GLOK: The 'Monday Is Okay' Mix

Music

Last week marked the announcement of a new release on Ransom Note affiliated sub label, Bytes. It has been met with huge support and praise as the infamous Andy Bell, better known for his work as part of seminal group RIDE, will release a new cassette under the alias of GLOK. It will be his first venture into the world of electronic music and marks a left turn from his previous shoegaze association. The album is titled "Dissident" and features seven stunning instrumental tracks taking in electronica, Detroit techno, Krautrock, ambient, John Carpenter soundtracks and Balearic influences.

The bulk of the tracks on ‘Dissident’ were slipped out anonymously a couple of years ago, until Andy finally broke cover to reveal that he was the man twiddling the knobs in an interview with Clash in May 2017.

“I didn’t want people to be hearing the first tunes with a picture of me, a middle-aged guitarist, in their heads,” he explained. “I wanted the music to exist outside of any preconceptions, at least for a few months.”

With the release forthcoming and due to hit the stores on July 5th, we felt now was perhaps a perfect moment to allow Andy to showcase some of his own influences from the realm of electronic music and beyond.

He delivers a Monday mix with fine style and we'd expect no less.

Listen and read the interview below:

Please introduce yourself… Who are you?

Glok AKA Andy Bell

Where are you?

Up a mountain. At a friends place in Topanga Canyon. I have a panoramic view of the horizon and the Sun is shining. I’m listening to Talking Heads. This is a better than average day to have been asked this question.

What are you?

Jet lagged but optimistic.

Tell us about the Monday mixtape you’ve put together for us…

Initially I was going to make a brand new track for you kind of like a Glok E2-E4, and I did spend a day doing that but then I realised there’s a reason why there aren’t that many 45 minute long tracks out there that are any good. Especially not if they have to be made in one day.

So I just borrowed Arveene’s RX2 and played some tunes which felt right at the time. I didn’t have a plan, it starts with Camino del Sol and ends with Fools Gold. To quote one of my favourite movies, Moomins on the Riviera, it’s "very chic, very now, very you".

If it were to be drawn what would it look like?

The homework of a concienscious art student who thinks he’s Anne Diamond

If it were a food what would it be?

Twix multi pack and a grab bag of BBQ Hula hoops.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Standing in front of some very big speakers.

Where was it recorded?

On a Wednesday afternoon in North London.

Are you on the same wavelength as the boomtown rats or do you actually like Mondays?

No. I fucking love Mondays.

Who got you hooked on electronic music?

A nefarious electronic music dealer sold me a Voodoo Ray 12”

Who would you say are your biggest influences and what are you hoping to achieve with your music?

Would it be too ambitious to say I hope Gloks music can achieve world peace ?

Biggest influence would be Mr Fingers. Also the ALFOS spirit.

What were your original aspirations as musicians and how do you think you're shaping up?

In terms of Glok I just wanted my attempts at electronic music to be accepted on their own terms. Yes, I think it’s happening but in baby steps. I’m grateful to Globe, and now Bytes, for helping these tracks get heard.

Some self help questions for a Monday:

Oh goody

Am I excited to dive into the challenges that i have lined up for the week?

Yes. I’m bang up for it.

Am I looking forward to engaging with the people i am meeting or working with?

Yeah. I find people to be alright, generally speaking, despite the sorry nature of the world today. I think Sting got it right when he said “Spread a little happiness”.

Also another wise person said “Just don’t be a dick”, which is a constant challenge but ultimately, words to live by.

Am I going to my dream job?

I am able to do what I love and make a living from it, and that is a good thing which I don’t take for granted.

Am I being compensated fairly for the value i bring to my job?

Guess so. But I’ve found there’s no correlation between doing excellent ‘work’ (using the term loosely) and making money. In fact some of the best work has no money changing hands at all.

Do I feel energised, rested, and confident?

I do actually. You’ve found me on an uncharacteristically good mood.

If you were trapped on a desert island with one other person, who would you choose?

The wife obvs

How long would it be before you eat them?

Wives are great but I couldn’t eat a whole one

Your doctor says you need more exercise….what do you take up for exercise?

Am I still on the island ? Coconut tossing ?

If you could travel in time…where in time would you go?

Maybe like Hamburg 1962

Why?

To catch the Beatles in one of their all night sets, buy them a beer and become one of their bezzy mates for the swinging sixties

What was the first electronic record you heard and how did it make you feel?

“Tomorrow Never Knows” and it made me feel incredible

How does your brain work when making music?

It’s that good kind of concentration which is pretty calm and apparently really good for the brain. And then when it’s going good I get mad dopamine rushes.