Absolutely indispensable is Bernard Fèvre, aka Black Devil Disco Club, for many the prodigy of Italo-disco. Aphex took to Fèvre's debut LP Disco Club (allegedly of 1978) so fervently that he released it on his Rephlex label in 2004. Sonically equal parts RUTH and Radiorama, if you've been deterred from Italo-disco by the painful operatics of Hurts, dive headlong into Fèvre's sparse back catalogue and if you were fortunate to procure a spot in a chalet come March, attendance at the Black Devil Disco Club ought to be obligatory.
Dots: The concept of Butlins and the holiday camp is presumably one that doesn't translate over into French linguistically nor culturally... What are you expecting from your trip over for this year's Bloc Weekend?
Bernard Fèvre: I've been told it takes place on an old holiday camp originally introduced for English families that didn't have much money, so it sounds like a pretty unique place to perform! I hope the audience will be a bit different from the usual, hopefully smiling and dancing throughout.
Dashes: Having been around and about for quite some time, how do you perceive electronic music to have progressed over your stint in this intermittently fickle industry?
Bernard: Perhaps traditional music has become a bit boring and has little interest in reinventing itself. I've been hearing the same structures, harmonies, sounds, melodies for the past 20 years... It seems as though you just need to copy someone else's previous work and that's fine these days. Electronic musicians meanwhile are maybe more anarchical, not respecting the rules of writing which is pretty cool, hence it sounds fresh to young ears!
Dots: And is there anyone on this year's line up that'll particularly attract your eyes and ears come March?
Bernard: I'd be happy to see some of the acts performing at Bloc since I only know them by their music. I don't really go out so it's pretty difficult to keep in touch with them, but I hope to meet the man who kinda gave Black Devil its second birth, Aphex Twin. I've been told he's shy. I really want to see the new Laurent Garnier live show too, I really respect him.
Dashes: Being very much a well-respected cult artist, do you ever wish your unique strand of disco would cross over into perhaps a more mainstream domain?
Bernard: Yes of course, although having people loving your music and other artists talking about you as an influence is a lovely thing. My next record CIRCUS is a really challenging one, with crazy guests from different horizons so I believe it will help people to get into my music beyond my fans.
Dots: Has your work thus far had a more profound influential impact than you could ever have perceived?
Bernard: Sometimes I do hear some structures which do sound a bit like stuff I've done previously, but it's almost impossible to tell if I've been an influence or if it's simply that music has changed and started to sound as I had imagined. I'm more focused on the future so I can't really think about the rest...
Dashes: My Screen was perhaps a more aggressive, full-frontal record than many may have expected. What tricks does Circus hold in store?
Bernard: I've always been listening to different kind of music, and I'm still a Beatles fan. I mean it sounds boring to say this, but they really embraced pop and experimentation and that's what I'm trying to do to a lesser extent. I wrote My Screen very naturally, it almost came out of my keyboards fully-formed. Then I had the chance to meet Nicolas Ker from Poni Hoax and he wrote the lyrics very quickly and we recorded it even faster. I really love the way everything worked out. CIRCUS is still pure Black Devil Disco Club like in 1978, I haven't really changed the way I work nor my gear. And yes, be prepared for some cool vocal guests from Cocknbullkid to Nancy Sinatra. I've been lucky!
Dots: The video, a collaboration with Pierre Dejon comes across more as artwork than promotional material. How important is it to you to render your work as artistic and well-rounded a product as feasibly possible?
Bernard: I'm a perfectionist and I can be the worst critic for my work, I'm an artist but also a craftsman so the complete product is vital. I've been lucky to have this young French director Pierre Dejon for the video of My Screen. It's weird and unique, not arty farty.
Dashes: Finally, reunited on the same line up as Aphex, do any surprises lie in wait, or will all the catch-up shenanigans be conducted behind closed chalet curtains?
Bernard: You know, I'm living in Paris and I'm not really all that fluent in English. I've heard he's pretty mysterious too, so a collaboration could be tricky but yes, I'd love to meet and work with him. The future will tell...
This year's Bloc Weekend takes place in Butlins, Minehead from 11th-13th March. For the full line up and further info, visit the official Bloc Weekend site.
