Munk – it’s a name synonymous with cutting-edge electronic music, and is the brainchild of Mathias Modica who also runs the enigmatic record label Gomma out of Germany along with Jonas Imbery. Billed as “the German DFA” by NME Magazine, the label is responsible for releasing some choice tracks from the likes of Headman and whomadewho, as well as from the Munk himself – Mathias has just dropped his second album Cloudbuster, where takes his instantly recognisable fusion of house, twisted disco and Krautrock to the next level.
Here Munk discuss with ITM the new album, collaborations with movie stars like Asia Argento and reclusive hip hop pioneer Rammellzee, their love for Australian girls they met on the V Festival tour and creating consistently unique and trend setting music.
Firstly, could you sum up what Munk’s sound is like to someone totally unfamiliar with it?
It is a mixture of indie pop and cinematic avant garde soundspheres. And it sounds very dirty; not as clean as most computer music that surrounds us, a mix of disco, rock and film music.
So your new album Cloudbuster is full of famous names like Matty Safer of the Rapture and actress Asia Argento. How did these collaborations come about?
I met Asia in Rome she is a friend of the Gomma label and we are fans of her films, so we decided to cooperate. Matty Safer is an old friend. We already worked with James Murphy of DFA records a few years ago on our last album. So it made sense to do something with Matty as we organised the first European concert of the Rapture in Munich 6 years ago.
How do you feel about your label Gomma being called ‘the German DFA’?
Funny. Somehow it’s right as we are long time friends, somehow it’s wrong as we have a wider musical spectrum and do more experiments than they do.
I noticed on your website you have a lot of great vintage cosmic mixes from Daniele Baldelli available, is that the sort of style you are trying to go with on your new album?
We are influenced by the slowness and psychedelic idea of cosmic music, yeah. Musically we are less 4/4 than Baldelli was. But as Baldelli was the first DJ that really impressed us 10 years ago when he used to DJ in Munich a lot. We are influenced.
I read that you first started the Label to release your no wave compilation Anti NY in 2001. How do you gauge the current ‘disco punk’ scene partially spawned by this and other compilations?
It’s nice to see that others get into the same musical ideas that we did, but 3 or 4 years after us. That gives us confidence that our intuition is right and we can go on following only our ideas and not the trends. Because we know that others will follow anyway – hehe
Your label has had its fair share excellent releases from In Flagranti to whomadewho. I find the most fascinating is the release of the early hip hop enigma Rammellzee’s first work in well over a decade Bi-Conicals of the Rammellzee. I think you guys produced some of the tracks on it as well? I’m curious to know how this came collaboration came about.
We did the Anti NY compilation with Michael Holman . The NYC hero who was manger and best friend of people like Basquiat , Vincent Gallo and The Rammellzee . He connected us with Rammellzee. So we started to hang around with the NY gang at Rammellzee’s legendary China town loft. After a very long time hanging and beer drinking he asked us to do this soundtrack for his Gothic Futurism world. It was released in 2002.
Your latest single Live Fast Die Young has been remixed by Ed Banger’s Busy P. I was wondering what your thoughts on the world wide explosion of their label’s popularity?
He is the king of marketing and PR. So I am not wondering what’s happening. Big respect, but it’s a completely different way to Gomma philosophy, which is to grow slowly and always change direction when people start to get used to something.
What sort of non Gomma tracks do you currently love at the moment?
MGMT, Mr Oizo , Cosmo Vitelli , Notwist and the amazing 70s Australian new wave disco shit that my friend from Hey Convict in Melbourne are giving me.
You were recently in Australia for the V festival, what are your lasting impressions?
1) There is no better place in the world then Sydney fishmarket at lunchtime!
2) There is no better indie graphic artist then Perks from Melbourne
3) There are no better girls then at the V Festival!
Are there any plans to have a live version of Munk in the future?
Yeah, we start in august to play live. 4 person. It’s gonna be a Bomb!
Munk’s latest Album Cloudbuster is out now through Inertia.
