Faster Than Lichen are minimal men making minimal music. They may even be a minimal man: one story is that F.T.L. is an American or Russian (or possibly Argentinian) scientist living in a research-base on Antarctica. This would fit the name, because lichens are an important part of polar ecology. But perhaps it fits too well. Here is a short interview with F.T.L. conducted by email in November 2012.
Faster Than Lichen #1
Q. How would you describe the music of Faster Than Lichen?
A. Songs from the center of the sun.
Faster Than Lichen #1 (back cover)
Q. Why the sun?
A. Why not?
Q. How long have you been making music?
A. Long enough.
Faster Than Lichen #2
Q. What emotions do you aim to evoke?
A. Acceptance.
Faster Than Lichen #2 (back cover)
Q. Is that all?
A. Usually.
Q. F.T.L. albums have no titles, only numbers. Why?
A. Numbers say more.
Faster Than Lichen logos (please open in new window to animate)
Q. Who created the F.T.L. logo?
A. It evolved.
Faster Than Lichen #6
Q. It’s been two years since #6. Can we hope to hear #7 soon?
A. Yes. We’re working on it now.
Faster Than Lichen #6 (back cover)
Q. So there is more than one of you?
A. Sometimes.
Q. What happened to F.T.L. #5?
A. It was withdrawn before issue.
Q. Will it ever be issued?
A. Maybe.
Faster Than Lichen #3
Q. There is only one track on F.T.L. #3. It’s 59 seconds long and is called “One-Oh-One-One-One-One-One”. But 1011111 is binary for 95. Is this a joke?
A. Sometimes.
Faster Than Lichen #3 (back cover)
Q. Are you aware of the group Old Church Slavonick?
A. Yes. But that is as far as it goes.
Q. So no members of F.T.L. were ever members of O.C.S.?
A. Yes. None.
Q. What are your influences?
A. Lichen, of course. The sun. Starlight.
Q. Other groups?
A. That is for the listener.
Faster Than Lichen #4
Q. Do you have any plans to play live?
A. It’s possible. Maybe next year.
Faster Than Lichen #4 (back cover)
Q. Where would you most like to play live?
A. An active volcano on Iceland.
Q. During a solar eclipse?
A. That would be a bonus. Not essential.
Q. What else would be a bonus?
A. A dragonfly.
Q. Thanks for the interview. Anything to add?
A. Thanks. Always accept all.
Previously Pre-Posted (please peruse):
• Angst, Anguish, Abjection
• Mental Marine Music
• Stoch’! (In the Name of Dove)
Overlord In Terms of Core Issues Around Maximal Engagement with Key Notions of the Über-Feral 