Bunnies are an odd and quite possibly unique band blending chunky, distorted guitars with analog synths, odd-timed beats and swirling, psychedelic melodies to create something that, in spite of the usually rigid laws of space-time, could perhaps co-exist in 3,000 B.C., 1969 and 2112 simultaneously. Conjuring visions of twisted circus trolls with their tortured wails and mesmerizing, drop-tuned chord-mantras, they've combined so many influences, musical styles, instruments and effects that it's almost impossible to classify them neatly.
The three describe themselves (within the constraints of the MySpace self-categorization system) as "Psychedelic/Experimental/Japanese Classic Music"—all of which you can hear in there—but I don't think that begins to describe everything that's going on in Bunnies music. There is an obvious Japanese influence, though it's hard to tell whether it's from listening to Shonen Knife records or watching old Mothra movies—probably both.
The psychedelic denotation is clearly appropriate; there are many moments in listening wherein I felt like I'd just awakened to find I'd been dosed with LSD and was ambling about on the set of the Mothers of Invention's 200 Motels. Or on my fourth hour of listening to a skipping Gong LP while swirls of incense smoke morphed into menacing-looking space dragons. Experimental? Absolutely, though definitely not straight-up noise—there is song structure of a rich and complex nature, it's just totally fucking alien.
Hot off the presses comes Bunnies' new disc, Music for Dinosaurs by Dinosaurs, chock-full of stereophonic brain candy, in a format I can only attempt to describe as "controlled chaos." Much of the disc was cut live in the studio, often in one take (excepting overdubbed vocals) by members Jeremy Dubs (guitars/vocals), Jack Science (bass and synths) and Matt Newman (drums). The Advocate spoke to the purveyors of this dopamine-tickling Satan-chant via email, MySpace, Facebook and lesser telepathy:
Valley Advocate: So where was the new album recorded? Is it self-produced or is there another set of ears contributing to the magic?
Bunnies: At Camp Street Studio in Boston, run by the same dude that ran Fort Apache, Paul Kolderie. Roger Miller's [Mission of Burma] ears contributed to the magic. He produced it, and he also plays on a few tracks. We'd like to give one of those things that the kids call a "shout out" to Justin Pizzoferrato. He engineered our record with his magical ears.
The cover is wicked cool. Whose art is that?
Our friend Bridey Bowen. Her pen is mightier than the sword. She used to live in Northampton and now she's a tattoo artist in Florida.
And perfectly timed with the release of Land of the Lost. I'm sure you guys did that on purpose, right? Who's got the marketing degree?
And now… a haiku:
On Madison Ave.
They do stuff that we don't know
We don't watch TV
Print that. This shit is pure gold.
For the uninitiated, can someone describe how your band was formed? By glaciation? Bonded through mutual survival of genocide? Banded together to fight evil, etc.?
Jeez, that's a hard one. This has been going on for 11 years. It's a long story. Matt, film professor/father/president of drums, joined the band about three years ago and that's when Bunnies really started. We like to think about what we're going to do next rather than what already happened. It's more interesting that way.
Are you guys listening to anything obsessively right now? If so,what?
We've been digging on This Heat. They are blowing our minds, right now even. What a band. We've also been listening to a lot of synthesizer music like John Carpenter soundtracks, Kraftwerk, Bo Hansson, Walter Carlos, the Suspiria soundtrack. We're thinking about doing a cover of Yellow Magic Orchestra's cover of the Beatles' "Day Tripper." "Temporary Secretary" from McCartney II happens about once a day as well.
Are there any shows coming up that you're psyched about? Are you having a CD release party?
Last week we went to New Jersey and played a show with Thrones. That was bitching. Upcoming stuff: on June 20 we're playing with every band in Connecticut, in Connecticut. No seriously, it's an extravaganza. Also, we're opening for Grand Duchy at the Middle East in Boston on July 19. That's Frank Black's new band with his wife, Violet.
As far as CD release parties, just ask us and we'll give you one. Hot off our CD burner.
Your music is highly evocative of visual things—have you made any videos for any of the tunes?
That's funny you should ask. Our drummer is a college film professor, which means no videos for us. We've been playing music with him for three fucking years. WTF?!?!
What's next for Bunnies?
We're working on a new record. It will be something that can be performed live, one musical idea that goes from beginning to end in a typical set's length of time. Right now we're calling it Devoted to the process of action, a concept album about doing. It's self-generating. We say to ourselves, "This is hard to do," and that gives us more material to write about. It works out nice that way. We need to put in that extra effort. That's what the kids want to see.
One more question: What the hell are you guys smoking, and where can I get some?
Cough, cough. What? Cough. Swing by around 11.
Bunnies can be experienced live at the Birth of Summer concert June 20, 3 p.m. at The Annex @ Windham Arts, 866 Main St., Willimantic, Conn., or July 19, 8 p.m., with Grand Duchy, The Middle East, 472 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Check out Bunnies music at www.myspace.com/sciencebunnies.
