Floorbrothers are a truly fantastic duo that takes inspiration from lo-fi legends like Guided by Voices and Pavement (among many others), ending sounding fresh and full of energy.

The duo recently released ‘Floorbrothers Forever,’ their latest album opted for reduction in production too. All songs were recorded in their own River Sound Studio. The heart of the studio is an analogue Teac 388 tape machine with only eight tracks. To capture the music’s spontaneity, Floorbrother songs are rarely played more than once before being recorded. Coincidence always plays along – and the songs come across fresh and direct. ‘Floorbrothers Forever’ was mastered by David Pajo (Slint, Papa M, Gang of Four).

“Sometimes a not perfect guitar line is more alive than a perfect matching one”

How are you guys, it’s great to have you. I’ve been really enjoying your single ‘Drive’ which we premiered awhile ago. Is there a story behind it?

Thanks a lot! The basic chords were written when David Roback died. The lyrics followed later on. ‘Drive’ and driving is a metaphor for moving forward, even if things seem hard sometimes. The recording part was done quite fast. We recorded the guitars and drums in two different sessions – both in one afternoon. The vocals were done in a separate session. We had to work some hours on it. Reto had the lyrics ready and we tried different singing styles, but we were never happy with the first versions. Intuitively Reto pushed his vocals to higher pitched tone, kind of screaming and it instantly worked. By coincidence the overdub guitars from Dani matched the lyrics, which refers to Mazzy Star. We both love that band a lot.

Would you like to discuss how you worked on the upcoming album, ‘Floorbrothers Forever?’

We started recording the basic tracks in December 2019. Half of the basic instruments were already recorded then. But then the whole Covid situation started and we both did not really see a point to work on a recording which we could not also get out and play shows with. So we sporadically over the last two years met and continued working on the overdubs.

<a href="https://floorbrothers.bandcamp.com/album/forever">FOREVER by Floorbrothers</a>

Can you share some further words about the recording and producing process?

We work as a two piece, writing and recording in the studio. Reto has a small studio in his basement which is called River Sound Studio. It is a basic studio with a Tascam 388 [DN1] tape machine and one mono valve compressor. Our first album ‘Ultimate Floor’ was done there too. As we both like the sound and working aspect of tape recording we continued our recording there. There’s a lot of magic happening when you record analog on old gear. We sometimes say that the Tascam 388 is our third band member.

On ‘Floorbrothers Forever’ Reto recorded some of the basic tracks already on tape and then Dani was overdubbing one or two more guitars. After that the leg work was done: the person who had the best idea for a bass recorded it. We record the drums in the end. Reto played all the drums on the songs. We always record the drums with one single microphone, we found a sweet spot for it in the studio which sounds great. Also, as we only have 8 tracks sometimes we have percussion and drums or backing vocals on one track. Which is a drag to mix in the end.

Some basic tracks were also coming from 4 track demos or even an iphone recording of an acoustic guitar made it on the record. (You can hear people swimming and talking in a river on the track ‘In Touch.’ That basic acoustic guitar was recorded outside by the river, and we ended up using it, because we loved the vibe and sound. Dani sometimes worked on guitar ideas at home in his small home studio as it was not always possible to meet in Reto’s studio due to lockdown issues in Switzerland.)

In general we work really fast. We both like the sound and the feeling of recordings done when the song still feels fresh. For us, sometimes a not perfect guitar line is more alive than a perfect matching one.

How would you compare it to your debut album, ‘Ultimate Floor?’ Will it sound similar?

Most of the basic tracks for ‘Ultimate Floor’ were recorded on a 4-track tape recorder in evening sessions over a time period of some months in the rehearsal space in Zurich. Then we overdubbed at Reto’s studio. It probably sounds a bit more raw than ‘Floorbrothers Forever.’ But we definitely have a sound as a band. The Floorbrothers sound. At least that’s what our friends all said, when we played them the new songs and album. We also used exactly the same instruments. The vibe of ‘Floorbrothers Forever’ is probably a bit fresher and lighter maybe. For us ‘Floorbrothers Forever’ has a summer vibe. We both like the hot summer temperature and a jump in a cooling river or lake.

How did you two originally meet and how do you approach music making?

We both have known each other for ages! Over 20 years now. We both played in the Zurich based band Disco Doom in the late 90’s and 2000’s. Reto as the drummer and Dani on bass. That is actually where our name originates from. We jokingly called ourselves the Floorbrothers for that band. Because we layed the bass and drum floor for them.

Later we sporadically met and played on different occasions in and around Zurich. But the real start of Floorbrothers was in 2018 when we started to meet on a weekly basis and that we really complement each other musically. And we’re buddies, hang out and go to shows.

Tell me about the pedals and effects you’re using…

We both are little bit gear nerds. Reto is mainly playing a Fender Jazzmaster or a Jaguar. Many basic guitar tracks were also recorded with a Gibson acoustic. Dani plays mostly a Fender Telecaster or a Stratocaster.

Dani’s Pedalboard line:
Instant Lo-Fi JunkyJHS Morning Glory
Rat
Death by Audio Interstellar Overdrive
Lovepedal Les Lius
J Rocket Archer
Xotic BB Preamp
Ibanez Analog Delay
Electro harmonix oceans 11
Volume pedal

Reto:
EP Booster
Boss Digi EQ
Archer Distortion
Ibanez Analog Delay
OCD Fulltone
Death by Audio Echo Dream 2
Some no name Treble Booster
EHX Holy Grail Reverb

Do you often play live?

We hope we can play some shows in the next couple of months. Some are already fixed but we will see how it develops for the beginning and spring next year. We are looking forward to playing also with a band together with Ronny Hunger on bass who made the artwork of our new record and Dani Hobi on drums.

What are some future plans?

We both have a lot of basic tracks and songs somewhere in our head, on tape or hard disks. Let’s see if some of it makes it on a new recording of Floorbrothers soon. Maybe we would also go out to record in a studio and see how such a working environment would affect our process.

Are any of you involved in any other bands or do you have any active side-projects going on at this point?

Dani is playing guitar in the band Assignment (as well Ikarus Records). Reto used to play drums in different Zurich based bands but likes to concentrate fully on Floorbrothers these days.

Let’s end this interview with some of your favourite albums. Have you found something new lately you would like to recommend to our readers?

Dani old stuff: Everything from the Feelies. Everything from Ork Records. Velvet Underground, Big Star, Neil Young, Guided by Voices, Pavement, Broadcast, Stereolab, Teenage Fanclub, everything on the Impulse label.

Dani newer stuff: the new record from Disco Doom. A swiss artist called Leonie Leonie. Cate le bon. Panda Bear & Sonic Boom.

Reto: F.J. McMahon, Karen Dalton, Pavement, Etran de L’Air, Fuck, Polvo, Stereolab, Galaxie 500, Further, Part Chimp, Cat Power, Acetone, Blondie, David Pajo, Papa M, Slint, Cut Worms, Dinosaur Jr., The Go-Betweens, Blumfeld, Windsurfer, the War on Drugs.