At
first glance, it would seem that this band has a bordering-on-unhealthy
obsession with the band Television. But
with a closer investigation and a couple listens, I find that Cookie Brooklyn
& the Crumbs are the right kind of obsessed. The cover is essentially a partial transcript
of emails that detail the minutia regarding the stature of each of the members
of Television. I can’t tell if this is
oral history or fan fiction, either way, it gets my attention. Another aspect of this release that makes me
smile is the cassette case’s indication of wear and most likely that it
originally housed another tape.
Frugality, ingenuity and deep fandom/appreciation combine to form a
unique creation.
Side
1 opens with "Tom, Richard and Richard", a call-and-response using
Verlaine, Lloyd and Hell’s namesakes, and further exploring their assumed and
actual heights. This and “Is there logic
in Pop?” are recordings from a show at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington, New
Zealand, in 2013. Judging from the
audible applause and banter, The Crumbs have a sizable fan base.
The
other side has tracks from two separate recording sessions, each documenting
the band well into a groove, loose and relaxed.
The bass is dense like a stuffed animal, the drummer digs the toms and
the guitar meanders on the dark side of Marquee Moon. The lyrics and playing style tells me they
like to have a good time, and would prefer the audience to dance. What
originally sounded like someone else’s story turns out to be a vividly crafted
narrative of its own. I’m not sure whose
hands are normal, but this was produced in an edition of thirty, and I now see
that they are sold out.
You
can hear it at: http://epicsweeprecords.bandcamp.com/album/his-hands-are-normal
and
this is their label: http://epicsweeprecords.com/our-catalogue/