Here’s the selection for day 8 of the PopLib New Zealand Music Month 31 Days of May challenge of buying something each day from Bandcamp.
Sometimes restraint, modesty and being ‘low-key’ is just NOT what you need. Sometimes aural overstimulation by ridiculously bombastic drum and keyboard music is EXACTLY what you need. In that the case the music of Wellington duo The Shocking and The Stunning is perfect and this 4 track EP length download is an ideal introduction to their world.
Their music is a kind of cartoon fusion of John Bonham style drum beats and walls of synthesizers drowned in reverb. Imagine the pompous overblown 1970s synth-prog-rock of the likes Patrick Moraz or Jean Michel Jarre re-mixed by Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker. Strangely enough this works brilliantly. The massive sound ebbs and flows, builds layer upon dramatic layers then pulls back and changes course.
I remember hearing the opening track here – the perfectly titled ‘Zombie Fucker’ – played live and loud at the Forest stage at Camp a Low Hum in 2012. That was my introduction to The Shocking & The Stunning. Not sure if I was shocked, but I was certainly momentarily stunned. If you like this do check out the earlier releases here too. It’s all great.
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