Perturbator: Metal Machine Music
Industrial, darkwave, synthwave, dark synth, these are all different yet similar descriptions of the music that PERTURBATOR make. Each describing the range that goes into the music and the emotions that it brings to life and they all fit. Listening to the new album Age Of Aquarius however, mere descriptions don’t seem to matter as it is more of a whole audio visual experience rather than a mere record, and this is the sheer power of PERTURBATOR.
The cinematic elements that have always been there in the music and the spirit comes to vivid life more than ever before, and the vast sensory aspect is off the scale with everything it conjures up from the very start to its epic conclusion. This is undoubtedly a soundtrack to a film that is yet to be made and such is its power, you can visualise that film with ease.
We caught up with James Kent, the mastermind behind PERTURBATOR to get an insight into Age Of Aquarius and its creation as well as delving into the accompanying tour that will see the songs from the album come into their own in a live setting.
We begin with James discussing the impressive guest appearances on Age Of Aquarius that sees ALCEST, ULVER, AUTHOR & PUNISHER and GRETA LINK bringing their own unique musical stylings to the music of PERTURBATOR. “It was easy for me to work with them, because they’re all friends. I basically had the songs with their vocals in mind and we would just go back and forth and. I would give them an idea of what the track should be about, what the concept that the whole album is about, and I specifically chose them, not only because they’re friends, but also because I really like their work. I think they’re all very individualistic artists in their own right, so it fits with the scene on the album.”
James then reveals who his ideal guest would be and tells of an electronic music icon. “I’ve always had this dream to work with Dave Gahan from DEPECHE MODE. If that ever happens, that would be great.”
Talk then turns to the importance of the cinematic nature of Age Of Aquarius and how that runs through the music of PERTURBATOR like lifeblood flowing through a body. “All my albums, I make them like I would make a movie. All the tracks are like scenes of said movie. I listen to most albums from start to finish without skipping tracks, and I like to think of my albums like that.”
James then delves into the themes that the songs on Age Of Aquarius deal with with two themes colliding to make the powerful music that makes up the record. “Themes of war, of individualism, are basically the two main themes of the album. When I say war, just conflict in general. It’s a good world to draw inspiration from, because it’s music that is very aggressive, ultimate music that is almost melancholy at times. Those two themes play off each other.”
James then reveals which movie scores have influenced him the most as an artist and the two that he chooses go some way into explaining the music he makes as PERTURBATOR. “Halloween 3 from John Carpenter, it’s very synth based. It sounds simple and very evil, kind of gloomy, and I like that, and Blade Runner by Vangelis, that’s much more futuristic, strange, a little experimental at times. Those two soundtracks are my favourites and my biggest inspiration.” James then talks of how such the music from film has inspired him to make the music of PERTURBATOR as visually visceral as it is. “They’ve always been that influence on me, and I would say it’s the reason why I started PERTURBATOR. I started the project more than 10 years ago because I just wanted to make practical movies that don’t exist.”
With the tracks in Age Of Aquarius having such a visual edge to them, James tells of his excitement of talking them into a live setting and demonstrating that visual side of things alongside the music. “There are a lot of lights. A lot of my music is playing on synthesizers or on guitars, but I switch between both, and I have a drummer when I’m playing live, so it’s pretty static. we can’t really move a lot. So I want to make sure that the light show is very eye-catching, and gives you something to watch. There’s a big visual aspect. It’s very important.”
With an album as visual and future thinking a Age Of Aquarius, both on record and on a live stage, PERTURBATOR have created something that fans of electronic and extreme music, and beyond can fully immerse themselves in and experience the full cinematic experience that James Kent has executed perfectly.
Age Of Aquarius is out now via Nuclear Blast Records. View this interview, alongside dozens of other killer bands, in glorious print magazine fashion in DS125 here:
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