Seattle based doom, psychedelic shroom metal band Lesbian is about to release their new album Forestelevision (reviewed here), which is one huge and epic 44 minute long cosmic space trip. Richard Collins reviewed the album and reckons it’ll end up on his Album of the Year list. He asked the band a bunch of questions about the new album, shrooms, side projects and other things.
(((o))): Can you please start by giving a brief introduction to the band, who plays what, how would you describe your musical genre etc?
Lesbian: Arran McInnis - Guitar, Dan LaRochelle - Guitar, Dorando Hodous - Bass/Vocals, Benjamin Thomas-Kennedy – Drums.
We don't really like to describe our musical genre. If our genre is easy to describe, we are doing something wrong, or at least something very boring. Lesbian is a band that prescribes freedom. Our musical genre is closing one’s eyes and losing oneself. We are fans of every type of metal and we try to honor our heroes in everything we do.
(((o))): Your new album Forestelevison is quite the trip. Just the one 44 minute track and I’m hearing death metal, black metal, doom, prog, almost classic rock and many other things. How the hell did you write it?
Lesbian: That’s actually a really tough question. We don't really take control when writing. We took concepts and experiences from our lives and the environment around us and filtered them through the bong and our instruments. The song sort of took us on a long journey that we were discovering for the first time as we were composing. We didn't set out to write an epic that just happens to be where the spirit took us. It started off with Ben having a tumor in his arm that needed to be removed, and it took him out for nine months. He could only play with one arm. We started writing this, with the idea of making a concept album that brings the listener back to the forest and primitive cultures that relied on nature for communication and information, which modern society has lost touch with.
(((o))): How long did it take to record? Were there any key changes in the recording process compared to the other two albums?
Lesbian: Tracking itself was pretty seamless and smooth, but scheduling days in the studio and coming up with funding made the process drag out. We didn't want to rush anything or compromise anything so it took a while. We did it just like we did our other records: live in the studio with Randall Dunn and then fuck tons of sweet overdubs to make every passage triumphant. All along the way we reminded ourselves, "if it’s not too much, it’s not enough". It’s always a long process to record our albums, because we always record our basic tracks to analogue tape, and then overdub into digital. Overdubs take place, and that’s where the magic happens. Luckily, Randall Dunn has an ear for the cosmos, and can facilitate our need for the fantastic.
(((o))): Lots of your music seems to be inspired by shrooms. You don’t seriously play music and do them at the same time do you? Most people can’t even light a cigarette whilst shrooming never mind hammer out a hard metal psychedelic jam.
Lesbian: We love shrooms. The Pacific Northwest is the home of the biggest range of psychedelic mushrooms in the world. They influence us infinitely, especially in Fungal Abyss, which is our improvisational band that utilizes these tools exponentially. Lesbian writes songs ABOUT mushroom trips whereas Fungal Abyss makes music ON mushroom trips.
(((o))): Have any of you gone out to the woods in solitude and listened to it under the influence yet? Would you recommend it? Any survival tips?
Lesbian: Yes! This musical journey is made for that type of trip. We recommend it HIGHLY. If you run into a purple four eyed owl, then you made the cut. Bring your knife, your machete, your stash, and a sincere prayer to the Space Warrior.
(((o))): Describe Forestelevision in no more than 5 words.
Lesbian: Trippin' Balls at Waterfalls -or- Information. Cosmos. Faeries. Insects. Sex. -or- balls deep in the mossy green.
(((o))): You guys are from Seattle. How does the rock scene compare now to when Nirvana and Pearl Jam were knocking about in the 90s? Do you have any hot tips we should be keeping an eye on?
Lesbian: None of us were here when the grunge movement was at its peak, but Seattle has always been a rich musical town. Tad from the band TAD is back at it with his new band Brothers of the Sonic Cloth. Keep your eye out for that shit. He did pre-production on Forestelevision and he totally rules. We are always trying to always pay tribute to these nineties legends, especially Pearl Jam. Current local hot tips include Master Musicians of Bukkake, Black Queen, Brokaw, Eye of Nix, and Drawn and Quartered. Arran and Dan also have another project called Golgothan Sunrise w/ members of Abazagorath, In Memorium and Labyrinth and the Desert. It's kind of a wacked out death/doom hybrid with hard rock elements thrown in. They will be recording with both Randall and Tad towards the end of the year, so keep your ears peeled way back for that as well.
(((o))): Name us 3 bands which Lesbian all agree fucking rock.
Lesbian: Gorguts. Can. Spacemen 3.
(((o))): How was your European tour last year? What was your favourite show? Did anything ridiculous happen? Are you planning on coming back over in 2013?
Lesbian: It was fucking interesting. Pisa, Italy, was my favorite show. It was at a venue that allowed underage kids, and even highschoolers were allowed to drink there. We had the best response from fans. There was a line of kids that waited to hug each of us. It was also our tour manager, Michele Vannis’ hometown, which made it even more bad ass. It so ruled. Playing with Napalm Death in the Netherlands was killer too. The whole fucking thing was ridiculous. We might not make it back before the end of the year, but we hope to come back in Spring.
(((o))): You guys have been in other bands such as the Fungal Abyss side project. Do you plan on another Fungal Abyss release soon? Any other projects in the pipeline?
Lesbian: Fungal Abyss is forever. As far as a release? We have two releases on the horizon including a short run cassette coming out this summer on Prairie Fire Tapes. We are mixing it now. It’s very sexual. Watch out.
(((o))): If Lesbian was an animal what would it be?
Lesbian: A Kosmoceratops.
(((o))): Thank you very much, is there anything you'd like to add?
Lesbian: We appreciate every fan we have. What we do musically is not for everyone, and yet it is for everyone. We want to take you on a journey to parts of your mind that have yet to be explored. Let’s go deep into the forest and lose ourselves forever.
