Flood is too humble. He didn't mention that one of the albums he was in the background during assisting as a "runner/teaboy" was Three Imaginary Boys... The Cure's debut album. He's thanked in the credits for that album and as well as the follow up, Seventeen Seconds. Quite a noteworthy start.
Legend,one of the best producers and engineers of all time:Violator,Achtung Baby,Songs of Faith..,How to Dismantle ...,Pop,Zooropa,The Killers - Sam's Town,Nick Cave,PJ Harvey,New Order,Nine Inch Nails...
I've been listening to music actively since the late 80s and I've never been one to read the credits on each album I listen to. But at one point I realized that many of the albums which I considered to be pivotal: New Order - Movement, Depeche Mode - Violator, Nitzer Ebb - Belief, NIN - Pretty Hate Machine, PWEI - This is the hour..., etc. had a common denominator. I don't have a favourite band, but I do have a favourite producer. Thank you for much of the soundtrack of my life.
Flood is a true genius. His work with Depeche Mode, U2, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins and others stands as some of the greatest and most timeless music of the 80s and 90s... what i love is that he seemed to bring out the real personality of the band and push them on a songwriting and arrangement level to be darker and less predictable. He is something of a chameleon - just look at the difference between the two Depeche Mode albums he produced - Violator which is immaculately clean and crisp, and Songs of Faith and Devotion which is messy, fuzzy, and dense. And then to go off and do Zooropa, Downward Spiral, and Mellon Collie.... just unreal.
Met him on the stage just after he performed with Node in 1994 at Derby. Really nice amiable chap, he told us to feel free if we wanted to help with the gear (I wanted to see some of the classic instruments close up) but we had to get off the stage because of a grumpy roady who said we were in the way.
I am not familiar with Flood's work, other than his role as producer on the The Killers track Spirit. I don't know if this indicative of all of his work but this is one of the worst recorded songs I have come across in recent years. The volume wars are still alive and well. How it became fashionable to make recordings this badly is anyone's guess. This track is unlistenable. Producers from previous eras would be embarrassed to have their name associated with it. If he is the great producer these comments suggest, and I'm sure he is, he needs to start acting like it. The music historian Ted Goia in a recent conversation discussed hi end audio playback mediums. In that regard, I would ask who on earth would actually spend money to hear over-compressed music like Spirt better? I recently listened to the early Beatles who recorded using four track technology. Given their limitations they sound astounding in comparison. Frank Sinatra's recordings from the 40's are just as remarkable. Today it is possible, even at home, to capture sound with incredible accuracy. In professional recording studios, like The Killers recorded Spirit, it is possible to make state of the art masters. Further still, you can release everything on lossless formats (Blu Ray, Lossless Digital, Vinyl, etc.). This is inexcusable. If there is any hope in making contemporary pop culturally relevant for future generations (like Sinatra and the Beatles) it starts with ending the obsession with volume.
![Flood talks about Enjoy the Silence [Soundedit 2011]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/CC2-bln1NBI/mqdefault.jpg)
![Flood talks about Enjoy the Silence [Soundedit 2011]](/img/tr.png)
One of the greatest producers in music EVER
Thank you, Mark.
Everything this man touched became timeless. He is the unsung hero of so many great albums!
im a hugeee smashing pumpkins fan
This dude is badass. Love his work with Depeche Mode, Nitzer Ebb, Erasure, and Nine Inch Nails.
don't forget Curve heheh
"Nitzer ebb", baby! Don't forget "Renegade Soundwave", and "pop will eat itself".
The smashing pumpkins too!!!
U2 don’t forget though DM and Erasure are my favorites
Flood is too humble. He didn't mention that one of the albums he was in the background during assisting as a "runner/teaboy" was Three Imaginary Boys... The Cure's debut album. He's thanked in the credits for that album and as well as the follow up, Seventeen Seconds. Quite a noteworthy start.
Lmao… absolute GOAT
Yikes.....slightly. Thanks for the history. Relisteing to DM's Songs of F & D... phenominal
Violator!..........Best electronic album EVER!!!! 🕶
Between Violator and Pretty Hate Machine, this is pretty much the best producer ever.
Here I am 10 years later and still really enjoying this interview. And I stand by the thought that Flood is probably the best producer ever!
To Bring You My Love, The Downward Spiral...
Great interview. Not enough people have sat down to speak with Flood. I appreciate everyone that worked to make this interview possible.
Legend,one of the best producers and engineers of all time:Violator,Achtung Baby,Songs of Faith..,How to Dismantle ...,Pop,Zooropa,The Killers - Sam's Town,Nick Cave,PJ Harvey,New Order,Nine Inch Nails...
guys a living legend! if u have produced Violator -Depeche Mode....u r a genius.
Flood is the best in the business. Trent Reznor who is an amazing talent himself, knows how to surround himself with the best people.
As Bill Gates, who's no idiot once said, "Always hire people better than you".
I've been listening to music actively since the late 80s and I've never been one to read the credits on each album I listen to. But at one point I realized that many of the albums which I considered to be pivotal: New Order - Movement, Depeche Mode - Violator, Nitzer Ebb - Belief, NIN - Pretty Hate Machine, PWEI - This is the hour..., etc. had a common denominator. I don't have a favourite band, but I do have a favourite producer. Thank you for much of the soundtrack of my life.
Flood is a true genius. His work with Depeche Mode, U2, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins and others stands as some of the greatest and most timeless music of the 80s and 90s... what i love is that he seemed to bring out the real personality of the band and push them on a songwriting and arrangement level to be darker and less predictable. He is something of a chameleon - just look at the difference between the two Depeche Mode albums he produced - Violator which is immaculately clean and crisp, and Songs of Faith and Devotion which is messy, fuzzy, and dense. And then to go off and do Zooropa, Downward Spiral, and Mellon Collie.... just unreal.
mellon collie and the infinite sadness.... sigur ros, pj harvey, nick cave, the jesus and the mary chain... he's a master!
I love his work on This Is War by 30 Seconds To Mars. One of my favorite albums ever!
Flood seems like a calm master of peace and diplomacy. No wonder he’s a great producer.
Great interview. I was at Mute Short Circuit and attended Flood's talk, it was fantastic.
Met him on the stage just after he performed with Node in 1994 at Derby. Really nice amiable chap, he told us to feel free if we wanted to help with the gear (I wanted to see some of the classic instruments close up) but we had to get off the stage because of a grumpy roady who said we were in the way.
Wow , loved that interview. Seemed like flood was on every album I bought back in the day .
The best produced album of all time - Depeche mode Violator
The work he did with Alan MOULDER on those Curve records needs more attention!
Indeed!
Great interview.. This man and Mr Gareth Jones are Gods as far as I'm concerned
Genius engineer.
One of unsung heroes of rock music
Flood makes it sound like he worked with U2 for the first time on Achtung Baby. He had already worked with them on The Joshua Tree
I would trade my BA and MA for 2 years learning how to produce from him.
A true gold ticket producer...love him
The Joshua Tree U2 was Flood also...not bad either :)
Really great interview , thanks for posting this
Violator/Songs Of Faith And Devotion
Alan Wilder/Flood
This gentleman Produced my cousins band, Interpol.
Some great questions from Nick
"Just Commit" - wise words.
Wow, the technology has changed so much since this interview. If Flood's of the same mind today, then the tech's left him in the rearview...
He produced some of mu favorite records and, before today,i didn't even know how he looked like
Very talented and unassuming chap
Nick forgot to ask him about pulsewidth modulation...
Flood = BRILLIANT!
The best part of using out of date tech: you HAVE to “commit”
Revis...."Places For Breathing"......Incredible mix!
Only 4 or 5 seminal albums?? You're too modest Flood
I didn't realise he was British.
Some of my favorite acts he's produced like nitzer ebb, Renegade Soundwave, and pop will eat itself. all classics on mute!🎹🎸🎧💫😵👌😎👍
Watched this and the Gareth Jones interview... the interviewer really goes out of his way to avoid saying "Depeche Mode", doesn't he?
Living legend
Torment and Toreros Marc and the Mambas
wow, what a legend
He might literally have a Midas Touch
The Master.
from beginning
he looks so young! well, 2011.. hm
THE flood? cool
Truth is golden always
nice!
Genius
seems like a real sound bloke
I thought I spoke and understood English language. But I don't understand almost anything in this interview 🤥
genius
Martin Gore would lough any day
Flood may have the most nasal voice I've ever heard.
Even his nasal voice is produced quite well... tsk tsk
only because he himself is considering his nose being the eleventh finger..
He does a brilliant impression of Martin Gore which sounds far more nasal.
Have you heard of the smashing pumpkins? Lol
NIN
I am not familiar with Flood's work, other than his role as producer on the The Killers track Spirit. I don't know if this indicative of all of his work but this is one of the worst recorded songs I have come across in recent years. The volume wars are still alive and well. How it became fashionable to make recordings this badly is anyone's guess. This track is unlistenable. Producers from previous eras would be embarrassed to have their name associated with it. If he is the great producer these comments suggest, and I'm sure he is, he needs to start acting like it. The music historian Ted Goia in a recent conversation discussed hi end audio playback mediums. In that regard, I would ask who on earth would actually spend money to hear over-compressed music like Spirt better? I recently listened to the early Beatles who recorded using four track technology. Given their limitations they sound astounding in comparison. Frank Sinatra's recordings from the 40's are just as remarkable. Today it is possible, even at home, to capture sound with incredible accuracy. In professional recording studios, like The Killers recorded Spirit, it is possible to make state of the art masters. Further still, you can release everything on lossless formats (Blu Ray, Lossless Digital, Vinyl, etc.). This is inexcusable. If there is any hope in making contemporary pop culturally relevant for future generations (like Sinatra and the Beatles) it starts with ending the obsession with volume.
no credit for this guy. DM is it's own identity
Alan Wilder and Flood were very obviously a team. His influence on those two albums was significant; there is no question about that.
He's a legend... but his nasal voice is annoying!
Yeah but even his nasal voice is produced quite well... tsk tsk