Get to Know: Henge

Meet the extraterrestrial noisemakers behind Henge, the world's foremost exponents of a mysterious musical genre known only as 'cosmic dross'

Feature by The Skinny North | 16 Jan 2017

Based in Manchester yet claiming to come from far-flung dimensions, Henge are a singularly exhilarating riot of colour and noise. Not that they'd favour terms such as 'riot'; their message is one of peace, and the only way they know how to get there is to party. Which means a unique stage presence and a mash-up of genre sounds incorporating Devo-edged synth-pop, fleet-footed funk and a distinct smattering of psychedelia: fun, in other words.

They play Stay Fresh Fest 2 at Manchester's Deaf Institute in January, alongside fellow Northern movers and shakers The Orielles, Strobes, MUMS and more – get to know 'em a little more below...

The Skinny: When and how (and why!) did Henge begin?

'Zpor': Henge began many billions of years ago when I, Zpor – an ancient jester/inventor/explorer – fled my home planet of Agricular in Cosmos Redshift 7 as it was consumed by its dying sun. I duly visited Xylanthia in the Sirius Star System where I learned the highly spiritual form of music called 'cosmic dross'.

My teacher was a charismatic drummer called Nom. We became travelling companions and visited many planets in the Milky Way Galaxy including Venus (which at that time was experiencing apocalyptic climate change caused by the runaway greenhouse effect). While there we rescued a Venusian named Goo who was taken aboard our spaceship. He – the lone survivor of the Venusian apocalypse – is particularly responsive to bass frequencies.

The final band member to join our group was a human. After making contact in the astral realm the human being invited me and my crew to Earth (a place I am familiar with but had not visited since ancient Egyptian times). Our intervention was needed! Humans had reached a critical time. The Earth's resources are being squandered on making weapons of war. Time is running out for humankind...

Tell us something people would be surprised to learn about you.

I have found a way to live forever.

You've described your music as 'cosmic dross'. If one of your tunes were sent into space to be played back from another planet (like Blur's Beagle 2 adventure), what would you want the piece of music to convey? Please bear in mind that this may provide an alien race with the first signs of intelligent life emerging from Earth.

We are already aware of intelligent life on Earth. We have been observing Earth since life began here, intervening when necessary. It was me who sent the ice asteroids careering towards Earth, bringing water to the planet. I also sent the mushroom spores that flourished and have inspired humans to develop social consciousness, language and art.

We have played cosmic dross in many locations around the galaxy. On planet Earth the message expressed in these lyrics is of ultimate importance:

'WE DEMAND 
THAT THE WEAPONS OF WAR 
ARE MANUFACTURED NO MORE
DEMILITARISE
WE DEMAND 
THAT WE HAVE IN ITS PLACE
THE MEANS TO UNITE
AND COLONISE SPACE'

What does Manchester mean to you?

Manchester is a vital location for us. It is where we have chosen to set up a base for the first two years of our mission. There are many people here who are ready to receive enlightenment.

We have felt that the people of Lancashire have been particularly receptive to our message. There are a great many smaller towns near to Manchester – Clitheroe, Todmorden, Darwen – where vast swathes of people have united and are demanding demilitarisation.

Manchester is one of many locations that we have selected to carry out our work. Glasgow, Bristol, Sheffield, Leeds and Liverpool are also important cities for us in the UK. We also take our work into Europe and have felt especially welcome in Belgium and Germany.

Which of the other acts at Stay Fresh Fest 2 are you most looking forward to watching?

Heavy on the Magic.

What does the rest of the year have in store for you?

We are currently recording and will be releasing something in the springtime. We have a tour to accompany that which takes us around the UK and Europe.

We also put on big parties in Manchester called Space Cassette. The night is like a rave but with live bands and we have acts from all over the world coming to play. There is one on 10 Feb with Age of Glass, Galaxians and Ruby My Dear. We also do Space Cassette festival takeovers and Henge will be performing at those along with many, many other festival appearances

And finally: What do you like to do outside of Henge? Any projects we should know about?

Our hobbies include: space travel, astral exploration, intergalactic raving and spreading peace.


Henge play Stay Fresh Fest 2 at The Deaf Institute, Manchester, 28 Jan, on a bill of vital new music: Strobes, Patty Hearst, The Orielles, Luxury Death, Heavy on the Magic, Seize the Chair, and MUMS. Starts 4pm, tickets £8 from seetickets.com

http://hengemusic.com