Earsthetic: Alex Smoke

Brighton Dome Studio Theatre, New Road, Friday, November 27

GLASGOW-BASED producer Alex Menzies, aka Alex Smoke, has gone on record stating how he didn’t like audiovisual shows.

So perhaps there is a certain irony that his Brighton show as part of the Earsthetic festival of cutting edge music and visuals sees him team up with artist Florence To.

“I didn't like going to a show and see a VJ playing film footage at random,” says Menzies on a break in the studio.

“A good AV show really makes a difference though. I was always quite denigrating about it, but when you find a good artist to work with it is a cohesive idea.”

This Brighton show follows a short three-night residency the pair did in Glasgow’s Govanhill Baths earlier this month in front of audiences of 25 people.

“It was intimate and dark and freezing cold, by an unheated pool in Glasgow in November,” he laughs. “In the arty AV scene at the moment there are a lot of people talking about using a space and playing to a space – everyone seems to be on the same wavelength at the moment.”

The performance the pair gave under the side project name CØV was more of a minimal affair exploring psycho-acoustics and modal music.

He describes his Brighton show as being more about the dancefloor – or at least a wonky dancefloor.

“Florence and I know each other’s styles,” he says. “Florence prefers to have an idea of the music first, but likes to play live alongside me.

“It’s down to trust – if you know somebody’s style and know that they take it seriously you can do a good job. We feed off each other and off the crowd, it all depends on the feeling.”

They both knew of each other’s work through the Glasgow creative scene.

“She’s always been on my radar,” says Menzies. “We’ve got lots of mutual friends, so it all happened organically, which is always the best way to work with people.”

Menzies made his name on the techno scene as Alex Smoke – and is set to release new album Love Over Will under that name in January.

But he is increasingly adopting new pseudonyms for various compositional projects – including his own name on April album Order Disorder which featured his soundtrack for the 2012 BBC series of the same name.

“I always thought I would like to keep the same name,” he says. “My point of reference is Aphex Twin who has the perfect career for me – he can do whatever he wants under that name.

“Alex Smoke became so connected with techno – and people are reluctant to accept change. It’s better to change your name and not have the techno albatross around your neck.”

The media also plays a part, with the current obsession over the next big thing.

“If your name has been around for ten years you tend to hear a loud expulsion of breath and disappointment,” he says. “It’s about playing the game.”

As for the future he plans to keep his options open.

“You have to be ready to move with it,” he says. “Composition is where my heart is at the moment, and that’s my main focus.

“This project with Florence is an organic thing – we’re getting offered things at art festivals. You can let new ideas take on a life of their own. It’s good to be on a label which gives me a certain amount of freedom.”

*Alex Smoke is part of a double bill with Sculpture – aka musician Dan Hayhurst and animator Reuben Sutherland - whose work combines electronic music, kinetic art, comic strips and audiovisual cut-ups.

Starts 8pm, tickets £10. Call 01273 709709.