Credit: Found On Internet

“I’m scared of modern life” – Pioneering synthesiser artist John Foxx on his 20^th album release, finding inspiration in London and having The Klaxons as his biggest fans.

John Foxx was the original lead singer of Ultravox. (Long before Midge Ure came along in his camel coloured coat wailing Vienna at the top of his lungs and sporting a wispy 80’s moustache).

Since 1979 he has enjoyed cult status thanks to a solo career based on pioneering synthesiser sounds and cold vocal delivery. More recently The Klaxons have name-dropped him in several interviews as a huge influence. Jane Gazzo chats to the prolific artist as he releases his twentieth studio album Sideways with collaborator Louis Gordon.

JG: Hello John, How are you today?

JF: Hi Jane.  Sprung by Spring – Birds! Blossom! Bees! Barbecues! And a Tax Bill!  - Bastards.

Where are you?

In a small recording studio - overlooking Green Park.

What’s the weather like outside the window?

Hot and sunny.  Global warming is bollocks. It’s me. As soon as I step into a studio the sun comes out.

Congrats on the new album Sideways. Another epic and another album in which you team up with Louis Gordon.

Is it fair to say this is a prolific and very positive partnership?

Yes.

How did you guys hook up originally and how did you know when you both ‘clicked’?

Some friends took me to an all-nighter at a squatted country house. There was all this smoke and light mixed with dancing people. Nicely confusing.

About five hours later, the smoke cleared and there was Louis – he’d played it all on a knackered synth, an old drum machine and a borrowed guitar.

We had a chat and it turns out Metamatic was the first record he’d bought. We began recording in Manchester a couple of weeks later and haven’t quite finished yet.

It amazes me that somebody as prolific as yourself never loses out on the quality of work you produce. For example   this album is on par with your earliest releases from 1980/81 with The Garden and Metamatic.

Great. Thanks.  Problem with music is you can get typecast before you get time to grow up – it’s like appearing on Coronation Street. You’re Ken Barlow until you’re dead.  It’s only ok if you actually want to be Ken.