By: Michael Madavi
Artist: The Bran Flakes
Title: I Have Hands
Label: Illegal Art
Release Date: 2.24.09
UPC: 751937345121
Genres: Electronic : Alternative
Territories: World ex-EU
These days, music takes itself way too seriously. Enter the Bran Flakes, a sampling group composed of Otis Fodder (in San Francisco, CA), Mildred Pitt (in Seattle, WA) and several special guests (located around the globe) who have created a silly, weird, strangely-catchy electronic sound unlike anything you’ve ever heard. Utilizing samples from almost anything imaginable (talking dogs, radio spots, The Muppets, children’s movies, farts, old TV jingles, Disco, video game sound effects and soundtracks, toys, explosions, radio transmission, and just random vocal samplings from unidentifiable sources, possibly the members themselves) the Flakes have a sound all their own. Most bands, whether they admit it or not, want success and for lots of people to like them and connect with their music; something (maybe it’s the giant, purple, paper-mache heads the pair wear in their promo shots) tells me the Bran Flakes could care less. First off, their music isn’t really meant for anything except feeling happy. Every song on I Have Hands, their newest release, is filled with upbeat drums, music, and of course samples. The artists themselves announce to their listener, “The Bran Flakes are ready to turn that frown upside down, put a beat in your step, and a twinkle in your eye.” A silly and carefree record, the Flakes seem to only care about the positive stuff and throw in anything they found that’s playfully merry. The songs sound like strange, children’s electronica made by adults. Everything’s happy, everything’s silly, everything’s over the top, and nothing is left out. Are you feeling blue? Have you tried everything anyone’s told you to cheer up? Might as well give the Flakes a try; it definitely couldn’t hurt.
Below their extremely goofy exterior lies a more genuine reality: the Bran Flakes are part of the Illegal Art collective who has gained notoriety in the past years for the legal controversy and critical praise surrounding their artists (Girl Talk, Oh Astro). The label is comprised mostly of electronic artists who create their tunes by sampling the work of others and scrambling the clips to create something original. This has raised numerous copyrights discussions, extending from a threat from Beck’s lawyers and Label to sue Illegal Art for their 1998 release, Deconstructing Beck: a compilation of 13 songs created completely from Beck Hansen samples (samples that were not legally approved), to a mention of Girl Talk on the floor of the US congress during a copyright hearing. No legal action has been taken against Illegal Art, mostly because the label’s mysterious owner who goes by Philo T. Farnsworth (the long-dead inventor of the first electric TV) has never been photographed or interviewed in person and Illegal Art’s actual location is unknown, making a legal serving extremely hard to deliver. The Bran Flakes, as well as the other Illegal Art artists, stand alone for the sampling world against a lot of industry who would like to see the label shut down. In an online interview with Farnsworth for Splendid Zine (an online music review site), the label owner stated, “Well, I should clarify that we are and we aren’t anti-copyright. We’re against copyright law when it impedes an artist’s ability to interact with pre-existing recordings. We’re not against copyright protecting artists from someone copying their material and selling it without compensating them.” While the copyright battle rages on, Illegal Art is still “at-large” to produce their unique brand of sample-based electronic music.
Check out the wonky video for “Do You Want Salad with Your Taco” here and grab a PromoTrack after the jump…
The Bran Flakes
“Stumble Out Of Bed” (mp3)
from “I Have Hands”
(Illegal Art)
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