Originating way back in the early Eighties. Philippe Fichot's Die Form project overtly brought the issue of sex into music. The use of extreme graphics, often using his partner Eliane in the role of agent provocateur, brings forth all the images of inspiration from the likes of De Sade, Lautrearnont and Bataille. The music itself falls onto many levels, both signaling commercial electronic attitudes and soundtrack material, the latter of course being perfect for those sado-masochistic tendencies. But, it's the openness of Die Form which I find most appealing. No other band has dealt with, what the general public would regard as perverted issues so well, certainly none using electro-pop material to convey their personal thoughts and expressions.
Knowing that the musical side of Die Form isn't actually influenced by any other music, excepting the odd Coil track and some classical music, I wanted to get to the crux of what makes the band perform. They definitely don't fit into any current trends, and for that matter never have done. Philippe is here to let us into the heart of the band.

"Die Form is the theater of multi-forms and multi-media emotions: so the music/images evolve with our life, our sensibility, our passions, beyond the reason. We are not so influenced by scenes, because we are living isolated in the country without contacts, except during performances/tours. Most of our creations are introspective constructions, very intimate, not motivated by the fashions..." This fact is abundantly clear, as although the band grew from the days when real electronic industrial roots were firmly being planted, they could never be categorised along with the Nurse With wounds, Test Departments, nor the Portion Control's of the world.

Die Form is more than music and Philippe points out, "The sound and the image are total complements (music, noises, photographies, films, performances...). We work with extreme emotions like sexuality and death, as powerful inspiration. These are personal incursions, but as well matter of next communication/exchange with our public..." And not feeling disadvantaged by allowing himself not to be hooked up with any scene, he's not chained to providing one type of stimulus. "By chance, or intuitively, we create exactly as we love... No compromise!"

Surely the explicit nature of the visual side must hinder their audience? We all know how hard it is to explore new ideas in these times of severe censorship. "In all new projects, we try to find and express more beauty and more purity; initiatory exploration in the depths of our degenerate soul, up to ecstatic dizziness, on the boundary of interdicts and madness. We play with attraction and repulsion, against taboos and intolerance. Inaccessible and never-ending quest of perfection..." But, pictures of bodily perfection must surely get in the way of mainstream exposure? "Certainly. But freedom and integrity are more important than show-business sometimes..."

After about twelve releases (and that doesn't include cassettes) Die Form signed to Hyperium, a label clearly with more power to get their output to a much wider audience. Have they tried to change your attitudes in any way, and have they actually helped you become more successful? "With Hyperium/Hypnobeat, we have the possibilities to work freely on all our projects and the assurance that all will come out in good conditions (except for the Elektrode CD, on which many design problems have damaged the initial form and concept). The sales increase gradually (not so much!) but we can live with our creations only, since about 5 years... The public is more larger than before, very curious and attentive, with more girls and young people." Hmm, perverting the youth of today, eh? Can only be good for them!

The Hyperium link has also meant that Philippe and Eliane can work on many projects at the same time, encompassing the whole diversity that is this duo. "After Elektrode, we have worked on the Ukiyo project with Akifumi Nakajima (Aube) and Mutsumi Oku, after a travel in Japan. And now just issued, the new D.F. Sadist School project: "The Visionary Garden", supplemented with a book of photographies from 1980 to 1995 on Artware Edition. Experimental landscapes from noise to atmospheric, dark vibrating waves, visions of sleeping nude bodies abandoned in nature or in closed prisons of mind..."

And that is of course, not all, is it Philippe? "So many things! First of all, our next CD: "L'ame Electrique", together with new films for live shows and video-clips/cassettes. Also, new performances with a second female assistant on stage. A compilative box-set ('Museum of Ecstasy" 2CD), some new side-projects, an old tapes compilation, a best tracks compilation, photo exhibitions after the book issue... and promotion!

After more than ten years together Philippe and Eliane will continue to explore, experiment, above all love, and then let us hare in their emotions.