Stereo Six: The Flamingos Pink on what Influenced Their Newest Album, ‘Outtacontroller’

Besides highlighting the wonderful possibilities of metathesis (the switching of sound, syllable, or word order), Montreal’s The Flamingos Pink are bringing their greasy, rock ‘n’ roll swagger to receptive audiences with their latest album, Outtacontroller (October 23, Label Étiquette). The duo’s sophomore, eleven-track effort highlights the sonic and performative synergy between these carotene-infused, wading birds, Sacha Gubany (guitar/vocals) and Julien Corrado (drums/percussion). The Flamingos Pink sound is vivacious and reckless with garage-rock tones, effective beats, and catchy melodies championing the band’s DIY attitude. It’s pure rock glory, and, most importantly, it sounds freaking great.

Joining us for this Stereo Six session, Sacha and Julien look back on some of the albums most critical to their individual and collective artistic expression, as well as the formation of Outtacontroller. With lots of rockin’ classics, dialled-to-eleven distortion, and rebellious spirit – plus one curveball entry – The Flamingos Pink are here to guide you through the sonic journey of two audiophiles who came together to create some sizzling tunes.

“Here are a few records that helped shape our approach to making Outtacontroller and have affected us as musicians and people. We’ve listened to these albums countless times driving to and from gigs, before going into the studio, stretching in the morning, or just to let loose and dive into our minds.

For both of us, it’s important to be on the same page when it comes to musical references because it makes it easier to know what the other is talking about in terms of sounds, feelings, and colours, when making our own music.

We strongly suggest to listen to these records loud, wherever you are, and dive into it without holding back.”

1. The Velvet Underground – Loaded (1970, Cotillion)

“It’s got the ruckus. There’s that feeling of ‘who the f*ck cares, do it anyway’ vibe. This is the record we’ve listened to the most together; it’s actually the first vinyl record I bought! It’s real rock ‘n’ roll, it talks about emotions, it talks about plants, it talks about nothing, it’s the opposite of over-produced. I could live inside this record!”

Artwork for the album’s The Flamingos Pink list in this Stereo Six

2. Iggy and the Stooges – Raw Power (1973, Columbia)

“This is the rawest form of rock ‘n’ roll and it feels dangerous. After reading Please Kill Me, I can understand through this record how Iggy wanted his music to sound like it’s jumping out at you through the speakers. To have that sound so early on, that desire to burn it all down and how to capture the thunder, is impressive. It’s not even teetering on the verge of insanity; it’s full blown crazy!”

3. The White Stripes – De Stilj (2000, Sympathy for the Record Industry)

“This is my favourite White Stripes album. Raw blues, crazy rhythm, and storytelling. The idea of creating something so beautiful with so little blows my mind. We both use that thinking as a template for almost everything in life. Less is more; make it meaningful. Everything serves a purpose. Focus on what you have instead of the endless possibilities; finish what you started and make something else now.”

4. The Rolling Stones – Hot Rocks (1971, London Records)

“When you spin that record, it’s a party. You’re gonna dance, you’re going to sing along, it’s got a feeling of lightness to it. It’s a lesson on how important percussion is and how to let loose within the tightness.”

5. The Hives – Veni Vidi Vicious (2000, Burning Heart/Epitaph)

“Swedish powerhouse! It’s fast and straight to the point. You know they’re having fun playing! The tightness, they’re carving through concrete, it’s relentless. Like surfing a tidal wave (in my imagination; neither of us has surfed a real tidal wave, although there is something to be said about surfing sonic waves). ”

6. Kool & the Gang – Wild and Peaceful (1973, Island Mercury)

“I dare you to spin this record and not move, not groove, not let loose. It’s a palate cleanser, out with the old and in with the new. It’s almost like meditating. It’s got the flow and it’s got the cheese. It’s a reminder to dance in the hard times, to remember the good times, and dance in the good times to keep the good times rollin’.”

Artwork for ‘Outtacontroller’ by The Flamingos Pink