PORTION CONTROL
'Living in England every decade has been a mixture of depression, detritus, dark humour and grey, it’s hard to be honest and not reflect this. '
21/01/2025, Fred GADGET
Once, in 1984, they toured with Depeche Mode and since then they are regularly mentioned as a source of inspiration by other legendary bands in the genre such as Front 242 and Skinny Puppy.
Portion Control proves like no other that one does not necessarily have to become corny and dull during maturing because after more than 40 (forty!) active years this British electro combo is still going strong! Soon (22.02.2025) they will (rightly) headline Bodybeats' yearly 'International EBM day' festival, so it's time for a chat and update!
Portion Control has been credited as an influential force in electronic and industrial music since the 1980s. Looking back, how do you feel your sound has evolved over the decades, and how do you view your legacy within the genre?
John Whybrew: Our sound has become confident, tighter and more defined. We still gravitate towards a punk aesthetic and the anger certainly hasn’t diminished. We have always been fascinated by the edgier, darker forlorn of England and it stains our music and visuals. We’re trying to blend shitty simple atonal with a clubbier or darker outcome. As to legacy we again owe a lot to our punk (attitude). We were simply drawn into a post punk, industrial scene and stuck to our guns.
Dean Paviani: I've never really worked out the 'evolving' thing as I don't tend to look back and analyse. Every release is a fresh start. Instinctively we know how we want to sound and technically we are more competent but that's it. I'm definitely far more cynical and harbor more anger with the world and I think this is reflected in our sound, though I must add on a personal level I'm very happy. As for legacy I'm proud of what we've done, but I'll let the fans decide.
Your music has inspired many well-known artists, including Front 242 and Skinny Puppy. Who were your key influencers when you first started, and how have your inspirations changed over time?
John: We always cite Wire, The Pop Group etc for our inspiration. I would also include the John Peel show. I’d listen and record, onto cassette, anything remotely electronic or avant garde and swap mix tapes at college.
Dean: Initially, when the genre was in its infancy, we were not really aware of what was going on with the other emerging bands. Our main influence was the new, affordable technology that suddenly appeared coupled with naive enthusiasm and a 'punk/do-it-yourself ethic'. Before 1980 I only really knew Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire that were doing anything interesting with electronics. That said, there was always the desire to search out new sounds. I spent hours in Rough Trade records looking for anything 'weird'. Also we knew Ed Ka-Spel (Legendary Pink dots) who had an amazing collection of vinyl which we regularly rifled through.
In 1984 you supported Depeche Mode on their UK tour. Do you have any (fun) recollections from that tour experience?
John:: We took international soccer on a Commodore 64 (I think) and organised a big knockout tournament with a few of Depeche, the roadies, sound crew etc. The computer was confiscated by the tour manger as the shows started to run a bit late as the soundman was locked in extra time at 2-2 with one of the door security guards… so we organised races round the theatre with our Tamiya Frog remote control car…
Dean: Well, we had fun doing it. We took a games console and a radio controlled car to keep us occupied. This also proved to be a distraction for the road crew much to the annoyance of their tour manager. The tour introduced us to a different audience which was interesting. We hadn't anticipated that some DM fans were quite young and consequently we had to remove some of the more extreme content from the visuals after a parent claimed her daughter was distressed by it.
Can you walk us through your creative process when developing new tracks? Is there a particular method or philosophy that consistently shapes your music?
John: I normally start new tracks with a Digitakt 2 as I can dial in loops and counter rhythms more organically than with a DAW, where I get a bit bogged down sample hopping. I also use the m8 tracker to start tracks and this is so liberating as you can write anywhere. Very recently, for the first time ever I’ve moved from PC to a Mac mini and spent months re-installing all our plugins. It’s incredible how small, powerful and inexpensive that thing is. For the first time in my lifetime computing power is an irrelevance.
Dean: There is no set formula. Generally we'll both write and play around with ideas. I'll sort the lyrics and vocals, whilst John is the engineer and technical wizard.
Your lyrics often explore dark and thought-provoking themes. What draws you to these topics?
John: Living in England every decade has been a mixture of depression, detritus, dark humour and grey, it’s hard to be honest and not reflect this. Our music isn’t trying to be escapism it’s trying to pull you down with us.
Dean: I don't deliberately set out to be dark but I do make an effort to keep them interesting, if only for my own satisfaction. There is an element of anger with some of the shit that goes on in the world, but I'll avoid any political rants. Themes of decay often surface, maybe it's age related..ha ha.
Being early adopters of samplers and other electronic gear, how has technological advancement impacted your approach to creating music? Are there any tools or trends in electronic music today that excite you?
John:: Probably covered this in a previous answer. I still get inspired by lumps of electronics. I prefer the more consumer friendly samplers and groove boxes. No interest in keyboards or synths really. I like the thought of modular but then it’s too niche and seems to be an exclusive club. Anything that can distort, twist or degrade sounds is good. When I was migrating to the Mac mini I realised just how many distortion fx I have … and it’s not enough…
Dean: The thrill of the new is always there, but personally I like something that is relatively straightforward to learn. Being able to work remotely these days is a huge bonus. I don't miss sitting on the underground late at night with a synthesizer on my lap.
How do you approach translating your studio sound to a live setting? Are there specific challenges or elements you prioritize when preparing for performances?
John: Definitely we try to inject as much energy into the songs as possible, and shorten them down so we make more impact. I always like songs when they start but they can outstay there welcome. It’s too self indulgent, for us, to play long tracks. The visuals also play a critical role in pushing the tempo and adding to the vocals and sentiment of the song. It’s also good for inserting what’s in our minds to the screen.
Dean: We'll try and keep it fairly energetic so some of the tracks get shortened a bit. I don't fret too much about it being polished. The visuals have always been an integral part of the live performance so it's fortunate that the venues are generally better set up for them these days.
As artists who’ve maintained an independent ethos for much of your career, what advice would you give to musicians navigating the modern music industry?
John: Haven’t really got any advice as we’ve never cared for or about the music industry. I don’t even feel qualified to give advice. We’ve shamelessly ignored any form of marketing or even trying to promote ourselves. Even this being written under duress. I suppose the biggest problem is establishing your own sound. Forget the cookie cutter you tube tutorials and bullshit, listen to what others tell you and do the opposite.
Dean: In terms of the music industry my only experience of it was 30 years ago so it's irrelevant now. The industry was shit back then and I'm not sure it really exists now so my only advice would be to do it because you enjoy it and try to avoid ultra processed food. Oh, also, listen to 'Y' by The Pop Group, it still blows anything else out of the water.
From cassettes and vinyl to digital formats, you've witnessed significant changes in how music is released and consumed. How do you feel about the current state of music distribution, and what do you miss about the earlier days?
John: Don’t miss anything. Vinyl was shit it scratched and the covers went dog eared, cassettes were worse, took ages to wind backwards and forwards, CD’s were absolute brittle garbage with no soul, I hated sending stuff by post, its a bind and it cost a fortune, downloads and streaming have driven the value of music to micro pennies…
Dean: As a teenager music was the single most important thing in the world. We were defined by our musical taste. It was an essential part of the social fabric growing up. It feels much less important now. Maybe that is, in part, due to the format changes and how we listen to music. However, there are many more 'distractions' these days. For me the thrill of discovery and the mystique has vanished. I'd love for something new to come along and blow me away but I'm not holding my breath.
Your music has resonated with fans for decades. Do you have any particularly memorable interactions or experiences with your audience that have stood out to you?
John: Better kept private :)
Dean: Can't think of anything specific but I'll always make the effort to speak to them. We're eternally grateful for any support or abuse we receive...!!
What’s next for Portion Control? Are there any upcoming projects, collaborations, or goals you’re particularly excited about?
John: We are working on new material and new live sections so hopefully we can release something soon. We never really like collaborations although we have been involved in a few over the years. The only thing that we are inspired to do is create so at least that bodes well for the future
Dean: Definitely, some new material in 2025. Can't see us ever giving up ' pissing about with music' We don't really collaborate much but I wouldn't rule it out. Apart from that I'm in the queue for a knee replacement.
Auwch! Good luck with the knee replacement Dean!
Anyway, thanks for this interview and looking forward to the new material & your show at International EBM Day in St-Niklaas (B) on 22 February!
Fred GADGET
21/01/2025
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