Kirlian Camera Myspace, November 2010

Didier Becu (Dark Entries magazine) interviews Angelo Bergamini (Kirlian Camera)

HELLO ANGELO, WELL YOU ARE CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF KIRLIAN CAMERA.
APART FROM THE FACT THAT IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU STANDING THERE AFTER 30 YEARS, IT MAKES IT ALL A BIT UNBELIEVABLE TOO...
Angelo – Yes, that's unbelievable, in a way. All that I saw throughout these 30 years is unbelievable, especially as for the recent years goes. I made my first recording in 1971. I've been fighting like a titan, all through these decades, but the most stunning fact is that it seems there's nothing to do against idiots and the music they make, produce, promote. Anyway, war isn't over.

I KNOW IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO TELL IT IN A NUTSHELL.
BUT HOW DO YOU SEE THESE 30 YEARS?
Angelo – Honestly, I couldn't avoid saying it has been a nightmare.

IF YOU DON'T MIND I WILL ASK YOU SOME THINGS ABOUT THESE 30 YEARS.
Angelo - Ok.

WHEN YOU STARTED OUT, YOU WANTED TO NAME YOURSELF SUICIDE COMMANDO.
CIRCUMSTANCES MADE IT KIRLIAN CAMERA. HOW GREAT, I MEAN...IT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST BAND'S NAMES EVER!
Angelo – Thanks! Anyway, we turned our name into Kirlian Camera, as I found out there was a band called Suicide Commandos in the USA and, all in all, such a name was more appropriate for another music style. In fact, our unique gig as Suicide Commando was orientated to a mix of electroindustrial, noise, psychedelic post punk and experimental stuffs.

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, IS THERE STILL A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KIRLIAN CAMERA AND ANGELO BERGAMINI?
Angelo – Kirlian Camera as a REAL band was born January 2000, as it formerly was a one-man-project involving singers, musicians, friends, arch enemies, etc... No, Kirlian Camera is not Angelo Bergamini alone any longer since when "Still Air (Aria Immobile)" went released. That was a real important change in my career... that's when I had a chance to meet an unrivalled artist: Elena Alice Fossi.

IF YOU SEE ALL YOUR RELEASES, IT'S AN IMPRESSIVE LIST.
WHICH ONE MEANS MOST TO YOU?
Angelo – All of the releases from 1997 onwards. But, I guess Kirlian Camera now needs to release their "very" album ever. We're just deeply working on it with strange joy...

I GUESS I DON'T OFFEND YOU WITH THAT BUT I FOLLOWED A BIT THE ITALIAN SCENE AND IN THE END (KIRLIAN CAMERA ARE ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVE BANDS), I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE : YOU SOUND SO UNITALIAN...
Angelo – Ah, ah, ah!!! No problem!!! Anyway, I must realize that I don't find any particular link between KC and any other combos, to be said in total honesty and far from any arrogance. Throughout time, we have been developing a particular style which couldn't be so thankful to anybody, whether one likes it or not. Maybe that melodic attitude we are not seldom showing love to may come out from our half-Italian roots, but, well... it doesn't matter, after all. Today's Italian music scene looks unbelievably disquieting, as for inspiration goes. Years ago it wasn't so depressive... Anyway, as for Italy, food is surely brilliant, along with the wines!!!

IT'S A COMMON THING THAT YOUR SUCCESS IS IN BELGIUM AND GERMANY.
HOW'S THAT IN ITALY ITSELF....I MEAN CAN YOU SPEAK OF AN ITALIAN DARKWAVE (OR WHATEVER) SCENE IN ITALY?
Angelo – Oh mamma mia!!! No, don't ask me about that...!!! Well, no real electro/dark/futurepop/ebm scene exists, there in Italy. There's a good magazine called "Ritual" run by an interesting director/critic: it sells a good amount of copies, in spite of today's massive web orientations... Ok, some bands don't sound so awful at all and many are trying to come out on surface from the deepest underground scene, but this scene's bands aren't my favourite cup of tea, as I'm used to listening to different genres, closer to classic and modern classic/contemporary music, movie soundtracks and "retro" singers. But, just to make an example, I really like and respect a band such as Dope Stars Inc. They are fine musicians and, rare fact, they're really inspired. I think that too many times people are used to disliking a band simply because it doesn't play the "genre" they want to listen to. I'm bored with such idiots, as they aren't able to love a fine anything at all but their unimportant customs and traditions. A new world is made of "new traditions", new exchanges between cultures and open minds, although one must be free to keep on having his own preferences. New world must come. As the "old new world" has failed. Last pop heroes are Rihanna, Kesha, Eminem, Eros Ramazzotti, Linkin Park, Katy Perry, not to mention the whole electro-scene, as I have mercy on such pathetic clowns... COME ON PEOPLE, YOU MAKE ME FEEL DEPRESSED!!!

DURING THE KIRLIAN CAMERA-HISTORY THERE WERE SOME ANNOYING PERIODS IN WHERE PEOPLE WER ACCUSING YOU FROM THINGS YOU WEREN'T...
I THOUGHT IT'S FRIGHTENING TO SEE HOW MUCH POWER PEOPLE CAN HAVE WHO ARE THE SO CALLED "RIGHT ONES"...
Angelo – Well, yes, we have paid a hard bill for facts we were only supposed to be involved in. Rumours, gossips... it was enough to giving shape to a Great Enemy. But today everything is going on a bit better, as many people have realized that political involvement is by far an alien, to us. We have proved that many, so many times it looks even weird! How can I be involved in any "totalitarian/populist" ideal, if I live like a hermit and I don't trust "people" at all!?! How could I be communist or even fascist?!?!? It's just a crazy nonsense, as far as I'm concerned. I don't like the wolves as... on the contrary, I HATE them! I could maybe accept someone who says I have an "anarchistic" attitude but, come on, let's stop hurting me by linking me to ideals I don't feel any closeness to. Now, today, this concept is turning out to be clear enough, I hope! So, after all, I can say I still haven't so many friends, but it's different, as it's just because of my asshole face, now... You know, being "nice" is not my specialty... sob! Let me cry buckets...

IN FACT, IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU WHAT'S THE SONG IS ABOUT?
I ADORE KC, ANGELO, BUT IN ALL HONEST IT'S ONLY ON RARE OCCASIONS THAT I LISTEN TO THE LYRICS.
Angelo – Recent years' lyrics are as important as music itself, to us. Well, we aren't that used to spreading our lyrics on written form, as for example in the booklets. You know, we are shy! Anyway, next album will include lyrics, as I'm really and particularly proud of that work we're just recording.

DURING THE EARLY 90'S YOU CREATED WHAT I THINK CAN BE STATED AS "THE" KIRLIAN CAMERA SOUND AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS AN ICECOLD SOUND THAT CONSISTS OF MANY EMOTIONS AT THE SAME TIME.
IS THAT A REFLECTION FROM YOURSELF?
Angelo – I created such a sound on the form of an embryo only, when I went to record "Todesengel. The Fall of Life" in 1989-1990. The real manifesto of such a style starts in 2000, when "Still air" came out. Years before I only made attempts: maybe they showed some interesting intuitions, but sound a little too simple. Probably, in a close future, we'll be showing a deeper "epic" attitude than ever in the past, but a bit of that coldness is following us everywhere we go. This particularity of mixing up coldness and wagnerian drama is strange, as it wouldn't have any sense, according some narrow-minded creatures... Simply, they don't have clear in mind the concept of "sacrifice", so our music sounds to their ears as if it jumped out from an unknown and dangerous zone. That's all. That's why our music sometimes may sound even "pop", but yet not right to everybody. Not many people, in fact, know that "concept" I mentioned above.

STUPID QUESTION? BUT I'M DEAD SERIOUS....
DO YOU LISTEN TO YOUR OWN MUSIC?
Angelo – Well, I honestly must admit that Kirlian Camera is finally my favourite band, today. It's just the only band I love to listening to the music of, along with Pink Floyd, SPECTRA*paris, the Muse and a few further ones... Yes, I love what we're doing and I love to listen to it in important moments, never as a background music.

AS FAR AS I REMEMBER YOU WERE INVOLVED IN LOTS OF SIDE PROJECTS.
ARE YOU STILL INVOLVED IN SOME OF THEM NOW?
Angelo – No, I'm not. I love to observe Elena's SPECTRA*paris evolution. It's just a genious kind of "future rock" mixing up glam, ballads, electronica, soundtracks, That is real uncontaminated high-class POP! GREAT!!! Not to mention the unexpected and surprising atmo of forthcoming album "Christmas Ghouls", which proves the uniqueness of that band, its lust for originality and beauty.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE THE ULTIMATE SUPERSTAR IN YOUR BAND?
(OF COURSE I'M REFERRING TO ELENA WITH HER GENIUS SPECTRA*PARIS OUTFIT).
Angelo – I feel fine, no... SUPERFINE!!! Elena has "heart", intelligence, inspiration, elegance, soulfulness and sense of sacrifice.... She really is the best performer and singer I've seen in ages, besides she's an extraordinary music composer. I'm saying this while keeping myself out of mawkishness. Then, yes, Elena Alice is a gorgeous and sexy girl, everybody knows that, by now... but... may I add a special and personal opinion on her only a few people may expect...? She's an incredible cook! Innovative and traditional-like in the same breath. We're all drooling over her food, as well as we're looking forward to tasting her brand new recipes, here!!!!!!!! Negative points? Sorry, but in spite of the fact I'm usually a hyaena as far as my opinion on the others is concerned... I don't find out one, now! She's a wonderful friend and a stunning musician... she never creates bad moods. An angel?!? No, just a Tiger from another planet, a real "ET"!!! She's so deeply "different"... that sometimes I'm afraid she could end up with being completely alone, in this world... That plethora of admirers and so-called ‘friends' squawking and blethering all around her couldn't do anything at all, for her and for her loneliness. I can feel it. And I'm worried about her.

I ASK THIS TO EVERYONE, ANGELO.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVE RECORD OF ALL TIME AND PLEASE STATE WHY...
Angelo – I'd like to mention the most important record ever, as for myself. It isn't a masterpiece, maybe, but it was the one which made me realize that composing music was/is my own way in this life. That's "Meddle" by Pink Floyd and, in particular, that long suite titled "Echoes".

YOU SOON WILL BE PLAYING IN LEUVEN (BELGIUM).
WHAT CAN THE AUDIENCE EXPECT?
Angelo – inspiration and purity. An encounter of the 3rd kind.

I LEAVE THE LAST WORDS TO YOU...
Angelo – "Oh Lord, save me from killing them all!"

Didier Becu