The daily overwhelm of incoming stimuli and the paralyzing consequences thereof.
Claustrophobia at its best
The Fear In My Heart / Cardiocleptomania is a split 7″ featuring Luc Van Acker (known for his work with Front 242, Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Schriekback, Philadelphia Five, Anna Domino, and Arbeit Adelt!) and Pas De Deux. It was released on the Ostend-based Stroom label, curated by Ziggy Devriendt of Nosedrip.
Igloo :: Your contribution is “The Fear In My Heart,” a song from 1983. When you listen to it yourself now, what do you hear? What do you think? What do you feel?
Luc Van Acker :: What I hear is a song where the text and the music complement each other perfectly. What I think is that with the limited resources (everything was played manually — MIDI did not exist yet) it was mainly the vision that was converted into sound. I also think of the layering of the Roland Juno 60 and the LinnDrum that actually fell into place perfectly by chance without any preparation. Of course, don’t forget that it was in the ICP studios with Jean-Marie Aerts and technician Djoem. That was a dream team at that time. What I feel is mainly happiness! All the unaffordable instruments from back then now exist in a cheap Behringer version — it would be nice to reprogram this song.
The lyrics of the song are on Stroom’s Bandcamp. What is “The Fear In My Heart” about?
Luc Van Acker :: The song is about the daily overwhelm of incoming stimuli and the paralyzing consequences of this. I had the image of a bleeding soldier lying dying next to his Jeep in my head. His blood becomes one with the earth.
As you said, “The Fear In My Heart” was produced by Jean-Marie Aerts. How do you remember this recording?
Luc Van Acker :: The recordings took place in the ICP studios in Brussels. I had already worked with Jean for my ZAS EP. This was the first recording for a pop song. During the recordings, the entrance door was bricked up to make a new one a little further away… but for 3 hours Jean, Djoem and I were bricked up in the studio and you can hear it… claustrophobia at its best.
How did you end up at Ziggy Devriendt’s Stroom label for this release?
Luc Van Acker :: He contacted me… I don’t actually know him.
“The Fear In My Heart” was originally the A-side of a 12″ and was also on an extended version of your The Ship album.
Luc Van Acker :: When the song came out I got the award for Best Newcomer in ZOMERHIT 1983 from Radio 2, can you believe that? I was on EMI at the time … Marc Moulin from Radio 21 was a big fan right away! Stephen Dewaele is also a fan. All nice compliments.
Why the combination with Pas De Deux?
Luc Van Acker :: You should ask Ziggy. But Walter has also worked a lot with Jean-Marie (and Leuven) and Tienen are close to each other, aren’t they?
“A double-AA side nugget finely paired by Stroom. The sweeter half “Cardiocleptomanie” highlights the B-side to a 1983 single 7” issued by one-time Eurovision entrants Pas De Deux with the other half hailing legendary artist Luc Van Acker, who is maybe best known as producer and party to Front 242, Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Anna Domino, and Philadelphia Five’s finest moment.” ~Boomkat
The Fear In My Heart / Cardiocleptomanie is available on Stroom. [Bandcamp]
