Photography by Lucy Johnston

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure and delight of talking with Benjamin John Power and Andrew Hung of Fuck Buttons. Their most recent album “Tarot Sport” is available through ATP Recordings. Be sure to check it out if you haven’t heard it yet!

Michael: You guys are in Europe right now, right? How’s everything with tour going?

Benjamin John Power: It’s going great at the moment thanks, yeah. Just played our first shows in Portugal. Lisbon is a beautiful place.

Andrew Hung:It’s going very well thank you.

Michael: Which place are you most looking forward to playing?

BP: I always enjoy our time in America as the tours are long and we get to see so many different places. And this time we’re going to be with out good friends “Growing,” so those dates we are really excited about.

AH: Yeah, North America is a beautiful place for sure.

Michael: With the recent release of “Tarot Sport” I imagine you guys are feeling pretty excited amongst other feelings.  What makes this album something to look out for in 2009?

BP: We are so happy with the way “Tarot Sport” has come out. It’s a document of where we’re at now and I think we’re in a good place.

Michael: Which track off of “Tarot Sport” do you enjoy playing live the most?

BP: At the moment, Phantom Limb.

AH: They’re all good.

Michael: What’s the best worst thing about being on the road?

BP: We love playing live. It’s exciting and testing and the songs we write are always written as if we were to play them live so the best thing about touring is simply the ability to do just that every night! The worst part would probably be travel sickness, which doesn’t happen to me too often but when it does it pretty nasty.

AH: The worst thing is not being able to find decent food. It’s a matter of eating goodness whenever you have an opportunity (that’s my strategy at least). The best thing…. well.. it’s a privilege to be doing this as far as I’m concerned.

Michael: Who engineered and produced the album?

BP: Mr. Andrew Weatherall.

Michael: Any interesting studio moments?

BP: The whole experience down in that studio was pretty interesting itself. The record took us three weeks consisting of long days so it was very intense and quite a challenge but we all managed to accomplish what we set out to do. Andrew Weatherall has a lot of good stories. It was good to hear his stories.

Michael: Can you share with us a guilty pleasure of yours?

BP: “Single Ladies” by Beyonce.

AH: Carbonated drinks.

Michael: What’s your favorite time of year?

AH: Autumn and her firework foliage display.

Michael: Would you rather be swooned and fornicated by former President Bill Clinton or Secretary of State Hillary Clinton?

BP: That’s so gross.

AH: :S

Michael: Do you have a secret talent?

BP: I’m pretty good at tricks that involve spinning things.

AH: Haha… Ben is indeed good at spinning tricks. I’m quite enjoying Sylvester Stallone impressions… “To survive the war, you gotta become the war…”

Michael: When did you first starting creating music? Were you introduced by anyone specifically?

BP: I first started to make music at a young age. My brother was bought an acoustic guitar for his eighth birthday. He picked it up maybe once but I kind of adopted it and started to teach myself guitar then when I was nine. I tried to go to guitar lessons at school but that didn’t really work so I carried on just teaching myself. I played in various punk and hardcore bands throughout my teenage years.

AH: We started making music when we both went to the same University. We started hanging out with each other and, as our musical tastes emerged, it became more apparent that we should make music together, which we did!

Michael: Who are some musical artists you’ve gotten into this past year?

BP: Shackleton & Appleblim, The Bug

AH: Basic Channel

Michael: Anyone “under the radar” people should know about?

BP: Growing, These Are Powers, Tim Hecker, Zun Zun Egui

Michael: Would you rather have a foot long eyelash that you couldn’t cut or an earlobe the size of a basketball? Why?

BP: Jeez. Maybe the earlobe and then I’d cut that off. You didn’t say I couldn’t cut that off

AH: The eyelash. Long eyelashes are beautiful right?

Michael: Last words?

BP: We’re on tour in North America and Canada from late October all the way through November touring “Tarot Sport,” so come along to a show and say hello! We’re gonna have our good friends Growing playing with us so the shows should be awesome!

Tour Dates: