Mission Control

Fri 28th Nov, 2008 in Features

French disco tastemaker Philippe Zdar is gunning to produce their album and the gigs are steadily stacking up. Yes, this summer is looking mighty exciting for psychedelic Melbourne outfit Mission Control. FL checks in with vocalist Raph Brous and finds him decidedly – œun-pumped’.

Your new EP Innerspace was released in September. What has the response been like?
In Australia, we’ve had positive reviews and airplay from the right people. We’ve been more pleasantly surprised by the response overseas. We haven’t released anything outside of Australia yet, but the music made an impression on our new manager and agent over in London. And we expected more projectiles to be hurled at the stage when we play gigs.

Did you approach recording this album with a certain goal in mind, or was it more of a natural evolution? Talk me through the creation of your EP.
From the day we started the band, I wanted it to be purely about the music. It’s a cliché, but the music is what counts. So we spent a long, long time in a little no-name studio, making demos that sounded right. It had to be original, fucked-up, melodic, spacey; the whole deal. Five of the demos were polished up and that’s the EP.

You’ve worked with Philippe Zdar – tell me what that experience was like.
Nope, Philippe Zdar hasn’t recorded with us yet. He’s a supporter of our band and he wants to do the album with us. At the moment, he’s at home in Paris producing Phoenix’s new record. We’ll meet up with him next year.

You’re playing NeverEverLand – œ08, celebrating 10 years of Modular. How did you get associated with the label? Were you at NeverEverLand – œ07?
Okay, the unremarkable truth. A few friends of Modular heard our music and told the general manager all about us. Those helpful people were the DJ Peter Kirk (aka The Outlaws) and also the manager of The Presets. Peter brought the Modular people to see us play a gig in Bondi. Philippe Zdar started to support us on MySpace with comments and Top 8s. That helped too. We’re gonna mow his lawn in Paris, if he’s got one.

We’re very glad to play NeverEverLand. It’s especially great because I’ve known most of the other bands on the tour for a long time, but never played a gig with them. I’m looking forward to watching Pip Ladyhawke a lot; she’s an old buddy. Last year, I was lucky to be on the guest-list at NeverEverLand, but I arrived too late and wasn’t allowed in. However, I got to see 10,000 kids in singlets and thongs yelling about Daft Punk, their drugs and ringing their mums to pick them up.

You guys are busy little beavers. You’re playing Good Vibes, plus supporting Bloc Party and Mystery Jets. That’s all pretty cool. What are you pumped for most?
I’m still young, but I’ve been making music long enough not to get – œpumped’. Things are going well, but our supposedly overnight success stems from years of mistakes and experience. I’m appreciative to be signed and playing with these excellent bands. It’s vindication.

I’ve actually known the guys from Mystery Jets and Bloc Party for about five years, so it will be cool to play at such big shows. Maybe I should sound more excited, but I’ve been around. It’s about the music. As for Good Vibrations, that’ll be fun too. The headlining act is the Andre Rieu of dance music, Fatboy Slim. Maybe he can lend me five bucks.

What’s next in the Mission Control world?
As mentioned, there’s the touring with Bloc Party, Mystery Jets and the big NeverEverLand gigs. We’re recording demos for the album, in a hot little studio when I’d prefer to be at the skate park. We’ll be in England in their spring, for our debut EP release there. More gigs, video clips, more recording. The usual thing. Getting the sound out there, doing something different. Then I’ll marry Tommy Mottola and get watermelon-sized breast implants.

Finally, what advice would you give to bands that are just starting up and want to make it in the music industry?
Get kneepads and a bottle of mouthwash. Have good taste, focus on the music. Don’t listen to any rock bands that win ARIA Awards. Listen to all the best new bands on MySpace and move your sound forward. We don’t need any more Kings of Leon cover bands. Read a lot of books, stay in school and don’t ponce around dressed like a knob in scarves and pointy boots.

Mission Control head out on the NeverEverLand tour next month. In the new year, they’ll support Mystery Jets at their Falls Festival sideshows and do the Good Vibrations Festival circuit.

Sat Dec 13 – Hordern Pavilion & Surrounds, Sydney
Sun Dec 14 – Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
Sat Dec 20 – Riverstage, Brisbane
Sun Dec 21 – Members Equity Stadium, Perth
Thursday 1 Jan – The Hi Fi, Melbourne (with Mystery Jets)
Sunday 4 Jan – The Metro Theatre, Sydney (with Mystery Jets)