Bran Flakes’ latest album, I Have Hands, may not inspire the same biological regularity as the fiber-ful breakfast cereal, but their mix of reworked sounds is certainly an easy listen. The indie band prides itself on their ability to mix old, and sometimes rare, tracks together and streamline them with a beat. I Have Hands most closely resembles the soundtrack playing in Urban Outfitters, edgy and upbeat with the occasional orgasmic sound effect that leaves all parties involved feeling uncomfortable.
Bran Flakes is composed of Otis Fodder, Mildred Pitt, Susan DeLint and one who goes simply as “the GRDNR.” The group prides itself on their ability to dig up sounds and reformat them into a techno/indie fusion. While the band’s website featured music videos tend to point to the group’s insanity, I Have Hands features 30 diverse tracks varying in length and beat. With titles like “Dance of the Sugarsnap Fairy,” “Do you want salad for your taco” and “Mr. and Mrs. Footsie,” the listener expects to hear something strange coming through their ear buds.
The slightly addicting beats are not overwhelmed with words and serve as a great candidate for late night studying — keeping the mind active but not distracted. The lyricist may be slightly disappointed with Bran Flakes’ new album as it is mainly beats and sounds strung together with some random soundbytes. When lyrics are used in I Have Hands, they are often bizarre. In “The Sidewalk Song,” a slightly creepy child’s voice croaks out: “The Lord told Noah/ There was going to be a floody floody/ The Lord told Noah/ There was gunna be a floody floody/ So rise and shine/ And give God the glory glory … ” as memories of unfortunate church camp retreats resurface, the beat changes entirely and takes on a new, almost psychedelic vibe.
Bran Flakes undoubtedly plays with contradictory lyrics and musical styles. In “Mr. and Mrs. Footsie,” the innocent voice of a young girl sings, “Walking backwards down the stairs/ Trying to get higher.” They use everything from tap dancing shoes to techno remixes to sustain the semi-addicting rhythm. The occasional lyrics tend to be completely random and often contradictory. In the song “Sunshine Country,” a juvenile voice sings, “Take a pill/ And then a drink/ Even when you’re out you think.” The sassy undertone is consistent with Bran Flakes’ style. The song “Do you want salad with your taco” leaves listeners questioning, “Did they really just say diarrhea?” Yes friends, they did. Among the few lyrics of this song, one of them is a random insertion of the word “diarrhea” in between the remix of several songs.
It seems unfair to judge a band by their lyrics alone, and for this reason, Bran Flakes is successful in their creative compilation of various songs. I Have Hands bridges the gap between indie style and easy listening and attests to the Bran Flakes’ knowledge of musical recycling.
3 1/2 stars out of 5.
