What a coincidence: we have another review of a split release, with handmade fabric packaging, on an archaic format, released on a Philadelphia-based label! This was brought to my attention by the label Single Girl, Married Girl, who have released a handful of Hermit Thrushes-related material since their debut and the latest Reading Rainbow album. The projects brought forth on this split release, however, I never knew existed.
David Liebe Hart, as you may already know, is the illustrious puppeteer/songwriter from the hit (now cancelled) Adult Swim series Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Now he’s musically backed by musician/performer Adam Papagan. On these three songs, Hart furthers his eccentricity by expressing his interest in Reba McIntire (“Even though she’s been married twice/she understands the ups and downs about life”) and his loathing for companies like AT&T and Ralph’s. At this point, Hart’s rants become so passionate that he throws reason out the window, “AT&T is crazy/they drive me crazy/they’re like spoiled gravy/I wish I was still in the Navy!” Disregarding the nonsensical lyrics at hand, we see both sides of David Liebe Hart: the sentimental and the visceral, with musical styles ranging from folk to hard rock and even to surf rock.
Sentimentality comes along once this cassette is flipped over onto its B-side contender, Power Animal. The 40-second opener "Copernicus (David Liebe Hart Version)" introduces an arrangement of undulating keyboards, David Liebe Hart's narration of "Bugs/Doug(?) is alive and well," and echoed background falsettos. "C'mon Spider" exhibits a colorful tapestry of various acoustic instrumentation, nature-fixated lyrics, and a vocal style that obtains Phil Elverum's harmonic mumble.
Provided with this cassette release is a 15-minute carousel ride that's endearing, silly, and joyous. Though with completely different musical perspectives, David Liebe Hart, Adam Papagan, and Power Animal all conjure the same childish feeling, freeing us from the stern and calculated music reiterated time and time again... or maybe it's just too silly for me to comprehend the real meaning of it?
[David Liebe Hart & Adam Papagan Myspace]
[Power Animal Myspace]
[Buy this Split EP from Single Girl, Married Girl]
No comments:
Post a Comment