Having read in the February issue of 'Select' that Black Dog were a 'faceless techno act with nothing to say', Hilary decided to e-mail Ken Downie to see what his opinions were on life, the internet and Egyptology. Turns out he's a really nice bloke with a lot to say...

In Select you stated that you spend up to 18 hours a day on the Internet; so when do you find time to make music?
Easily. I do it on the days I don't spend 18 hours on the net. Luckily, under the Augustian calendar there are 7 in every week.

You've done two concerts down the Internet, in Paisley and Norwich - are there plans to do any more? Are Internet concerts the gigging future of Black Dog?
NO. We've done two concerts that have been publicised over the Internet. We're looking into Internet concerts but are having to team up with some strange bedfellows to get our message across. We will still play live though, we won't give up one for the other.

Will ambient artists ever play the Proms?
No need to. Nobody waves Imperialist flags any more.

When you wrote 'Chesh' were you aware how classical it sounded?
Ed wrote it and he says it's based on 'tipareth', a sphere on the tree of life. I guess you can't get more classical than that.

What was your reaction to Aphex Twin's 'Selected Ambient Works Volume II' ?
What a waste of plastic.

Has Richard James taken ambient techno a step forward or back?
He does what he does. I don't like it personally, but there are many that do. There is room in music for us both. Who am I to judge what he does?

Are Black Dog supporting the Orb at their Warwick gig?
No... it's not really the Orb any more.

What do you mean by that?
Kris 'Thrash', the anarchic spirit has left (in what is rumoured to be acrimonious circumstance). I fear it will be a dub reggae chill out monster destined to tour stadiums only. Like a bloated Pink Floyd.

In the February edition of Select you stated Black Dog were 'a faceless Techno act' - describe your physical appearance in three words.
Tall, dark, mysterious.

Where does Black Dog's fascination with Egyptology originate?
Egypt?

How intelligent do you believe the ancient Egyptians really were?
More than we know. Though they forgot about a lot of their earlier, more enlightened work and degenerated into superstition. Scholars and historians from all over the ancient world travelled and learnt their mysteries. They must have been worth knowing.

Now for an Egyptology question. What is the worst thing the serpent Apep could do to you?
I guess it depends what or how much you know. Most people don't even know what he is., let alone his function. To me he is a destructive influence, that if allowed will stop any sun from rising. Traditionally he can be harpooned by the God set from the solar barque ('boat millions of years is its name') or there are a number of simple and effective methods contained in the 'Book of the Dead' that will work, if creative visualisation isn't your strong point.

How do you personally find Doors in the Wall?
The wall and doors are your own creation. You dissolve the wall in the direction in which you wish to travel. It becomes easier with practice. When you have mastered the technique, there is nowhere you can't go.

Technologically mankind has progressed immeasurebly since ancient times but morally are we still in the days of the caveman?
Sure, some religions are still medieval in their outlook. Morals? We all have a choice don't we?

Computers - mankind's salvation or destruction?
Oh salvation. Every time. Eventually they will offer freedom from monotonous, repetitive tasks. The world's workers realise this as more of them are laid off because of smarter software. Unfortunately, the world's bosses and corporations don't. I would advise all people who find themselves without a job to buff up on their computer and typing skills, they will prove invaluable at a later date.

What is your vision of the ideal Utopian world?
An enlightened democratic population ready to travel into space, and colonise new unexplored worlds without repeating the terrible mistakes made on the 'starting' planet by our un- enlightened forbearers. Prior to this, there are many homeless and hungry people on Earth. Watering the deserts and re- forestation of areas (to encourage crop growth) would be good priorities to turning Earth into 'Utopia One'.

What's the most unusual message you've received on e- mail?
'fghgh'. Why on earth would someone from Germany want to say just that?? Is this the potential of the Internet? The fact that you can zoom around the globe, and say 'fghgh'to people that you don't even know. What a waste.

If you could e-mail anyone alive or dead who would it be and what would be your message?
Wow, lots of people. That's an interesting line of research. These are the one's that spring immediately to mind... Keith Moon - 'WAKE UP KEITH !!!!!!!!' John Lennon - 'Don't go out next Wednesday' Charles Babbage - 'You won't believe what's happened!'

What do Black Dog have planned for the future?
We're going to let the future unroll on it's own for a bit, and let it surprise us for a change.

Will there be a new album?
Err, several.... but one at a time....

Ken Downie from Black Dog was 'talking' to Hilary, in March 1995.