Everybody’s Gone Surfing - V
Devendra Banhart is one of my favorite musicians. I’m normally not into psychedelia, but there’s something theatrical and mysterious about Banhart ’s voice when paired with his eclectic instrumentation. Banhart is one of the few musicians (aside from Antony Hegarty) whose music can bring me to tears.
I was extremely excited to check out Surfing, the debut release from Megapuss, Banhart’s new music project with Greg Rogove of Priestbird. The instrumentation and vocal stylings are immediately recognizable as Banhart, but forgo his signature theatrics for a softer, psychedelic surf-influenced sound.
The lyrics are the most unique quality of this album. Sung and spoken in a stream-of-conciousness reminiscent of Jack Kerouac’s writing, Megapuss’s lyrics are trippy, comical and quite frankly, absurd. At their debut performance at the Hammer Museum in LA, Banhart wore a skirt made of plastic dicks.
Despite the lyrical absurdity, I strongly disagree with the other reviews I’ve read labeling Surfing a hilarious and light-hearted album. Call me overly intellectual, but there’s far more below the surface of Megapuss. I can go on forever about the hidden sophistication in this album. Duck People Duck Man, a spacey, spoken-word piece (backed by Banhart’s subdued vocals) about half-duck people in black hoods shopping for Trader Joe’s hummus comes off not as silly, but absolutely haunting. If you listen closely to the upbeat gay anthem, Adam & Steve, the guitar riff is taken from the sax solo on Wham’s Careless Whisper. A Gun on His Hip and a Rose on His Chest is a rebel-rousing, fuck-the-state political chant, perfect for the current pre-election climate. (Coincidence that Surfing is set to release on election day?) The title track, Surfing, is my vote for album favorite. Remember that scene in the film Basquiat where Geoffrey Wright, plagued by heroin addiction, looks above the cityscape to the sky and sees a giant wave complete with surfers? Surfing reminds me of this scene—haunting, poignant, beautiful, supernatural.
In the era of digital albums, Megapuss have brought back the thrill of racing to the record store on release day. In a scenario that can only be described as fate, Megapuss teamed up with artists Travis Millard and Mel Kadel to create a booklet of 20 original illustrations, available only with purchase of the physical album. Banhart and Rogove happened to be recording the album next to door to Millard and Kadel. They met at the mailbox one day, got to talking, and a creative partnership was born. It’s hard when looking at the art to imagine these four as anything other than lifelong friends. Millard and Kadel’s art is the essence of Megapuss—a thin veil of humor, lifted to reveal layers of complexity, thought and intrigue.
A look below the surface of Megapuss reveals a timely album with references to the past, present and future. I hope you enjoy the tracks and artwork as much as I do. It’s been a very long time since I’ve bought a new album release in a record store, but I will be first in line for my copy of Surfing on November 4th.
Megapuss – Duck People Duck Man (320 kbps)
Megapuss – Adam & Steve (320 kbps)
Megapuss – A Gun On His Hip and a Rose On His Chest (320 kbps)
(CLICK MORE BELOW FOR ADDITIONAL ART FROM TRAVIS MILLARD & MEL KADEL)
(All Artwork via Kitsune Noir)
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I know I’ve said this before but you are an amazing writer.