Cassette Review // Proteus x Black Art Ninja "Hey Motherfucker" (Hand'Solo Records)

 

https://handsolorecords.bandcamp.com/album/hey-motherfucker-explicit-version

Within the first song on this cassette, Proteus says that he is "addicted to sci-fi" which should set the pace for the rest of these songs.   Before I even think of such things, the way that the first song sounds is rather alien.  It's like if someone from a different planet didn't have access to our technology but tried to make the music sound as close to Earth music as they could.   Another reason to love this cassette is because of lyrics such as:  "The other day I was in Tim Horton's / Pulled out a live squirrel and tried to staple gun it to my lip"

The second song remains chill musically but the lyrics can come out somewhat angry.  Both Winona Ryder and "Alien Resurrection" are referenced in this song, as well as comic conventions and "The Matrix".   This may feel like a certain genre of comic book collectors, but there is also a mention of Kermit the Frog and the idea of Grover going "near/far" is in not one but two songs on here as well.

"Lazy Eyes" says that it's "time for some digital anarchy", which I don't fully understand but do support.  "One Step Backward" has sounds like modems and Pac-Man as he says he is the Alien MC.  What you have to understand about this cassette is that he is saying this five songs into it and by this point if you're paying attention you're pretty much already thinking it.   Slow synths take us into somewhat of murder music on the titular track.

One of the things I feel most strongly about is that Proteus makes music for people who see actors in one movie and then forever think of them as being that character.  I think a great example of this is Julian McMahon (RIP) who played Dr. Doom in the 2005 version of the "Fantastic Four".   Any time he was in something after that I'd always think "Hey, it's Dr. Doom!"  This is mostly about the non-starring roles though, not thinking of Elijah Wood as Frodo or Keanu as Neo.  It's those actors you might not otherwise know how to name.

"Mr. Proteus" has a little bit of a 8bit video game vibe to it while Das Efx are referenced on "Carrie Fisher".   What you can stream digitally ends on Side A, but the flip side comes up with some bonus tracks.  The first three songs are cassette only and then there are three different versions of the titular track as well as a radio edit of "My. Proteus" in there as well.   These are from previously released singles but if you're someone who collects comic books, for example, and are into this music you'll enjoy how this makes you feel more like a completionist.