Music

Dot Allison began her career in music with the acid house group One Dove in 1991, and has then recorded the cult classic "Afterglow", which was one of the most beautiful chillout albums, that defied to be categorized. The album featured breathtaking songs such as "Message Personnel" and "I Wanna Feel the Chill". Dot collaborated with Death in Vegas' Richard Fearless, having already recorded with him on his Death in Vegas' album "The Contino Sessions" in the song "Dirge". Dot also collaborated with Massive Attack on their forthcoming album.

She has just released "We Are Science", which is as mesmerizing, as it is nóir. Her haunting vocals are juxtaposed over dark layers of electronic sounds that render an eighties electro atmosphere. Songs such as: "We Are Science", "Substance" and "Performance" set a fascinating and saturnine mood. "I think with 'Afterglow'," she explains, "what I wanted to do was make a pop record in the classic sense, and I got that out of my system, but I've also always listened to electronic music. I mean, I actually got into making music through a love of going to Black Market in 1988 - an early house club in Glasgow."

Dot set up her own studio in East London (which she did in the wake of 'Afterglow'). "Having my own studio's made a massive difference," she admits. "I always had a sampler and a mixing desk, but they used to be in my bedroom in my flat. The whole dynamic of my writing has changed since I started coming to the studio everyday. I've had a lot more time to experiment and that's been really important. And because I've ended up producing myself, I've made a record I'm a lot happier with."

She recorded some of the songs on "We Are Science" with producer Dave Fridmann, Grasshopper and drummer Jeff Ament. "I went up to the Catskills for that," she recalls. "It was quite Blair Witch actually. Dave's studio is just this chalet in the middle of a forest, but it was great to work with him." Keith Tenniswood contributed with his programming skills and is credited with a couple of co-productions. "Keith's brilliant at mixing," said Allison. "He makes everything really chunky and scary, he never plays any safe cards and that's what I wanted. He brings out the darkness and I've always liked records that are disconcerting."

While recording "We Are Science", Dot listened to the 80's new wave and alternative groups, such as The Fall and Psychic TV.

We interviewed Dot Allison after the release of "We Are Science".

Interview by Mauricio Saravia

ARTIST INTERVIEWS: Can you tell me about the composing of the songs for your album, "We Are Science"?

Dot Allison: I compose in different ways. It changes all the time, there is no formula. I write using my sound card on my computer, and create a collage of sounds, and afterwards, I deconstruct it on the software. Sometimes, I sit with a keyboard and create the compositions, or I sit with my guitar and create the songs. That's the way I compose.

A.I.: Which software did you use to record the album?

D.A.: I used E-Magic's Logic Platinum 5.

A.I.: How did you work with Felix Da Housecat on "Substance"?

D.A.: I liked the "Kittenz & Thee Glitz" album that he had done. I know Felix had been making music for a long time, and it seemed like a good idea to get him to remix "Substance". We thought he was the right person for the remix because of the musical direction he had taken.

A.I.: Which one of the songs on "We Are Science" do you feel closest to?

D.A.: I think of all the songs, it's probably, "Performance."

A.I.: What were the emotions that inspired your last album?

D.A.: I was probably inspired by having to change labels again, actually. That always has an impact on your sound, and on your music, as well.

As to the feelings, it's not about love songs, as "Afterglow" was . "We Are Science" is about that thing that you can only feel inferior, if you give someone else your consent. So the music is about not giving that consent. It's also about life, how it touches you, and about how it moves you.

In life, if you have a little of something, it makes you aware of the fact that you don't have enough of it, and you begin to miss it in a way that you would have never missed, if you never had it. (Laughs). It means a little substance of nothing. It is very emotional.

A.I.: Your lyrics are like poems, Dot. Which poets do you read?

D.A.: I love to read Pablo Neruda! He has written some of the most beautiful poetry I have ever read. I also like to read Paul Auster's novels. I am reading one of his books at the moment, "The New York Trilogy", which is quite interesting.

A.I.: It's a fascinating book.

D.A.: You liked it? That's good. I like reading things that are on the retro side of literature. I think in a way, it inspires me in my lyrics. Writing good lyrics can be difficult sometimes, it can be very hard. Sometimes, your strongest ideas can come off the tip of the tongue, if you keep listening to music, and you keep reading. The lyrics just flow more naturally.

A.I.: I think you are creating a different music genre, since you recorded "Afterglow", how would you say it differs from your previous work, and your work with Death in Vegas?

D.A.: I guess, it's sort of an evolution, isn't it?

A.I.: Well, I think they are both different.

D.A.: I like to experiment with music, to feel that I am changing direction, and that I am doing something different and contrasting.

A.I.: You worked with Richard Fearless on the first album, on the song called "Dirge", as well as on your previous album. Are you planning on working with him in the future?

D.A.: Yeah, definitely! I am proud of the song that we recorded together with Death in Vegas.

A.I.: Being a part of the electronic movement, how do you think the scene is changing?

D.A.: My feeling is that maybe the technique that is used to making the music is the same, but we are starting to make more organic music. I think we are beginning to create organic sounds and combine with electronic textures and drum machines. I guess that is kind of the stuff that I am doing right now.

I also think that within the field we are trying to move in a different direction, and we are starting to use more electro music sounds again. It changes so rapidly, you know?

A.I.: Speaking about organic sounds, for your previous album, "Afterglow", I wanted to ask you if you used a reversed guitar sample on the song "Message Personnel"?

D.A.: That's correct, yes! It's a guitar, arpeggio turned backwards.

A.I.: Thank you very much, Dot!

D.A.: Thank you!