On December 15th 2010, FUN recorded an instudio performance @ WFMU, & broadcast on Wm. Berger presents My Castle of Quiet program.
There’s an old dirty joke that ends, “there’s two nuts downstairs, trying to push an organ in.” Who knew those “nuts” would turn out to be Mat and Jonny of FUN? Not I.
FUN (joined for their first set of two by their friend Kevin) make their home at Breathmint Records, based out of Philadelphia, PA. The duo approach “non-music” with an inventive enthusiasm, never seeming to do the same thing twice. It wouldn’t be unfair to say that the sonic result of their efforts comes down somewhere between The New Blockaders, Albrecht D., Marcel Duchamp and Alvaro. I have records in my collection that are comparable to FUN in terms of sonic invention, but where these guys just DO IT, those old records carry high-falootin’ imprints, and elaborate notations and theses as to the “why.”
Mat and Jonny, sometimes awash in a larger ensemble, most often wear their trademark, tight-fitting, contact-mic’d rubber gas masks, which provide an intimidating visual dissociation for the listener/audience, and likely supply the musicians with the release of anonymity (and discomfort) to get further lost in their sound and performances.
– Wm. M. Berger
Wm. presents two, unique sets by FUN prepared especially for this broadcast.
Listen to the full show: MP3 – 128K | Pop‑up player! |
Further reading: