Parallax Error Beheads You
by Max Tundra
"Pop" music, as defined by today's culture, are no more expansive than Disney exports and Britney Spears (and her soundalikes). If one's music drifts an inch away from that exclusive circle of what is known as "pop", it would probably immediately fall into the alternative scene. But what if you made pop music in an alternative kind of sense?
Pop is known for cheesy lyrics, striking reliance on a single aesthetic, been-there done-that rhythms and tunes, not to mention a basis of influences off other bands and artists doing the same kind of "pop", old or new, Jackson 5 or Jonas Brothers.
With his Amiga Commodore 500, Max Tundra's Parallax Error Beheads You falls into each and every one of those requirements for an album to be "pop" music, yet does it so exquisitely and detailedly, much unlike most cookie-cutter production out there these days, focusing on things on a large scale. We're talking a thousand sliced up samples a half-minute here, with actual verse-chorus singing like normal pop songs.
Even though it's messy, Tundra still manages to create a pop beat to whatever buzzes he is tuning in and out. It may be one of those "I've heard this before" tunes and rhythms, but he etches the layout so magnificiently it wouldn't give the Alt. Sceners goosebumps, and also wouldn't shun away the commercial fans. And because it so specifically attracts the ever-loving fan attention of both groups, I'm going to state why, to both groups, why this would be so appealing.
For commercial fans, I'm sure you feel that all your indie friends are cool, or lame. Any way, this will open up your eyes a bit to what's out there, beyond the restrictive circle. Parallax Error Beheads You will hold your hand out into the vast, dangerous and ever expansive jungle of alternative, probably making you discover the beauty in a lot of things. That way, you'll either be just as cool as your indie friends, or maybe start to realise they ain't that lame no more.
Indie fans, I know you all love hyper intricacy. We're talking multi-layered waves of chipped up recordings, and did you know: Parallax Error took 6 years to be made. Isn't that something that should be catching your attention? If a man had that much time to make one album, surely he wouldn't miss out on one bit of mistake. Very cleverly built up, it may take you tens of runs of the album to get you to decipher all the Game Boy-reminiscent beats in the sounds. And finally, you guys might get to appreciate that a little bit of pop isn't too bad. Just the good pop.
So, all in all, I'm appealing to everyone. While I certainly understand this music isn't For Everyone, "Everyone" should at least give it a go. This type of music has the potential to break the bonds of what's pop and what's everything else, and music, like back then, could be as one, once again. When pop was really really a good thing.
What can I say? It namechecks Louis Vuitton and Agnes B, sings about heartbreaks and desperation for love. And yet, is a strong stand in the alternative scene. "Everyone", go out and give this one round!
Mixture of...: Beyonce, Prince, French Electronica, Westlife, Negativland, Super Mario Land (I'm being serious, very serious), Aphex Twin, XTC, some Manchester and London bands are in the mix, too.
Get this too if you want/like: If you want an adventure into the pop realm, or out of it. You may never know what to expect! If you liked how Mario used to sound like as a kid, or are into the Glitch/Manchester/London/Contempo. Adult thing.
(The man did the ultimate in album selling gimmicks when he packaged the first few CDs' with limited edition Kosher Chicken soup.)
The first single off Parallax Error Beheads You, Will Get Fooled Again.
