Doubleface Richard – The ‘Wednesday Alternative’ Mix

Convenanza, the Andrew Weatherall Festival, Carcassone, France, September 2015. VoX LoW are centre stage in Le Chateau Comtal, creating a buzz not seen in decades with their live low-slung bass and analogue sequences, bathed in blue & green wash light. A thousand cadet travellers grinned and deliriously pinched themselves at the panache the French lads ooze on their debut live set. Then, careering on stage mid-set, comes a big fella, suited and booted and bellowing, face made-up like a skull, as if some Luciferic pitch invader couldn't help but join in with an energised, synchronised heckle. That worked, magnificently.

Less than 24 hours earlier, Doubleface Richard was soundtracking the opening of the photo exhibition down from the castle. An unexpected pre-festival carousing was the meeting point for the festival faithful, and the indominatable gentle giant played a swarthy mix of pre-punk, punk, post-punk and Gallic oddball gems while the wine was swilled and friends welcomed. Bonus.

We asked the Wild Women & The Savages frontman to do a mix reminiscent of that, and tell us a few things…

WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU? 

I'm Doubleface Richard, a radio activist and selector for Mucho Bizarre since years now, and also the singer/screamer of the Wild Women and the Savages. I live in Malicia, The Ghost City, supposed to be in the South of France, but not sure…

WHAT DOES YOUR MIX SOUND/ LOOK LIKE?

Take a giant shaker and put inside all the musics/songs you've got in your brain and you'll have that sort of mix. 

WHAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL SETTING TO LISTEN TO THE MIX?

One day on Facebook I received some feedback on my radioshow which said "I have been digging and cutting back apple trees all day today so a nice hot bath, bottle of red and your show should make for a chilled sunday evening". I really like this sort of feedback.

WHAT SHOULD WE BE WEARING?

Ideally dressed like an old dandy with a beautiful woman by your side.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM SETTING TO RECORD A MIX?

No particular place. This year, my friend Bernie Fabre told me to play for the Convenanza/Andrew Weatherall's photo exhibition was a nice moment for me. So, in art galleries, museums, that would be great, because I'm not a DJ, I try to be a good selector. But also, I like the cities with all the noise and human activities.      

WHICH TRACK IN THE MIX IS YOUR CURRENT FAVOURITE?

Psy 231, "Mumbo Jumbo" is a long time favourite, each time I can play it, I do. And also, "my" Wild Women and the Savages "Credits" has a real particular place in my heart 'cause it's about my rekkid collection, which makes the music I like!

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE RECORDED MIX OF ALL TIME?

The best mix I ever heard is from Andrew Weatherall, White Light 74, it's simply pure magic! I had shivers when I heard it.

IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO BACK WITH ANY DJ FROM THROUGHOUT HISTORY, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

Well, as said, Andrew Weatherall is a person whom I respect a lot. Also Optimo, Trevor Jackson, Richard Fearless and more recently Red Axes.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DJ SET UP AT HOME AND WHAT IS IT NOW?

A set up for a radio show circa 1984, and the same at private Mucho Bizarre's parties now.

WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT, THE TRACK YOU START ON OR THE TRACK YOU END ON?

No importance, but I tend to think the end one is more important, for example, I really enjoy to end with a Suicide/Alan Vega track, one of my all time fave is "Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne"

WHAT WERE THE FIRST AND LAST RECORDS YOU BOUGHT?

The first one was The Cure, their debut LP in 1979 and a pair of forgotten singles, probably rightfully so. I stole a little money in my mother's purse to be able to pay it, hope there is prescription now. The last one(s) there is too many but I could mention the last 12" of my friends, VoX LoW "I Wanna See The Light".

IF THIS MIX WAS AN EDIBLE THING, WHAT WOULD IT TASTE LIKE?

A human brain, so tasty…

IF IT WAS AN ANIMAL WHAT WOULD IT BE?

A waving seahorse or jellyfish.

ONE RECORD IN YOUR COLLECTION THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MIX INTO ANYTHING?

None… Oh Yes!!! Any tracks from Florence Foster Jenkins, the most awful soprano in the world!

UPCOMING IN THE WORLD OF DOUBLEFACE AND/ OR WILD WOMEN AND THE SAVAGES…

You will hear some brad new tracks from Wild Women and the Savages and we are looking for a label. I hope 2016 will be the year of the modern savages. And I still continue my bi-monthly radioshows, Mucho Bizarre (Homeland Of The Freaks) on CampusFM in France.

Follow Wild Women and the Savages HERE. Buy the VoX LoW remix of "Bang! You're Dead" HERE.