J.S. Mahlon – Joyride
Nobody ever really gets away from their childhood, no matter how many years they manage to spend on this planet. You’re more likely to forget your wedding anniversary, last week’s football results, or who was president four-five years ago, but you’re stuck with the memories of your formative years. Try and change or erase them and you risk shortcircuiting the whole machine.
If you’re lucky, childhood memories will provide the kind of sage, warm blanket that you can put on whenever modern reality gets a little chilly. If you’re really lucky, childhood memories will be the kind of terrible things you’ll always feel compelled to escape. That’s the kind of fuel that either drives people crazy or drives to achieve incredible things.
J.S. Mahlon isn’t quite sure how he feels about his earliest years. “Joyride”, with its rock n’ roll riff and all the pretty colours pouring into scenes playing out, is a chance to return and redo. Back again and overwhelmed by all that’s down there, Mahlon isn’t sure whether to smile or leave after setting fire to it all. A lot of people, eventually, want to stop and think of their childhood, but not everyone gets to add these kinds of rock n’ roll guitar riffs to the story.
Leon Speicher – Net Land
The internet’s not cool anymore, hasn’t been for a while and, speaking in general terms, won’t ever be this way again. Nowadays, most of its users worry about its addictive or destructive potential.
But the spirit of its Golden Era is kept alive by a few weirdos and miscreants who know what the internet really is for – communicating the kind of over-the-top humorous ideas that nobody would dare show on television or put in print.
Can you imagine that there was a time when people had to order strange, funny music from little music stores? Can you imagine a time when memes did not exist? Comedy had not reached its zenith.
Echoing strange electro-music pioneers like Mort Garson or novelty-comedy seekers like Dr. Demento, Leon Speicher’s “Net Land” finally looks to put to rest the nasty rumours surrounding Germans and their understanding of what is funny.
“Net Land” is a strange trip, the kind that an unsolicited acid-laced drink might send you on, but it’s also very humorous and entertaining. Leon Speicher doesn’t believe in developing one idea when a dozen could be shot out at the audience. It all gets a little overwhelming, but like any great ride, that’s part of the fun.
