“Situs Inversus”, the opening track on Portland synth punks Sex Crime's new album, is named after a congenital condition where major body organs are reversed. Donny Osmond, possibly the most unpunk person in the world has the condition.“I think I heard about it in the French news and found it totally fascinating,” explains the band’s Cecilia Meneau.”Then I read more online about it. My next song is probably going to be a about sleep driving and everything else you’re not supposed to do while you’re asleep, like making food, having sex, talking on the phone. I’m amazed by these kinds of things and accurate science facts that you don’t expect.The French connection runs deep Sex Crime. Cecilia is from Paris and used to play in the classic punk band Les Terribles, two of the songs on the album are sung in French and it is released on French label Danger Records.Listen to the album below and read a short interview with Cecilia.Noisey: Are you Portland’s most European punk band?
Cecilia Meneau: Ha ha,maybe. But there are a lot of Europeans living in Portland. We are not the only one!How did you end up on Danger Records?
Jeremy and Iwan from the band are long time friends. Iwan and I were in the No-Talents and Operation S together, as well as running Wild Wild Records. They put our first 7” “Night Vision” out. And I help them distribute their releases in Portland. It’s a natural choice.Have you had any problems with your name?
We don’t anymore but we did at first. Some were accusing us of promoting rape culture. Our answer was pretty clear: “look asshole, there are two girls in the band, so shut the fuck up!” Some of our friends who also have ‘respectable’ jobs told us it’s a shame that we didn’t choose another name, because they can’t like our page on Facebook. We are playing one of the Ladyfest shows this summer, so I think people get it now.Did you see Poison Idea, the kings of Portland punk, in their heyday?
Cecilia: Yes I saw them in 1990 or so but it was in a suburb of Paris.
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Cecilia Meneau: Ha ha,maybe. But there are a lot of Europeans living in Portland. We are not the only one!How did you end up on Danger Records?
Jeremy and Iwan from the band are long time friends. Iwan and I were in the No-Talents and Operation S together, as well as running Wild Wild Records. They put our first 7” “Night Vision” out. And I help them distribute their releases in Portland. It’s a natural choice.Have you had any problems with your name?
We don’t anymore but we did at first. Some were accusing us of promoting rape culture. Our answer was pretty clear: “look asshole, there are two girls in the band, so shut the fuck up!” Some of our friends who also have ‘respectable’ jobs told us it’s a shame that we didn’t choose another name, because they can’t like our page on Facebook. We are playing one of the Ladyfest shows this summer, so I think people get it now.Did you see Poison Idea, the kings of Portland punk, in their heyday?
Cecilia: Yes I saw them in 1990 or so but it was in a suburb of Paris.
Sex Crime’s LP is available from Danger Records.