Stream The Mabuses' Mabused
The title isn't so hot and the band's trippy website has just burned psychedelic holes into our eyes, but man have we been digging the Mabuses' Mabused. In fact, we probably would have called them a Band To Watch if they hadn't been around the block so many times.
A brief, selective history lesson: The group's 1991 self-titled Shimmy Disc debut and 1994 sophomore record The Melbourne Man (Rtuk) were both released on Rough Trade in Europe. More than a decade later the "multi-national" band's returned with aforementioned album number three. In 1994 frontman/main songwriter Kim Fahy also released an album with another of his bands, the Egomaniacs, which is ha-ha ironic, because these are some seriously low-key chaps, and keeping track of who does what/where they're from requires a pie chart. (For semi-completists and trivia buffs, the cast includes folks from the U.S., England, Ireland, France, and Germany who've done their part with Clock DVA, Siouxie and the Banshees, Love Spit Love, Lloyd Cole, the Jesus & Mary Chain, Loop Guru, Lisa Husik, the Innocents, etc. A couple few, including Fahy, were in the Assassins.)
What's it sound like? The low-key material (a la "Byayaba") reminds us of the Coral; the orchestral work (a la "Garden Evils") of Apple Venus-era XTC. There's a Beta Band streak and some Syd Barrett madcap with an E6 lilt (see "Seasider," which you can literally see in this video. Other favorites are "Sugarland," "Feast," "Garden Devils," and "Destination" (there's a break three minutes in, then it turns into a hidden swing). Trivia: The breezy pastoral "Glass Eyed Pitter Patter" opens with sampled dialogue from White Heat.
OK! Enough from us and our gallery of a thousand references. Hear the entire album for yourself:
Some might say it's too Broadway. We say there's not enough piccolo in indie rock.
Mabused is out 9/25 on Mabuses own Magpie label.
Posted at 3:08 PM
Tags: The Mabuses
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This is awesome. Thanks so much for this.
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Impressive.They look deranged and their music's insane too, yet sweet and familiar. Excellent tunes.
Is that Skip James on Mirth? I'll definitely watch out for these guys.
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Excellent wit and imagination.
Top songwriting resulting in
disconcerting pop tunes.
Nothing short of a marvel.
Who are these madmen anyway?
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I needed to listen to it a couple of time to really get it... It is disturbing, yet entertaining, so different, yet so familiar... I found a way to buy it now - mabused.com...
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I really dig this...
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I've known the Mabuses for about a decade now and have been waiting for them to release new music. The whole album is great but I've been listening to Dark Star, Havana, Sugarland, Destination and I'm the Greatest endlessly. I just can't get enough of these tunes. Very little music coming out now with this kind of care and attention paid to the production combined with great songwriting. Based on these lyrics I wouldn't mind tipping a few back with these guys.
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If this doesn't get noticed over the plethora of crap that is around at the moment there is simply no justice.....just well crafted songs in a psychedelic inner space of their own. So many comparisons but like nothing else.
The voice of someone who is truly out in his own world. No one I think is in his tree !!
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....lovely, absurdist ear candy pop. Well done chaps!
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Wow!!!! great stuff!!!! really quirky. amazing production... must've cost a few bob!!!!
bigup - keep it coming!!!!
n
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I can't help but come back and listen to these songs
again and again...can't wait to get my own copy!
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Great stuff! I love it all. And I wish Skip James was still around. Respect to the man. Bon courage!
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Superb! My favorites are Feast, Destination, and Dark Star. But the entirety of the songs on this album is excellent (except for I'm The Greatest which doesn't play so I can't comment upon). This band is truly outstanding.
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Never, in the history of the universe, have I heard such a work of genius.
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Wow! Thanks for the piles of support for the Mabused! Mabused really is one of the best records of the year.
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maybe it is because i am india, and i do not hear western music much often, but i think this is quite possible some of the finest record i ever hear.
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What happened to all of the comments?
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Superb a modern classic
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I have had the pleasure of listening to this work rather endlessly. I never tire of it and occasionally even dance around my kitchen to it! inventive, sweet, and twisted...
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Hello , I think it's magic, even though the author reminds of Appolinaire, there are few refrences of deep love with a woman, only to Mother, and suicidal inclinations, but so artfully and with a graceful sensitivy. Iw as dissapointed that we could not listin to I'm the greatest which is my favourite.
Can't wait for it to be released so I can tell my friends about it.
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Seriously infectious music. I absolutely love it. A must.
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Most certainly the best collection of songs I've heard in a long time.Brilliant!!!!!
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Its spontaneities laugh green all day. Excellent.
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Wow!I've known about The Mabuses for years and had lost hope they would ever release anything again. I thought they were great then... this new batch of songs makes them great now.
Their second album was called The Melbourne Method by the way, not The Melbourne Man.
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et un commentaire en français, pour un world wide groupe ; le via note de porto vecchio n'attend plus que leur musique pour faire la fête, et nous les CD pour les acheter.
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Great songs and lyrics. Original, intelligent music. I never get bored listening to these songs, some of the instrumental pieces would be great for a movie soundtrack too. Great stuff!! Here's to global listening and airtime play...it is time...
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Great stuff! Would love to know more about them. Versatile and refreshing.
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Tony Wilson was a most remarkable man...
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By far the best stuff I've heard in a long time. Great!!!!
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Welcome back Mabuses! It seems your time is NOW!
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This is a very strange movie soundtrack. I think it's fabulous! Destination is a classic, and so are many of the songs here. A MUST!
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Mirth, Havana, Seasider, Garden Devils, Destination and especially the track after Destination are incredible. The Mabuses have come up with a masterpiece!!!
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Psychedelic genius. Where have the Mabuses been!?!?
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These guys are really good. I saw them play the Knitting Factory last Saturday in front of a handful of people and they were great.I haven't stopped listening to Mabused! ever since!
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you lucky sod,i've been a fan since i heard fahy with egomaniacs on shimmy.there aren't many special bands at any one time,They are deservedly unique and unjustifiably unknown,but this could be how i like my perversions.i'd love to know more about the gig.....................
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Terrific to have them back, even if they don't sound nearly as twisted as they once did.
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This record is an absolute gem! Very cinematic, floating seamlessly from one set to another. Long live The Mabuses!
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This is fantastic stuff. The songs grow on you with each listen. Great music.
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I bought the cd a few months ago and it stayed in my player for 6 weeks straight... then I had to buy "The Mabuses" and The Egomaniacs cd too... I just can't get enough of the magical Kim Fahy!
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This album is fantastic. I've played it over and over and I'm still discovering it. Just great!
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I was waiting... Since 1994 and the melbourn method album : and Kim came back last year... So much emotions and pleasure : this album is magic and the lyrics so strange. See you soon, in 2020 perhaps...
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