01Profile
A Blanck Mass Photo
Blanck Mass
Edinburgh — Musician
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Benjamin John Power, AKA Blanck Mass. I live outside of Edinburgh, UK
Describe your style in three words?
LOUD AND FREE.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Ennio Morricone, London 02 about four or five years ago. He’s my hero and constant source of inspiration.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
I've always wanted to play a show/go on tour with Depeche Mode. Hopefully, it'll happen one day. Another would be the now-defunct Lapsus Linguae from Scotland. Incredible classically trained musicians dressed like '80s goth-metallers playing beautiful and horrible piano-driven math rock. Doesn't sound right on paper but in reality, it was incredible.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
The late'90s/early 2000s NOISE scene in the UK was particularly important when I first started making music.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Carl Sagan, because I'd mainly just like to hear him speak for an hour. If he could also Bring Vangelis along to soundtrack our conversation that would be an added bonus.
Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
I really like St. Vitus in NYC. I played a great show there a few years ago. There was a metal/noise show beforehand with Prurient and co playing, then I played the club night afterwards. I also love the AB venue in Brussels.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Maybe not particularly unsung, but Delia Derbyshire of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop would definitely be up there. She did more in shaping the face of electronic music that she is perhaps acknowledged for.
Blanck Mass will release his new album 'In Ferneaux' on 26th February 2021 via SAcred Bones. Pre-order it at www.sacredbonesrecords.com.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
The first record I was ever bought was 'Popcorn' (not the Gershon Kingsley version, I believe it was the Hot Butter 7") and being the only one I owned when I was at such a young age I believe it took some heavy rotation.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Good God' by Korn. Perfect teen angst listening when I was 15. The production actually still sounds goofy and intense to me. Can still get behind this.
One record you would keep forever?
'Maggot Brain' by Funkadelic. The perfect song. It's so psychedelic and melancholy. When the world is going up in flames This is the track I'll be listening to.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
I think the lyric "I don't even clock the tock you're tickin'" is a pretty snappy one-liner and seems appropriate somehow. From 'Slo Glo' by HTRK.
A song you wished you had written?
I wish I had written 'Enjoy the Silence' by Depeche Mode because it's one of the best songs ever written. Timeless masterpiece.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Bad Year' by Iron Monkey. Amazing primitive sludge from Nottingham UK. This might possibly be my favourite metal song of all time, definitely from my favourite Metal LP. RIP Johnny Morrow.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
People often seem kind of surprised that I'm such a big Tom Petty fan. My manager didn't even believe me in fact. I’m gonna choose 'I Won't Back Down' here.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
'Dreamcatcher' by Black Meteoric Star. Absolutely incredible. Such an exercise in restraint. Doesn't throw it all at the wall straight away but teases you and as a result, every shift seems like a massive event. It’s so sophisticated, even with quite a basic palette, which is very hard to master.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Rise' by PIL. It seems very final somehow. Arguably one of my favourite songs ever written.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Kite, from Sweden, are good friends and massively underrated. 'Up For Life' is a good tune of theirs to start on. Anthemic.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Benjamin John Power, AKA Blanck Mass. I live outside of Edinburgh, UK
Describe your style in three words?
LOUD AND FREE.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Ennio Morricone, London 02 about four or five years ago. He’s my hero and constant source of inspiration.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
I've always wanted to play a show/go on tour with Depeche Mode. Hopefully, it'll happen one day. Another would be the now-defunct Lapsus Linguae from Scotland. Incredible classically trained musicians dressed like '80s goth-metallers playing beautiful and horrible piano-driven math rock. Doesn't sound right on paper but in reality, it was incredible.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
The late'90s/early 2000s NOISE scene in the UK was particularly important when I first started making music.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Carl Sagan, because I'd mainly just like to hear him speak for an hour. If he could also Bring Vangelis along to soundtrack our conversation that would be an added bonus.
Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
I really like St. Vitus in NYC. I played a great show there a few years ago. There was a metal/noise show beforehand with Prurient and co playing, then I played the club night afterwards. I also love the AB venue in Brussels.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Maybe not particularly unsung, but Delia Derbyshire of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop would definitely be up there. She did more in shaping the face of electronic music that she is perhaps acknowledged for.
Blanck Mass will release his new album 'In Ferneaux' on 26th February 2021 via SAcred Bones. Pre-order it at www.sacredbonesrecords.com.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
The first record I was ever bought was 'Popcorn' (not the Gershon Kingsley version, I believe it was the Hot Butter 7") and being the only one I owned when I was at such a young age I believe it took some heavy rotation.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Good God' by Korn. Perfect teen angst listening when I was 15. The production actually still sounds goofy and intense to me. Can still get behind this.
One record you would keep forever?
'Maggot Brain' by Funkadelic. The perfect song. It's so psychedelic and melancholy. When the world is going up in flames This is the track I'll be listening to.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
I think the lyric "I don't even clock the tock you're tickin'" is a pretty snappy one-liner and seems appropriate somehow. From 'Slo Glo' by HTRK.
A song you wished you had written?
I wish I had written 'Enjoy the Silence' by Depeche Mode because it's one of the best songs ever written. Timeless masterpiece.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Bad Year' by Iron Monkey. Amazing primitive sludge from Nottingham UK. This might possibly be my favourite metal song of all time, definitely from my favourite Metal LP. RIP Johnny Morrow.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
People often seem kind of surprised that I'm such a big Tom Petty fan. My manager didn't even believe me in fact. I’m gonna choose 'I Won't Back Down' here.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
'Dreamcatcher' by Black Meteoric Star. Absolutely incredible. Such an exercise in restraint. Doesn't throw it all at the wall straight away but teases you and as a result, every shift seems like a massive event. It’s so sophisticated, even with quite a basic palette, which is very hard to master.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Rise' by PIL. It seems very final somehow. Arguably one of my favourite songs ever written.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Kite, from Sweden, are good friends and massively underrated. 'Up For Life' is a good tune of theirs to start on. Anthemic.
Blanck Mass | Starstuff (2021)
Blanck Mass | Please (2017)
Blanck Mass | D7-D5 (2016)
Blanck Mass | Sundowner (2014)