The Moonlandingz – Patrick Cowley, Charles Atlas and Dairylea Triangles inspired ‘The Sign of a Man’

“We reclaimed the triangle”

The Moonlandingz synth maestro Adrian Flanagan (above, left) has been explaining the diverse influences behind the trio’s new single ‘The Sign of a Man’ – and its wonderfully bizarre video.

The Sheffield-based group announced their long-anticpated return after a hiatus of seven years last week with the unexpected arrival of a new track, ‘The Sign of a Man’, complete with a colourful if abstract accompanying promo. The song is the first taste of their second album, No Rocket Required, which is set for release “later this year” on Transgressive Records.

Flanagan told us that legendary late disco producer Patrick Cowley’s soundtracks for gay porn movies, as well as his work with disco legend Sylvester, were the impetus for the track itself.

‘Dean Honer (above, right) and I were listening to a lot of Patrick Cowley’s music that he made for gay porn films and his work with Sylvester (whom I adore)” Flanagan said. “Next day Lias (above, middle) and I went over to Dean’s studio and Dean pulled out this throbber of a tune he’d started with this big chunky arpeggiating synth – then Lias and I started lyrically duelling over the top of the tune Lias went ‘I’ve been to Paris where I ate snails’ – and I went – ‘I’ve been to Cardiff – that’s in Wales!’ it was one of those songs that came together really quickly and we laughed a lot. I think with The Moonlandingz it’s either got to make us laugh hard in its absurdity and darkness or have a sting in its tail in its sheer unquestionable multilayered gut wrenching brilliance!!”

As for the video, Flanagan mentions discussing ideas for the film with Lias, with the films of Charles Atlas, Oskar Schlemmer’s ballet for the Bauhaus art movement, David Holah of Body Map & Michael Clarke’s work with The Fall as influences. “So It’s kind of our homage to those artists which was magnificently reimagined and executed by director Jeanie Crystal and her team of miscreant geniuses!

“I came up with the idea of Johnny Rocket (aka Lias) coming back as a shape, as a triangle! Why? Because the Dairylea Triangle is my favourite cheese, which I think was ruined when they brought in the Dunker. Basically we reclaimed the triangle and put it in an Edam-style red outer shell for protection from the bastard Dunker!!” 

Finally, we ask, what can we expect from the album? “Music,” Flanagan declares, without giving too much away… “The greatest of music!”

The Moonlandingz play London Lexington on February 21.