Band of the Day 17 - Micachu and the Shapes

Finally catching up with yourself is a beautiful thing. :)

I will start with this opening statement: DIY in music - a subject close to my heart - has been marginalised and contained for a long time. You can refer to one of my earliest posts about how the mainstream press went about that. Now, however, it is being celebrated in far more honest ways. When I found my next Band of the Day on the cover of Plan B, it was the first time I've been utterly compelled to read the cover story of a magazine since I can remember. Not only that but a feeling swelled up inside me - something along the lines of utter excitement. For once, it seems, these meshing of words, sentences, syntax and ideas collided with the subject itself and made something worth reading. No, not just worth reading but perhaps essential reading.
Enough. Let's examine Exhibit A:

Micachu and the Shapes

Y'honour, I must confess, here now under a vow of trust, that I hated the Micachu album when it was sent to me late last year. I viewed it as ridiculous, childish rubbish. Instead of throwing it angrily into the bin though, my mind knew, deep down, that a) I was missing something and b) I may well have to review this album in time. Lo and behold! I had to review the album. After hours of listening, trawling through the contents of this hyperactive, messy, lo-fi, off-key extravaganza of a record, it clicked. After hours of tearing my hair out trying to figure out what words might do this unique imaginative platter justice, they leaked from my fingers and onto the Word document. Frankly, Jewellery is one of the most exciting, unfathomable records I've heard in ages. I still don't know if I can really enjoy the whole thing. It's scatterbrained, inventive and perfect for attention spans that are merely a fan rather than a wing. I don't even know if this sentence makes sense, but this certainly does - even if it doesn't.

Live show



Lips



DIY, to me, is music that wouldn't exist unless it was done in this way. In other words, it's the only way we're going to find new ways of expressing ourselves musically. Money can help, but carving out your imagination and presenting an ice sculpture - or a pile of rubbish - is infinitely preferrable to spangly production and guest superstars. In fact, I'd trade all that for one of Micachu's home-made instruments. Call me mad if you like - I just despise mediocre records.