Back in the deep mists of time, shortly before the First World War, Factory Floor were our favourite live band – as explored by John Doran in this article. Sat in the office, around the time man first walked on the moon, we used to marvel and wonder at the fact that it seemed likely that all they might leave in their wake would be the memory of some of the greatest live performances we’d ever seen. Then, during the Falklands War, Factory Floor released a debut EP – and, even more excitingly, as Tony Blair pranced into Downing Street to the sounds of D:Ream, word reached us that the band had begun work on their debut album.
This, then, is a momentous day in our Epoch, as we can finally bring you the tidings that FACTORY FLOOR ARE RELEASING THEIR DEBUT ALBUM! The self-titled record will be released via DFA on September 9th 2013. Says the label’s Jonathan Galkin of his first encounter with the group: “It had a presence to it that was the same feeling I had when i saw say MBV in 1991 or Black Dice in 2001. It was just… exhilaratingly full and loud and relentlessly rhythmic… sonically it came at you and attacked you.”
Factory Floor will feature new versions of ‘Two Different Ways’ and ‘Fall Back’, both released as DFA singles, along with eight new tracks, some of which you might be familiar with from their live shows. ‘How You Say’ is the one that sounds like you’re being attacked by Satan’s wasps while lurching off a cliff in the very pit of Hades. It’s mixed by Timothy ‘Q’ Wiles, the man responsible for the brilliant sound and feel of the VCMG album last year. Full track details below and artwork can be seen above.
Speaking to Resident Advisor, Factory Floor’s Nik Colk Void said "It took a while, well a long time, almost two years. The main reason for this is we decided to keep developing live in tandem with recording. Also committing time to our ICA residency. Collaborating with established artists fed more inspiration. Yes the tracks were specifically made for the album, we consciously wanted to make a record that offered an alternative side to our live shows. We chose to discipline the tracks and emulate our own staple sound."
Speaking of the decision to hand the album over to Wiles for mixing, after the band had written, recorded and produced everything themselves, she said "We hooked up with him at the beginning of the year. At this point we were too close to the record to hear it properly. Gabriel’s snare would rip my head off, my vocal treatments became so removed they no longer sounded human! The consequence of a professional getting their hands on our files made us clean them up one last time beforehand, take a final look at our individual parts and better them if need be. We knew of him from the VCMG record out on Mute last year. He gave the tracks air and dimension, as if he’d taken them on holiday – this is exactly what the album needed." Factory Floor play various festivals including Lovebox this summer, and next Thursday June 27th, Dom Butler supports Black Dice at Corsica Studios – info here.
Factory Floor – Factory Floor tracklist
‘Turn It Up’
‘Here Again’
‘One’
‘Fall Back’
‘Two’
‘How You Say’
‘Two Different Ways’
‘Three’
‘Work Out’
‘Breathe In’
