Feed Your Stereo: The Mole

One of the longest standing acts on the Wagon Repair roster, Colin de la Plante (aka The Mole)’s music exhumes the off-kilter techno qualities that has come to define the aforementioned label. It’s a deep and dark sound through which he builds an eerie hypnosis on a foundation of loops and organic sounds - something that really adds an extra dimension to groove based techno. Wagon Repairs roots were laid in Canada, namely in Vancouver where founding members Mathew Jonson and Konrad Black grew up and met The Mole, although he’s since emigrated to Berlin, for reasons we still can’t be 100% sure of but we think sound pretty cool. As well as releasing his own productions over an array of labels, he co-runs the 7” label, 7 Inches of Love, with Koosh and is part of Modern Deep Love Quartet - an further extension of the experimental improv-electronica act Cobblestone Jazz. After speaking to him we’re starting to see what it is that sets The Mole’s music apart from the norm and how fits on Wagon Repair; it’s not simply straight up sounding techno, but its fuzzy around the edges, carrying influences from a multitude of genres - which is nowhere more so evident than on his RA podcast from 2008 which was picked out by the editors as a favourite of the year even though it was a mixture of old soul, funk, disco, and R&B classics rather than club fodder . These tangents are not untypical to what you can expect to hear in his DJ set this Saturday and those influences can be heard in this never before heard track from the vaults of The Mole. DOWNLOAD: The Mole - Que Que 3000 How did you start out producing music, are any early inspirations that sparked your work? When I was in high school I had a girlfriend who smoked a lot of pot. She and her best friend would rush home to watch kids in the hall everyday. The great Toronto skit show. Years of gold. For example... the pot-head who trades his jean jacket* to satan* in exchange for dreads made of weed. While he's rolling up his new bud his friend asks if he regrets it, his answer: a great jean jacket just takes time right. Brain cells are gone forever. Anyway, I used to think my ex was crazy running home to get high and see this shit. But now I think she may have been onto something. *jean on jean, jean pants, jean jacket, is what we call the Canadian tuxedo. *satan says he's starting a band called the noodles and needs something to wear on stage. You’ve been one of the earliest artists on Wagon Repair, what does it mean for you when you do a release on Wagon Repair? It’s an honour - working with friends is the best. Growing up around hippies isn’t all hairy armpits and patchouli, I learnt about a special kind of sharing. I don't mean the west coast gypsy - I'm going to borrow this without asking and then give it away - kind of sharing. Payzant said it best - it's like a BBQ, everybody brings what they've got, and we share... and it's a party. What other producers are you into at the moment, have you got any recommendations for our readers? I really dig the new Neil Young record, Daniel Lanois did an amazing job on it. I like the Numero and Mississippi compilations. Eddie C, the Deepwoodsman pimp. Oh! I just had visions of him as Jaque from Twin Peaks...scary. I digress... Half Hawaii. the new stuff is dope! And I just heard a Mariachi band do a good cover of feelings, but it was at a wedding so it was a little inappropriate, it’s a pretty sad song for a wedding. I just think some songs aren't wedding worthy. You’re now based in Berlin - it’s known to be a haven for producers and DJs - what made you decide to move there? When I was in high school I used to sneak out of the dorms on Wednesdays to go to Broad Street and into ‘Victoria to Berlin,’ that was the name of the night there. It was 2 or 3 bucks to get in, 7 for a pitcher of beer and it was the spot. Listening to the Wizard of X, Pascal, Tyger Dhula and John The Baptist; he was the main man behind thescene, The Baptist. And it really was a scene, right down to the record store, hanging out at Boomtown with wood, safety meetings with W and saying hi to Honour and Grace on the way in, wondering if maybe I'm too safe. That's where I met all those - Koosh, Ice-e-Fresh, The Team Loungers, Crisco, Ekeem, Topher, Djanda, Moe, Kris Kringle, Lev, Gail, Silvana and my memory's clouded*. There are so many more reasons why I should be moving back in time, isn't that what Stevie meant by ‘Pastime Paradise’? Did Coolio get that too? Hmm that doesn't really answer the question does it... I guess the best answer would be love.... *kids in the hall. What makes up your studio, any favourite bits of gear? My records. Is that gear? Can I say that? Cause it's kinda true.... Are you looking forward to playing in Room One this weekend - any hint as to what to expect in your record bag? Damn right I am! I'm really looking forward to hearing Midnight Operator. They're not in my bag, though having a mini version of them that could fit in my bag would be super cool. I heard some of the stuff they're working on last night and it sounds deadly. I think we're in for a treat... The Mole will be in Room One along with Midnight Operator this Saturday, for more info and tickets go here.