There is something alluring about artists like Band Ape. The way they go against the stream of what`s popular at the moment. How they change and adjust their sound to suit their own vision rather than the expectations of music executives. The amount of labour that they put into the presentation of their songs. We truly need to start paying attention towards artists from the working class. Because the music that is being produced is organic, authentic and composed with care and love. In a world where everything is monetized – your ears and your tastes are taken hostage by major labels and you are forced to only consume a pulp regurgitated by algorithms. Breaking away from the mould is difficult but by doing so you can discover a whole different world of sounds and experiences.
We have covered Brain Ape before on Indieterria. We ran a review of their previous single “mcmi. fenchurch king” and premiered its music video. This time we wanted to interview the band. But when we sent the questions to them, the duo decided to answer not with words but with a whole visual presentation. They would record themselves and edit the video. The result is over 15 minutes of an insight into a band that cannot be easily defined. It is meticulously tailored, timed and filmed in Brain Ape signature colours (a mixture of white, blue and sepia hues). There are some hilarious moments in this interview but mostly undenied passion for creating and honesty that`s just rare.
In the past Brain Ape has been compared to Radiohead. There may only be two people in the band but you can’t deny that they subscribe to the same ethos of making music – following their instincts and creating far away from social media buzz. Call them outcasts or even hermits but this approach worked well for giants in music – the likes of Grateful Dead and Pearl Jam. Not a bad company to be in.
“mcmx. drawing room” is a subtle, almost quiet yet mesmerizing. The vocals are pierced and interrupted by loops or glitches, everything is rather dark and moody like a walk-through London at 3 AM. Or is a stroll at midnight in a perfect world? References to both DJ Shadow and KLF are on point. And you will only get the feeling if you ever marched yourself though empty streets of darkened capitol to a train station in the middle of the night, humming songs under your breath for company. There is awe and danger and excitement and some sort of melancholy in the air. You cannot experience it anywhere else and on my next escapade in London I may as well accompany myself by singing “mcmx. drawing room”. The song is also punk as you can get. It only last about one minute and forty seconds. Because why not? Right fit for Tik Tok generation anyway.
Like before “mcmx, drawing room” is accompanied by a carefully prepared music video. It takes us all back to 1910 and offers some interesting decors, but mostly captures that elusive feeling when roaming the streets of London after dark.
I will tell you something. As an A&R, I don’t understand where this industry is going. It feels like madness descended and everyone is doing their utmost to ruin, gut and destroy the music scene that made the UK such a powerhouse in the world. Gentrification and gate keeping went up to eleven and you can get signed to a major while not even being able to play those three chords. But who cares about music when the songs are penned for you and you look good in a fast fashion rag. The less morals and ethics you have, the more popular you are. While on the outskirts of the scene we have blossoming talents, not only of Brain Ape, but of thousands small, self-funded acts who create from their hearts and souls and are hardly being noticed.
If music survives, in twenty-thirty years people will look back with horror at this decade and consider it the darkest times for music. Darker than midnight on a moonless night in the bleakest corner of Camden, just behind that costume shop on the Lock Market where even rats don’t go because it’s so dark and depressive. That’s how we will be seen by future generations for the collective greed and cultural vandalism.
The only saving grace of this decade will be music and words, honestly and ethos of the likes of Brain Ape. So maybe give them a listen – before it all disappears and won’t be found again.
You can follow the band on socials:
https://www.facebook.com/BrainApeMusic
https://twitter.com/BrainApeMusic
https://www.instagram.com/brainapemusic/
https://www.scratchrockrecords.com/group/brainape/
https://www.youtube.com/@MinkyTresvain
https://soundcloud.com/scratchrockrecords
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3TzQ9K97T8NVWx4nnIzMhl
Additional reading:
https://vanadianavenue.co.uk/2022/08/16/brain-ape-mcmi-fenchurch-king-video-premiere/
https://vanadianavenue.co.uk/2022/06/21/brain-ape-mcmi-fenchurch-king-single-review/
Malicia Dabrowicz
Indieterria 
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