M : I'd paint, make clothes.
D : I'd move to America - and even if I was tone deaf - I'd still attemp it ( laughs).
I-D : The name Fashion - Why ?
M : I like the word, its connotations - when the band started, we couldn't play ... bu we documented everything we did and so there's an awareness of change...
M : We put 100 per cent in, we script and storyboard videos, do the covers, design stage sets, the graphics - by the time something's released it's about 50/50 . . .
D : They (Arista) don't stick their oar in, they genuinely want to be involved.
i-D : Stage sets, you've got someone to build them ?
D : Yeah, a couple of people in Birmingham - at the moment they're working on an optical illusion, an upside down pyramid .... its .... wait, wait ans see ... it'll be fantastic.
i-D : Is there any pressure or controversy over the product you release ?
D : No, because we've said You tell us what you think is the most commercial material and we'll talk about it from there...I think you need somebody to advise - the A & R at Arista is exceptional... Zeus, our producer is pretty hard on us
M : Yeah, we are doing something recently and he wasn't happy with the guitar track, so he goes out and comes back with a plectrum and says to Dee - "Haff you ever tried vun of zeez ? " But that's very good because if you're pulling a stroke, he'll see straight through you- only the good ideas get past him
i-D : Your music seem to have a range of sounds which go from Yankee disco geetar to Can/Neu type eletronics like the anglougue/digital cross-rhythm on "Streetplayer "
M : Well thats down to experimentation - and we haven't paid much attention to Fashion ... being from Birmingham, you're an
D : We've worked hard on the writting side, expecially, to creat something that's a result of the band's musical output rather than use conventional formats...I think you'e cheating yourself if you try to write
M : We just work from our influences - I like a lot of japanes imports - eletronic stuff - and Dave likes a lot of American soul...
i-D : where you got your guitar style ? ?
D : Yeah, I used to play on disco sessions, that sort of thing...
M : Can't we talk about sex ?
i-D : Actually I was just about to ask your views on genetic engineering...
M : As long as they dont make millions of Margaret Thatchers - if they made millions of fantastic girls I would complain...
D : I'd agree ( hearty chortle )
i-D : How important is your relationship with your producer ?
M : very important, as I was saying.
i-D : Is that a gun he's holding ?
D - Ha, Ha, Ha, - Yeah, he's alrigh