SOUNDTRACK: THE FLAMING LIPS AND HEADY FWENDS-“You Man? Human???” (2012).
2012 saw the release of this very strange collaborative album. Whether The Flaming Lips had entered the mainstream or if people who’d always liked them were now big stars or maybe they all just liked doing acid. Whatever the case, The Lips worked with a vast array of famous (and less famous) people for this bizarre album. Here it is 8 years later. Time to check in.
Nick Cave’s most recent music has been quiet pretty and tender. It’s easy to forget that he has often been a wild man of Australian punk. His Grinderman albums emphasized that noisy history of his and this song seems perfect for Cave.
In fact, this track seems like a song he could have released with the Birthday Party forty years ago. It’s abrasive and kind of rambling–although with more modern production and sounds. It also has a slow pummeling bass notes with lots of chaotic drumming.
Unlike most of the songs on the record which have falsetto vocals, Cave’s deep voice really stands out. He is reciting a fairly crazy story of pools and chlorine and how you can touch him if you want.
Quintessential Cave mixed with a few Lips.
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Katchoo was falling off a cliff. In the wide shot we see there is water down below (and a small boat).
She lands in the water and rockets down pretty far (some creepy eels greet her before she takes off back up to the surface).
The man on the boat tries to fend her off with a long pike, but he’s no match for Katchoo who avoids the gun shots until the boat takes off.
Back home, we see Francine and her (cool) Aunt Libby in some relative domestic happiness–Katchoo hasn’t warned her about he gunman yet.
Koo resists taking out the garbage. Francine asks, “when do you want to do it” “Later when I grow up.”
When she puts the trash in the bin, she smells…something. Which we see is a pile of cigarette butts and a shoe. But she is called in before she sees what it is.
Katchoo goes to a small hotel. There’s a man sleeping in the tub. I’m unclear what that is meant to signify, but Katchoo leaves before he wakes up.
The book ends back home with Koo unable to sleep (she is reading I Hate Fairyland, by Skottie Young). She heads downstairs (at 3AM) and sees a male shadow looking in their glass windows. Yipes!
Don’t mess with these cute kids, you hear me!
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