In just two years since their debut album The Lost Tapes, UK/French experimental band !GeRald! has returned with their latest offering, Music for Broken Elevators, a release that shows significant growth and evolution in their sound. Drummer and songwriter Teddie Burton reflects on this journey, explaining that much of the change came naturally. “Things evolve on their own most of the time,” he shares. “I think what we do best is notice the change and use it.” With a sharper sound, tighter musicianship, and increased knowledge in recording and mixing, !GeRald! has taken their DIY approach to new heights, allowing the instruments to find new voices along the way.
The album’s title, Music for Broken Elevators, sparks intrigue. For Burton and the band, it represents the image of being trapped in a malfunctioning elevator, accompanied by unbearably bad music. “Most of our songs come from bits of ideas and images we come up with,” he explains. It’s this interplay between image, music, and artwork that forms the core of their creative process. The band has spent much of the past two years touring extensively across Europe, and that experience has left a lasting impact on their music. The energy of performing live fed into Music for Broken Elevators, with many of the album’s songs either written on tour or sparked during concerts. As Burton puts it, “So far, we’ve taken nearly all of our songs on tour before recording them, just to see what stands out.”
Germany has become a particular stronghold for the band, thanks in part to their connection with friend and booker Barbara Duernberger. “Our first ever tour in 2019 was in Germany,” says Burton. “I think we’ve been working the circuit now for three years running, and the conditions, the welcome, and the whole journey keep getting better.” The country’s openness to experimental sounds, bolstered by its rich Krautrock and prog rock legacy, has resonated deeply with !GeRald!, who have played around 80 concerts throughout Europe. These performances have helped the band refine their live shows, which are known for their theatricality and visual flair. “The concerts are never the same twice,” Burton notes. “But the moments where raw emotion appears, when we’re just one big lifeform with the audience—that’s standout.”
Music for Broken Elevators is a more concise release than its predecessor, something that was both intentional and organic. The band found themselves creating shorter, more condensed ideas, influenced by the confined space of an elevator. “We gave less space for the ideas to develop,” Burton explains, noting that the band doesn’t concern itself too much with how long a song lasts. This shorter format gave them room to experiment, including a cover of Joy Division’s iconic track “Atmosphere.” Despite having never performed it live, the band stayed close to the original in their rendition. “It felt like a good opportunity to do something we’d never done before, like a four-minute song with central vocals and tamed instruments.”
There’s a notable shift in Music for Broken Elevators toward a greater presence of vocals and post-punk influences, something that Burton attributes to their ever-evolving listening habits. “We’re pretty much influenced by anything that makes noise,” he says, hinting at a newfound desire to create music that people can dance to. As for the increased vocal elements, Burton admits there was no grand plan. “We’ve always wanted to add vocals to our material, and now just felt like the right moment to do so.”
!GeRald! has never shied away from pushing musical boundaries, and their experimental approach continues to guide their work. While some might wonder how they balance experimentation with accessibility, Burton assures that it’s not something they think about. “If there’s an idea we like, we use it,” he says simply. The band is already deep into the process of developing new material for a future release, with ten main ideas emerging so far. “I hope it will be overwhelming, brutal, and grotesque,” he teases, “probably easier to move to as well.”
Visuals have always played a crucial role in !GeRald!’s identity, and that remains true with Music for Broken Elevators. The band’s long-time collaborator, Vincent, is their “fifth musician,” creating collages and projections that align with the music’s themes. “The whole thing is supposed to seize your senses,” Burton explains. Whether comforting or disturbing, these visuals are carefully crafted to enhance the audience’s experience, making !GeRald!’s live shows a sensory feast. The band’s performance at Night of the Prog 2024, where they made their debut in front of a crowd unfamiliar with their work, was a career highlight. “Nearly all of the prog groups we’ve loved over the years have played that stage. It felt a bit religious,” Burton recalls.
Emerging from what Burton describes as a “dead-end city” in the French countryside, !GeRald!’s sound has been shaped by their isolation, industrial surroundings, and the freedom to experiment without limits. It’s this unfiltered approach to music-making that has earned them sold-out shows and glowing reviews. But for Burton, the real measure of success lies in the band’s continued connection to their music and each other. “As long as we still feel something for each other and for what we create, that’s all that counts,” he says. While the dream of making a living solely from their music remains, the band’s focus stays firmly on what matters—creating something genuine and moving forward together.
Music for Broken Elevators is out now; support the band by purchasing it on Bandcamp here. Follow !GeRald! on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to their YouTube channel here.
