VOLT 2023: Volition Archive

VOLT 2023: Why the name Scattered Order?

Mitch Jones: Michael Tee (Coffey) and I formed the band in late 1979 to do some recording. Just mucking about with some recording gear we had and we thought now we are a band so we need a name. I came up with “Order” and he came up with “Scattered”. The name perfectly suited what we were and still are doing. The delicate balance between complete chaos and some sort of structure.

VOLT 2023: How would you describe your music?

MJ: Scattered Order..ish. Really I find it hard to describe. Maybe a sonic soup of noise, beats and tunes. But you will need to ask the listener.

VOLT 2023: How did the association with Volition come about?

MJ: I met Andrew Penhallow in the GAP years when I was doing the live sound for Pel Mel who were releasing records on GAP at the time. This was probably sometime in 1980. I think it was 1982 that I recorded some Pel Mel tracks for their single at M Squared studios which we were running. Andrew showed a lot of interest and encouragement in what we were doing with the M Squared label and with Scattered Order.

VOLT 2023: You have the distinction of the first release on Volition. How did that feel at the time?

MJ: Honoured to be honest. In early 1984 the M Squared label and studio had collapsed due to mounting debt. As a band we had no idea how we would continue as a recording unit and then Andrew came in saying he had a new label called Volition and would we be interested in doing a record with them. We thought great. For the first time somebody outside of the band had shown faith in us so we jumped at the chance and it went from there. Four albums, a 12” EP and a number of singles over 7 years and all on a handshake agreement. It was the only time in the bands history that we’ve had support from a label.

VOLT 2023: The band has had plenty of lineup changes. Did it ever feel like a static group, or was it always a looser collective?

MJ: Yes the band has had plenty of lineup changes. But I don’t think you could call us a loose collective. Members had come and gone as life and circumstances change. But at any given moment of time we were a band. We have never set out to produce a certain sound or style. The music produced is the reflection of the people involved at that time. They have all bought something to the Scattered Order table. That is why the recordings throughout the years have been so varied. We just keep writing and recording music we ourselves would like to listen to and bugger the consequences.

VOLT 2023: You’ve incorporated synths, drum machines, sampling, video projection, et cetera, within your music for a very long time. How important is technology to Scattered Order’s music and performances? Do you think you’d ever use AI?

MJ: Scattered Order’s philosophy has been to use what ever is to hand. We borrowed a lot of gear in the early days. We have never chased the latest bit of technology. A lot of changes were due to necessity. We lost Michael Prowse the drummer in 1987. We didn’t know any other suitable drummers so we moved into drum machines and samplers and did it ourselves. 15 years ago the same drum machines and samplers started to break down. Instead of replacing them we moved into computers and DAWs which made recording easier for us. We could now do it ourselves at our leisure and at no cost. In 2010 we met Colum from LIVING SCIENCE Dept who does our live video projections and video clips. That
technology is way beyond my comprehension. With AI who knows? I will probably only move to it out of necessity.

VOLT 2023: Has your audience changed with time?

MJ: Like the band a lot of the audience has gotten older. Ha! Some of the fans have been with us since the start which we really appreciate. But by continuing to write, record and release new material we have picked up a new legion of fans over the years. We are not some kind of post/punk legacy band playing all the old hits to the same audience. I know I would give up music if that were the case. I can’t see the point in doing that.

VOLT 2023: Any great memories of the Volition years you’d like to share?

MJ: For me personally my overall sense of belonging. Of being with people who cared about what they and you were doing musically and had a passion for it.
Specifically the Australian tour we did with Severed Heads in 1985 to promote our
respective new album releases. Both bands were firing. Fabulous audience reactions. Great banter. FUN times.

VOLT 2023: What are your memories of Andrew Penhallow?

MJ: Just a fabulous person. Full of encouragement and humour. Meticulous with everything he worked on especially the design aspect. He remained true to the idea behind the label. Dedicated and loyal. I miss him