Love Instruments

Photo by Hugh Waters
 

Oh! Belgium annoy a lot of people. Some claim it is the incessant mining of nerd record collections for inspiration that make them hard to swallow. For others, the problem seems to be the treble; the rhythm which powers on beyond its intent like too much meth, falling over its own feet as it tries to escape the history of inane 4/4 rock. Sure, Oh! Belgium are as pretentious as hell and almost unbearable at extended listening but they possess an overtly brattish, hyperactive energy unparalleled in this land of arm hugging indie-schmucks and in perhaps their only sign of respect for your ears, never play longer than twenty minutes anyway.

The only problem with all this is that it obscures the fact that Oh! Belgium are fucking amazing; brave as hell beyond their nervous indie-kid mannerisms. They have just committed three of their finest moments to 7″ on Pocketclock. I bailed up two thirds of the band and tried to get sexual.

VICE: What is the song “dry hump my hip” about?

JARROD: I’m sure I practiced naked ONCE…And um, well Annie, the other member of the band, was dry humping my hip.

RAQUEL: But you two used to have sex with instruments…

What’s this about having sex with instruments?

JARROD: We didn’t have sex with them …but I would, uh, prod private parts with them.

What advice would you give someone about to form a band with someone they used to fuck?

JARROD: Uh, don’t unless you have…unless you have… resolved all your issues.

RAQUEL: JUST DON’T.

JARROD: I think it’s more a question of don’t start a band with someone you are fucking in the first instance.

Is this why you guys fight on stage all the time?

RAQUEL: A mixture of incompetence, arrogance… and yes, sexual tension.

MICHAEL BRAY
Oh! Belgium’s new EP is out now.