Influences: Languages

Ed – A masterful example of hypnosis through repetition – one riff and melody line repeated for 3 minutes, with variations throughout the piece keeping it fresh and interesting – parallels to electronic music abound!

Franz – Everytime I talk about Zero 7 with somebody, either they agree about how amazing it is, or they tell me that it makes them feel like if they’re going on a long elevator trip. I’ve been a fan of the duo for a long long time, and I find their productions unbelievably well crafted. They truly represent one of the best things I’ve heard in terms of “chilled” music, with a bit of psychedelia and groove, and because of that, I will never mind when somebody tells us that our music makes them feel a bit “sleepy”. Then at least our music would serve a purpose, the one of the holy nap, opening the door to the mystical world of dreams.

Ed – Same as w/ the John Lee Hooker reference – another of my favourites for the same reasons – hypnosis through repetition of one theme. Very similar, I find at least, to the best repetitive electronic music.

Franz – Bosch is well known for his incredible conception of darkness and hell – especially knowing that his paintings were made not less than 500 years ago!. But what especially inspires me through his work is the psychedelism, the extreme liberty of the mind and the sins depicted in his drawings and his creations, that you can for example see in the triptych of “The Garden of Earthly Delights”. Psychedelism is also one of the cornerstones of our music, and Hieronymus Bosch’s drawings could well be a paradisiac representation of it. Just have a look at our video of ‘Sleep Stream’ if my explanation isn’t clear enough.

Ed – Rhythm! The masters Ginger Baker and Fela Kuti at work!

Franz – There’s something ethereal in the music of this band, but also something danceable, bringing you back to the ground, leaving you floating in a perfect spot in between. Then there’s this melancholic and ghostly voice, these dark synthetic waves, an ambience here and there, Los Angeles, Portland, a tiny vail of mystery…please, don’t let me come back down.

Ed – Just to include something up to date! … Again, similar to ‘White Lightning’ and ‘Going Upstairs’, this track is all about hypnosis through repetition of one musical theme. He breaks from the one chord theme of the blues guys above, but it’s worth it – what a climax to this song! I’d place it high on my 2010s song of the decade list!

Franz – I love 70’s Nigerian Funk and Disco, it can’t get more groovy. And I’m really glad that there’s been a real impulse these last years from a lot of labels to bring out more and more tropical infused music, may it be edited, or electronised, or kept raw and natural. Must be one of the benefits of globalization and the mighty Internet. By choosing the name Languages, we had to accept the underlying mission of trying to get inspired by as many world cultures as possible. And…a peruvian flute with underlying congas blend so well with an arpeggiated synth anyway, don’t you think ?

Ed – Sticking with hypnosis through repetition theme, one of my favourites from the Field.

Franz : This song was a big commercial success in France when we were kids, someone (probably badly intentioned) even offered me the single for Christmas ! Anyway, this reference is a bit of a joke, the music is actually super kitschy, and I suspect it being one more plot built by the record companies to make more money on behalf of a certain lost cause. But in a way, I think this Indian chanting thing got stuck on me way deeper than I thought, since chanting has become a big part of our music, and since we tend to imagine our live show as some sort of ritual.