Mother’s Cake on the Origin of Their Name, Influences, and Favourite Criticism

Austrian space-rock three-piece Mother’s Cake recently delivered their fifth album, Ultrabliss, an album which heralded a new chapter in their career.

Free from constraints, Ultrabliss is packed with psychedelia, prog, funk, and (classic) rock jams, all combining to create the kind of free-flowing experience that epitomizes what these Austrians stand for.

V13 sat down with frontman and guitarist Yves Krismer to talk about the origins of their band name, influences and the finest criticism they have seen about the band on the internet.

What is the story behind your band name?

“I came across a fascinating invention from 1919 by Raoul Heinrich Francé, who registered a special spreader as utility model 723730 at the German Patent Office. He developed this spreader to evenly distribute microorganisms on soil. As one of the first bionics researchers of the 20th century, Francé took inspiration from the poppy capsule after many unsuccessful attempts with different shapes.

“This ‘spreader for spices, medicines, and the like,’ wasn’t fully perfected at the time. The poppy capsule is optimized for the wide dispersal of its seeds, while a salt shaker is meant for precision. Still, I find it impressive that Francé’s model can be considered the first ‘bionically’ developed spice shaker.

“I can’t help but see a connection between Francé’s spirit of innovation and the music of our band, Mother’s Cake. Our progressive and experimental style feels so organic and instinctive, just like Francé’s approach to design. Just as he sought new ways to enhance functionality, we fuse elements from various genres—funk, rock, and psychedelia—into a sound that breaks boundaries, embodying that same inventive spirit.”

Do you use the same gear when recording as you do when playing live? If yes, what and why? If no, why not?

“Yes, especially on our new record Ultrabliss, we try to recreate the sound from the recording onto the live stage. I mean, it’s not always possible, but we’re getting better and better at it. We do this because the songs are meant to sound like we recorded them, especially the drums, which have a very dry, vintage style. Most of the songs also feature a short-scale flatwound bass guitar, giving a vintage vibe. That’s why we aim to sound live like on the recording, as the album’s sound is crucial for the whole set. vibe”

What’s next for you?

“Next for us is touring with the new record throughout Europe, and hopefully, we’ll deliver a lot of energetic shows that everyone is going to enjoy. After that, we’re going to write a new record and film some videos because we don’t want to lose the flow we’re surfing right now.”

Biggest influence

“My biggest influences are The Mars Volta, Red Hot Chili Peppers, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, T. Rex, and Genesis. More recently, I would say King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, but it’s a never-ending list that’s always changing; there is always something new to discover.”

Mother’s Cake ‘Ultrabliss’ Album Artwork

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

“Rick Rubin, I guess. He is still, to this day, a guy who stands out in what he does, and it would be a great experience to work with him. And I mean, there are a lot of other creative people out there, but right now, he’s my pick.”

What’s the best criticism you’ve ever received about your music or performance?

“Ha, that would be a YouTube comment: ‘Back to the drawing board, potheads.’ I’m just a guy who is, for some reason, amused by the negative comment section. But I can’t think of any criticism; it’s more of an advice: don’t do it for the money, be passionate and hardworking, and eventually, the money will follow.”

Any notable moments that stand out?

“The entire history of the band — now 16 years together — and everything that has happened in those years, all the ups and downs, the love, the tears, the touring, and the funny moments we’ve shared together, it’s like a family, and you share everything with people you love.

“All the special moments on stage, the crazy shows we’ve had. And hopefully, there will be a lot more to come. I remember one time when Yves did a stage dive, but there were almost no people, and he hit the floor. Luckily, he survived; only his guitar broke.”

How would you describe your own music?

“Our sound has changed a lot over the years; every album we’ve recorded has its own style. In the early years, we were more progressive, with funk, rock, and heavy riffs, and then we also incorporated some electronic influences. On our latest record, Ultrabliss, I would say it’s more psychedelic and space rock, with fewer funk elements. But yeah, we always try to do new stuff, so maybe our next record is going to be a classic punk rock bondage album.”