Fuck Buttons' debut album Street Horrrsing was a startling revelation built of hypnotic tribal rhythms, droning noise crescendos and gnarly distorted vocals. It brought them unanticipated attention, but for Andrew Hung and Ben Power it was so 2008; the Bristol-based duo felt that the only way to keep functioning was to make new album Tarot Sport a radical departure.
"Simple evolution" is the driving factor behind pushing their penetrating music forward. "We are not interested in remaining static," Hung says. "Change is our prerogative."
Hung and Power invited esteemed producer/remixer Andrew Weatherall (Sabres of Paradise, Two Lone Swordsmen) to help them evolve. Power says Weatherall's greatest asset wasn't necessarily something you can hear on the album. "Andrew [taught us] the importance of space," Powers says. "He has all these techniques to distance himself from the project so he could reappear with a fresh perspective and a clearer outlook. It's a valuable exercise that is important also in our day to day lives."
With this in mind, the three of them transcended any expectations of what a second Fuck Buttons album would sound like. Tarot Sport is a rip tide of rolling psychedelia, euphoric trance and cosmic profundity. The way Hung sees it, the plan will always been to keep people guessing ― including themselves. "To be honest with you, direction is not something we are conscious about because it doesn't fit into our creative process," he says. "We just want to keep being content and surprising ourselves."
"Simple evolution" is the driving factor behind pushing their penetrating music forward. "We are not interested in remaining static," Hung says. "Change is our prerogative."
Hung and Power invited esteemed producer/remixer Andrew Weatherall (Sabres of Paradise, Two Lone Swordsmen) to help them evolve. Power says Weatherall's greatest asset wasn't necessarily something you can hear on the album. "Andrew [taught us] the importance of space," Powers says. "He has all these techniques to distance himself from the project so he could reappear with a fresh perspective and a clearer outlook. It's a valuable exercise that is important also in our day to day lives."
With this in mind, the three of them transcended any expectations of what a second Fuck Buttons album would sound like. Tarot Sport is a rip tide of rolling psychedelia, euphoric trance and cosmic profundity. The way Hung sees it, the plan will always been to keep people guessing ― including themselves. "To be honest with you, direction is not something we are conscious about because it doesn't fit into our creative process," he says. "We just want to keep being content and surprising ourselves."
