by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Probably more popular posthumously, Arab on Radar's influence can still be heard in underground music. A.O.R.'s offshoot bands (Chinese Stars, Athletic Automation and Made in Mexico) are continuing to fill the void for people sick of the traditional pop format. Although that sound can be found in Made in Mexico, bands like the Birthday Party, P.I.L. and Captain Beefheart are right up at the forefront. The Mirror communicated with Made in Mexico guitarist Jeff Schneider by electronic mail on the interweeb.

Mirror: Your split EP with Athletic Automation is pretty lo-fi. Was this out of necessity or part of your sound?

Jeff Schneider: It was half out of necessity - it's a MiniDisc recording, actually - and half knowingly wanting to sound trashy. We thought at the time that it would be neat to have a whacked-sounding, noisy recording. We think the more "freak-out" songs sound great that way. As far as Zodiac Zoo, the record that Skin Graft is releasing in early October, it's much more hi-fi. There are overdubs, effects, we used a whole bunch of different amps and instruments, even my acoustic guitar.

M: We're seeing a lot of bands now embracing noise elements as well as name-checking no wave bands like Teenage Jesus and the Jerks. Do you think there's a resurgence?

JS: Holy shit. I guess I missed that. I see a line from U.S. Maple, Scissor Girls and the Chicago people, and Harry Pussy etc. in the late '90s, early '00s to bands like Sleetmute/Nightmute, even Erase Errata, or AIDS Wolf from Montreal. In Providence, there are bands I consider totally whacked who could be considered no wave. Lightning Bolt, even. Made in Mexico is no wave on some songs, but we have others that are just strange-flavoured music.

As far as noise goes, there are bands like the Daughters who are infusing hardcore beats with disco beats, cross-pollinating dance and fashion, like Arab on Radar, actually... gulp... I bear no responsibility for that. It was 1995 when we tinkered with disco, and abruptly abandoned it, as you can see if you look at the pedigree. Bands like An Albatross kind of smack of the Locust, but the one time I witnessed An Albatross I was impressed and slightly aroused, I must admit, in that post-racquetball-game, dude way, of course. I resisted noise music for a long time, thought it was like static on my TV or a vacuum cleaner in my face, a blow-dryer or pots 'n' pans, but once I saw Pleasurehorse a few times, it clicked. It's not my forte exactly, but I appreciate that people are doing it and will check out anything that seems to be fresh in that scene. If it's good enough for Thurston man, it's good enough for little ol' me.

M: I noticed on your myspace site that you seem to lead quite an activist life despite your band being apolitical.

JS: Reading is always good though, from Ward Churchill to John K. Cooley's Unholy Wars to Naomi Klein's Fences and Windows to just about anything by Noam Chomsky.

Nike said "Just Do It" and meant "Buy Our Shit" but I believe in "Just Do It," whatever "it" is. If you study the information, you'll know what to do, be it writing a letter or something else. I read three newspapers and a bunch of online stuff too, like commondreams.org. I feel inclined to do things in my community, like getting army recruiters out of my college or going to Washington, D.C., on September 24 to march opposing the Iraq War. I think we all should be doing something. If you meet the people affected by this war or others, it takes its toll on you and that drives you to try your best to stop the often greedy, nonsensical, unjustifiable plans and actions of your government.

With Panopticon Eyelids at Zoobizarre
tonight, Thursday, Aug. 25, 9 p.m., $6

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