Knurl
Knurl has been a noise project by Alan Bloor since 1994. The 2022 album ‘H2T’ is the first Knurl album recorded in a professional studio, the Hotel2Tango studio.
The album was recorded by Howard Bilerman (Leonard Cohen, Arcade Fire, Godspeed You! Black Emperor).
“When the sound is rich and loud”
You recorded ‘H2T’ during July 7/01. Can you tell me how the making and recording of this album went?
Alan Bloor: The recording went well from what I can remember.
How do you remember the recording process?
I remember the recording taking place in a room with a fairly large amp. There was a line directly into the board and a mic picking up the live amp and room sound.
What kind of album did you want to make when you made ‘H2T’?
It was Gary’s (alien8) idea. He wanted to make a Knurl release recorded in a professional studio.
Did you have a certain idea in mind of what you wanted to do when you made this album?
Not me, personally.
Is “making music” and”‘recording music” the same thing when you are in a studio? When do you decide to press “record?” What is your definition of “a good recording?”
When the sound is rich, and loud. Lots of changes in the sound and it doesn’t stagnate.
What does the title ‘H2T’ refer to?
Hotel2Tango. That was the studio where the recording took place. More information on this venue can be found online.
What does the name Knurl mean?
A “knurl” is the diamond grip pattern usually seen on guitar knobs or anything that has to be gripped. Such as weight-lifting bars.
Do you see Knurl as a “noise project?” Or is it “experimenting with sound?”
I’m not big on labels, but it is a noise project. I feel that if I was experimenting with sound, then the sounds would be more diverse.
For how long have you been doing Knurl?
Since 1994.
Joeri Bruyninckx
Headline photo: Émilie Newman
