ALICE NOT JOHN Episode 22: A Fictional Radio Transmission Guest: Frank Gorissen (Milita, MekanOrganiK)
ALICE NOT JOHN
Episode 22: A Fictional Radio Transmission
Guest: Frank Gorissen
Host: Joeri Bruyninckx
A conversation I overheard in a record store:
Customer: “Do you have Coltrane?”
Record shop owner: “In the jazz section.”
Customer: “I mean Alice, not John.”
Record shop owner: “In the jazz section.”
ALICE NOT JOHN is the name of a fictional radio show. The idea is this: for every episode, I ask a musician the same questions. The answers I receive are the “playlist” of my fictional radio show. The questions are these:
What song do you associate with your childhood?
Frank Gorissen: During my childhood, which must go back to the 1960s, I probably sang along to the opening theme song from a children’s program with a kind lady named Tante Terry and a squirrel named Knabbeltje.
What’s your favorite shower sing-along song?
I take a shower every morning, and also after gardening or exercising, but I never sing. It’s wash, rinse, and dry, that’s it.
What was your favorite song as a teenager?
As a teenager, I had my cousin Peter record cassettes for me; he had an entire record collection. From the beginning of that cassette exchange, I remember ‘Paint It Black’ by The Rolling Stones, ’21st Century Schizoid Man’ by King Crimson, and many of the early albums by Yes, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Armageddon, and later punk, new wave, and cold wave: Comsat Angels, Section 25, Crass, Joy Division, Killing Joke, Theatre of Hate — too many to mention.
What’s your favorite air guitar song?
I never got beyond tapping my hand against my thigh.
What song do you associate with your adolescence?
When I met my first girlfriend, she had a lot of electronic music records at home that belonged to her brother. That is where I became a fan of Klaus Schulze, Neu, White Noise, Guru Guru, Tangerine Dream, and Isao Tomita — krautrock, space rock, and “cosmic music.” Later, through Domino Part 2 on the radio, I discovered industrial music: Throbbing Gristle, Current 93, Coil, SPK, Laibach, and especially Test Department. They inspired me to start my own industrial percussion band, Militia. From 1989 to 2013, we were active in various lineups, released albums and CDs, and performed regularly.
Which song do you know the lyrics to by heart?
I can sometimes sing along to something, but by heart? Then I would have to recite ‘Around the World’ by Daft Punk or ‘Is Vic There?’ by Department — simple, repetitive lyrics. I even had trouble memorizing the lyrics of my own band, Militia. I always had them written on a piece of paper that I placed on the oil drums I drummed on.
Which song makes you feel better when you’re feeling down?
I only listen to music when I’m feeling good. You shouldn’t bring me music when I’m sick or feeling down, which almost never happens. These days, I mainly listen to lounge music, dark jazz, and the occasional bit of ’90s drum and bass… but especially the music I record from other bands in my Subterra Recording Studio.
Name a song people wouldn’t think you’d like.
I’m thinking of ‘No Ordinary Love,’ the live version by Sade, or ‘Fairground’ by Simply Red, also a live version. Neither song has much to do with the music I mentioned earlier, but there is still something about them that appeals to me.
Can you name a song you think people should listen to if they don’t know it yet?
Dark jazz, especially Bohren and The Club of Gore or The Kilimandjaro DarkJazz Ensemble. I think it is beautiful music. I’ve seen Bohren live twice already, and I still can’t get enough of it.
What’s your favorite song right now?
Bohren and The Club of Gore — everything on the ‘Black Earth’ LP, but also the rest.
Which song brings out silly dance moves in you?
I’ve never been a dancer; I’m not really into moving to the rhythm. I did slow dance a few times with my wife to something by Bohren. You’ll have to ask her if I did it in a silly way.
Which song do you quote most often? Which line?
When I have a band in my studio recording and their music reminds me of another band, I mention that band’s name. The last time, it was 16 Horsepower, the song ‘Haw.’ Other than that, I don’t really quote music.
Joeri Bruyninckx
