What are we talking about?
Punching Swans & Frau Pouch collaborating to create their own versions of the same song - squashed together into a humorous DIY video released via Skingasm Records. (There is a 4 track split EP accompanying it featuring both version of the song in their entirety plus an extra song from each band respectively - but we will be focusing our magnifying glass onto the joint video version here.)
Summary
The song tells of a beige, boring, genital wart of a man who drinks home brewed soap infused wine: ‘Mr Insipid’. Let’s face it, we all know our very own Mr Insipid, every town has at least one - often they become the stuff of local folklore and a bottomless source of comic material. Joe Wise of Punching Swans and Frau Pouch stardom is apparently no exception as his brainwave to have both of his bands put their heads together to immortalize their own incarnations of ‘Mr Insipid’ illustrates with infectious awkward charm on both sides of this siamese track.
Stylistically both versions of the song are presented in a similar fashion, but with each version offering their own sonic perspective of the man himself.
I ended up with a mental image of the miserable of git with a drinking/pornography subscription problem that would threaten to knife your football as a kid. Belting.
What hooked me?
The concept. The idea of two bands teaming up to each create parallel yet unique versions of the same song ‘a musical Venn diagram’ as they put it really caught my imagination as well as my attention - extending that to video form was the icing on the cake for me.
Key Lyric
I couldn’t quite make out the whole lyric if I am to be honest but the term ‘genital suicide’ was definitely involved - sending my imagination off into uncomfortable territory, something that in my book only the best kinds of art/music achieve. Honourable mention goes to the manic, gangly lead guitar riff towards the end of the Punching Swans version - lovely jubbly stuff.
Feedback
The only criticism that comes to mind with this musical endeavour is that both versions sound very similar - there are of course noticeable differences and each version is undoubtedly unique, something that is impressive in itself. I would just be intrigued to hear how it may have sounded if the horizons of each version had been pushed slightly further back.
Video/Artwork
I thoroughly enjoyed this video - once again staying true to the theme of each band presenting their own version of ‘Mr Insipid’. The video documents both incarnations of the man himself spending a day together giving it their best Mr Motivator impression at a local children's play area in Medway before moving on to the local boozer still clad in neon sports gear from a bygone era only to wind up arm in arm with themselves on a pavement outside.
The cover of the EP from which the tracks are lifted appears to be an illustration of ‘Mr Insipid’, again syncing up well with the lyrical and sonic vibe of the whole project.
All in all the visual art that accompanies the music acts perfectly as a gift wrap, tying the whole thing together as a neat package, just the way it should do.
Line From The Band
Punching Swans' Joe Wise offered these rather self-deprecating thoughts on the release:
"I think the only thing I would want to say is that the b-sides were each written (more or less) in one rehearsal. Not sure it was made clear, but as time was short we challenged ourselves to write something in a short space of time. Which is why the Frau Pouch song is probably the worst thing we've ever done. In my opinion"
Vital Info
New Frau Pouch material is on the horizon. You can keep up to date with their movements here;
www.facebook.com/FrauPouch
And check out their other material (including Mr. Insipid) here;
http://fraupouch.bandcamp.com/
Reviewer Profile
Craig Twigg, front man of incoming Chemic Rock trio ‘Forever In Debt’, ginger in denial who occassionally wrestle’s dudes in spandex. Full time miserable twat.
Punching Swans & Frau Pouch collaborating to create their own versions of the same song - squashed together into a humorous DIY video released via Skingasm Records. (There is a 4 track split EP accompanying it featuring both version of the song in their entirety plus an extra song from each band respectively - but we will be focusing our magnifying glass onto the joint video version here.)
Summary
The song tells of a beige, boring, genital wart of a man who drinks home brewed soap infused wine: ‘Mr Insipid’. Let’s face it, we all know our very own Mr Insipid, every town has at least one - often they become the stuff of local folklore and a bottomless source of comic material. Joe Wise of Punching Swans and Frau Pouch stardom is apparently no exception as his brainwave to have both of his bands put their heads together to immortalize their own incarnations of ‘Mr Insipid’ illustrates with infectious awkward charm on both sides of this siamese track.
Stylistically both versions of the song are presented in a similar fashion, but with each version offering their own sonic perspective of the man himself.
I ended up with a mental image of the miserable of git with a drinking/pornography subscription problem that would threaten to knife your football as a kid. Belting.
What hooked me?
The concept. The idea of two bands teaming up to each create parallel yet unique versions of the same song ‘a musical Venn diagram’ as they put it really caught my imagination as well as my attention - extending that to video form was the icing on the cake for me.
Key Lyric
I couldn’t quite make out the whole lyric if I am to be honest but the term ‘genital suicide’ was definitely involved - sending my imagination off into uncomfortable territory, something that in my book only the best kinds of art/music achieve. Honourable mention goes to the manic, gangly lead guitar riff towards the end of the Punching Swans version - lovely jubbly stuff.
Feedback
The only criticism that comes to mind with this musical endeavour is that both versions sound very similar - there are of course noticeable differences and each version is undoubtedly unique, something that is impressive in itself. I would just be intrigued to hear how it may have sounded if the horizons of each version had been pushed slightly further back.
Video/Artwork
I thoroughly enjoyed this video - once again staying true to the theme of each band presenting their own version of ‘Mr Insipid’. The video documents both incarnations of the man himself spending a day together giving it their best Mr Motivator impression at a local children's play area in Medway before moving on to the local boozer still clad in neon sports gear from a bygone era only to wind up arm in arm with themselves on a pavement outside.
The cover of the EP from which the tracks are lifted appears to be an illustration of ‘Mr Insipid’, again syncing up well with the lyrical and sonic vibe of the whole project.
All in all the visual art that accompanies the music acts perfectly as a gift wrap, tying the whole thing together as a neat package, just the way it should do.
Line From The Band
Punching Swans' Joe Wise offered these rather self-deprecating thoughts on the release:
"I think the only thing I would want to say is that the b-sides were each written (more or less) in one rehearsal. Not sure it was made clear, but as time was short we challenged ourselves to write something in a short space of time. Which is why the Frau Pouch song is probably the worst thing we've ever done. In my opinion"
Vital Info
New Frau Pouch material is on the horizon. You can keep up to date with their movements here;
www.facebook.com/FrauPouch
And check out their other material (including Mr. Insipid) here;
http://fraupouch.bandcamp.com/
Reviewer Profile
Craig Twigg, front man of incoming Chemic Rock trio ‘Forever In Debt’, ginger in denial who occassionally wrestle’s dudes in spandex. Full time miserable twat.