Daniel Avery & The DeadStock 33s

Daniel Avery and Justin Robertson (under his The Deadstock 33s guise) are teaming up for the new release on Gomma. Justin, who needs little introduction (see touring with the Chemical Brothers, acid house releases as Lion Rock) together with Daniel, co-running Kill Them All and resident at fabric have produced three tracks of forward facing cosmic electro, aimed directly at the dancefloor. Naomi Richmond-Smith spoke to the pair about the music making process and Randy Pan the Goat boy.

Hi both, thanks so much for talking to us. Let’s begin at the beginning; how did you two meet?  JR: I think it was via the Filthy Dukes? I was/am a big fan of Dan's productions, and I think initially it was a mutual mix-swap situation, which grew into a studio partnership and old wives gossiping team.
DA: Yeah I think it must have been through Olly Duke. I was a big fan of Justin way before I’d ever met him, though. When he sent me that first email saying he liked my stuff, I definitely punched the air.

This is your fourth EP together, and your second for Gomma, how does this one differ from the others? Is there a particular musical direction you see yourself heading in? JR: I see this EP as us really starting to enjoy the oddness; we both have a psychedelic leaning and a love of the bizarre, so while this is top notch dance floor jacking, it also has its off-kilter moments, it’s also a good example of us heading in a more stripped down, but visceral direction, a few elements with rhythmic counterpoint.

People Get Real and Filthy Dukes sound great on the remixes too, is there anyone you’d love to remix you (who hasn’t already)?  JR: loads! Lots of very talented people out there! Watch this space!

I’ve come to recognise a more driving beat and bassline in a collaborative track than in your solo productions, and definitely a more Robertson-esque Balearic melody in both Gravity and On Rushmore, how do you think you influence each other?  JR: It’s all very natural, I think we share a common vision in many respects, and certainly we have a mutual fanaticism about all kinds of music. We try and keep the sessions flowing, not fiddling about, so I think that curbs too much tinkering or frilliness that I might be tempted to indulge in if left on my own!
DA: Yeah, our musical tastes definitely cross over in many areas and I like how we both get quite easily bored in the studio. It’s very immediate. If something sounds good straight away, then it stays in. Out of all the music I make, this process is by far the easiest.

I love the disco beat in New Moon. Perfect for Gomma Dance Tracks. DA: We’re very happy to be releasing on Gomma. They have released some of the very best leftfield club music of the last decade or so. It’s a good fit.

Describe the process of making a track together.  JR: Bpm-beats -bass-go nuts with filters-go to the pub.
DA: You heard the man. It’s very quick.

You’re both fans of analogue synths, what did you use to make Nylon Icon?  JR: All kinds of things, a lot of analogue sounds, but all put through various peddles and stuff. We try not to have too many sounds that sound 'straight out the box'. Tape delay is essential as is plate reverb.
DA: We’re also very fond of taking human voices and twisting them into psychedelic shapes.

Why Eric Zann? JR: a character from an H. P .Lovecraft story 'the music of Eric Zann'’ about a man who plays mysterious otherworldly music that summons creatures from the abyss!

Justin, now that Dan’s gone back to reality (!) and changed his recording name from Stopmakingme to Daniel Avery why do you feel that your The Deadstock 33s name is the right one for your collaborations, and not just good old Justin Robertson? You mention ‘a kind of rural backwater psychedelia’ in your biog, is that prevalent in the records you make together?  JR: I like having different project names, it allows me to indulge my schizophrenia.  When I last spoke to Dan he told me he was obsessed with Michael Jackson and Prince when he was very young, and that his first gig was at the age of 11 to The Prodigy with his Dad.

Justin who were your first musical heroes? I had two distinct phases as a kid, space rock and counter culture agitator! I really dug Bob Calvert era Hawkwind, Gong and Tangerine Dream, I walked around barefoot for the day once, then I cut off all my hair and became an acolyte of the Fall, I was furrow browed and troubled. Through all of this King Tubby was my constant.

Do you have a guilty pleasure? Dan – you told me it was Wow by Kylie for OFTV  DA: Ha, yeah I do love that record! I also heard Slow by her the other day, that’s great too. There’s nowt guilty about those pleasures.

Your own particular brand of acidy-metallicy-techno is pretty underground, but your fans seem to me to be the people in the know, and pretty far and wide nowadays. Who is your audience; who do you think are the people who buy your records?  DA: Acid house heads of all ages. We’re more than happy to occupy the underground; EDM this is not, thankfully.

What’s your favourite bpm? JR: 110- Balearic

I often see you on line-ups together but playing separately, like Fabric last Friday, do you ever play back to back?  JR: Could be fun, but to be honest I don't really like doing back to back...
DA: I agree. I think there is too much emphasis right now on DJs playing back to back, it’s rarely any good. Besides, Justin and I have pretty different styles and
I’d much rather be on the dancefloor when he’s playing anyway.

If you were to form a band together what would it be called? What would your stage act be like?  JR: We were discussing this the other day, it would be big room EDM behaviour, we would throw custard pies, sail about being held aloft by ''the kids '' in a canoe, whilst playing ''drug chug'' at 100 bpm, the show would climax with us been torn apart by 10,000 demented ravers on plant food. We would be called Randy Pan the Goat boy or Barry.

If you had to swap places for a day what would you do? JR: Dan has hair, I'd get a haircut, and tousle my locks.
DA: I’d steal all of Justin’s records.

Manchester or London?  DA: Both at the same time

So Dan, next month is the third instalment of your Movement club night with Matt Walsh, where each time the headliner’s identity is secret, is this one Justin?  DA: Now, that would be telling…

Who would be your ultimate club line-up, past or present? DA: Paris Hilton 9 hour set.

What are you working on now, can we expect more collaborative releases very soon?  JR: For sure…its ace! Chugging, strange and wonky, we also have some top ‘Can -esque' numbers.
DA: We are stock-piling tonnes of stuff right now. I’m really happy with all of it. Bring on the future!

Listen to Justin Robertson on Pulse Radio