’ at the end of 2005, Liars - ‘Drums Not Dead’ had just been released and worked away in the background as a soundtrack through our local scene. Beanie had lent me his This Heat records and PIL’s Metal Box, Augustus Pablo & Ex Models were on repeat, we had been playing shows with likes of Optimist Club & the Fortissimo records roster. Fortissimo would bring all the great stuff through our town, hosting experimental shows and being kind enough to have us on the bill for a lot of them. The whole MK and Bletchley music scene at that time was firing on all cylinders, subconsciously inspired by each other. It is an understatement to say these events had a major impact and influence on me whilst creating this record.

Our collective headspace at the time felt like we were destined to break out of traditional 4x4 verse chorus writing, reaching further towards the avant garde. It felt like we had reached our most progressive time as a band and as individuals, pushing our mental & physical boundaries as a live act. Sam’s Dub influence would work its way into the band, it would be infectious to us all, drawing upon our more downbeat moments, his playing would allow us to play solid and loose at the same time, in a similar vain to Charles Hayward. Beanie and Sam were always locked in acting as the propulsive force to the bands sound, with Beanie’s jagged baselines leading the way to mine and Paul’s discordant guitars. Paul’s playing at this time was his most unruly. 

Recorded on a Yamaha 16 track, before pro-tools had come in to the frame, Paul would hit record, run back to the live room, and record with the rest of us. Whilst he was recording his own parts, he would make noises with the amp and pedals in the room, leave it to sustain, and run back to the control room and punch them in as the song played. This acted as the catalyst, engaging the energy you hear on these recordings. Hearing the ‘work tapes’ back after all these years brings about sensory cues as you can hear an innocence in our playing, it was definitely a time that will never be relived." - Andi Jackson