Liquid - Interview 2008

Whether or not you were out raving in the early 90's, you would have heard the massive anthem 'Sweet Harmony' by Liquid. In 1992 it took the rave scene and UK charts by storm, has stood the test of time and is still a firm favourite to this day.

I caught up with Eamon Downes from Liquid to look at the past, present and future of Liquid!

Who were the members of Liquid then and now?
For the first few months another fella called Shane Heneghan, since then just me.

What were your early music influences?
Blimey, everything from The Specials, The Clash, 80s dub reggae like Scientist, Streetsounds Electro albums, then a load of the early USA/Chicago House.

'Sweet Harmony' is probably one THE iconic tunes of the early ninety's rave scene! Can you explain how you came to make this, what inspired you, then the journey right up to it being a hit in the UK Charts and your performance on TOTP? Must have been a mad time!

You don't realise it at the time. The abnormal soon becomes normal.

Shane used to come into a record shop that I worked in, we were both pretty uninspired by the dominance of Belgian techno (though I like some of it, I felt it moved to far away from the soulful roots of House music). So, we went into a studio and created Sweet Harmony. I raised the finances to manufacture it, I then organised the distribution and within 2 days of it being available Pete Tong played it on Radio 1. I never really listened to his show then, but something made me put the Radio on and literally 30 seconds later there was the opening strings of Sweet Harmony compressed to hell as the recording and pressing were pretty ropey.

Then it sold pretty rapidly, got bootlegged too and after Christmas we signed to XL. TOTP was not the best experience, I knew it was looking rubbish but felt powerless to do anything. I try not to have regrets, per se, but if I was allowed to change one thing then I wouldn't have done TOTP.

What did Ce Ce Rogers think of it? Did you ever chat to him about it?
He came over and sang it! TOTP had all sorts of rules about not miming vocals,it is weird looking back and seeing how the foundations of our 'way of life' and society were seemingly threatened by the rave scene. One of the solutions was making it more awkward to spread our subversive message via TOTP.

He was cool. I didn't dig the whole performance on TOTP, but Ce Ce Rogers was pretty sweet.

Did you go yourself to parties in the late 80's early 90's? Were you a raver then/now or is just about the producing?
I am still suffering for it: my memory and vocabulary have never recovered!

I used to go to Sunrise, Energy and from then on to clubs like Labrynth. I even had the chemically induced privilege of watching Adamski perform when he wasn't anywhere near the place.

Who's your favourite dj from back in the 90's?
Ooooh, tough. I used to like Frankie Bones and a bloke called Chris Energy. (maybe that is slightly more 80s, sorry)

And what tunes from that period still do it for you?
KLF-What Time Is Love (the very original), A Guy Called Gerald-Voodoo Ray, Master C+J-Dub Love, Is It Me That You Want from the Back to Basis EP and from the 90s Joey Beltram-Energy Flash, Bitin' Back-She's Breakin' Up. Too many to mention, really.

Which DJ's do you rate now?
Dave Spoon and Slipmatt, as much for their inspiring attitudes than solely their music.

Sweet Harmony has been sampled many times, How do you feel when you hear other artists using it?
Depends. I accept we initially copied it, but we approached it in the right way. I see people releasing Liquid-Sweet Harmony remixes that have been commissioned by themselves for the sole benefit of themselves, that I find a slight liberty. We made sure Marshall Jefferson got informed and then paid. Apart from that beef, it's pretty good.

Are you still producing music now? If so what genre are you making?
Still some breakbeat electro stuff and I am doing a new Liquid album. I didn't feel like doing any Liquid stuff for years, then I did again. So i am doing it! It is electronic, beatsy and dubby with some cool guest vocals and live bass/drums.

Liquid PA'd at Fantazia's Clash Of the Titans this year? How did you find it?
Loved it. Such a privilege playing such a well run event, well run for both the performers and the ravers (and I'm not just saying that as you're from Fantazia). I got to catch up with Ian Bland from Dream Frequency too, which was very good until I found out that he supports Man Utd and that is even though he comes from Preston. Wrong, eh? We had Tech3 MC (Scratchmaster Techno) do the show with us and he is slick and sick.

What else have you been up to recently?
Just trying to finish this album and getting engaged to my Roman missus. So i am (slowly) learning Italian.

Anything you want to do in the future?
I've never played in Australia, that's on the list. I am excited to get this album finished, as the dub tracks are so close to the music I grew up on as a kid.

What has been the best moment of your career?
So far? Numerous gigs I can think of: Firestones in Orlando, playing 2 festivals in Athens and Thessaloniki where it really went off, Bangface and Fantazia this year were really cool as was Epidemik at the Ministry of Sound. Getting a good midweek is always a buzz, as much as getting a disappointing one is a downer! Hearing records on the Radio is always special too, especially the first time I heard Pete Tong playing Sweet Harmony.

Anything else you want to say? Any shouts?
Listen out for the new record next year and come and see us play, it's more than an old skool PA.

Shouts to my bride-to-be Stella, Matt Frost from Dark Globe, Boony, Martin (Dj Obsession) and all the exceptionally helpful Fantazia crew, MC Whizzkid & his gorgeous missus, Tech3 MC and the wonderfully inspiring Mr Dave Spoon.

http://www.myspace.com/liquiduk

live picture credits : ©emmajanerichards.com

Interview conducted by forum member Bex for Fantazia 2008