Marshall Art imagines a world where Yes decided to pick up Gameboys
instead of guitars and keyboards, thereby changing the face of prog forever.
That’s anachronistic, you say? Gameboys weren’t introduced until Yes had firmly established themselves in the
rock and roll pantheon? Fie, I spit at your insolence! In my world that I’m imagining, the one that Marshall Art is also
imagining, Gunpei Yokoi introduced his signature handheld Nintendo device a
full twenty years ahead of schedule
in 1969, thereby changing the direction of 8-bit technology forever. I should
know. I’m writing this on Back to the
Future II day, and everybody is going batshit about alternate timelines.
Consider it my inspiration at the moment.
Now – can I get lazy on you all for a minute?:
“Marshall Art is the
international project of jmr and streifig, in which the former builds castles
with NES chiptunes and the latter destroys them with a directional blast of
post-rock guitar.”
I
feel kind of like Gob Bluth in the episode of Arrested Development when he finds the magazine with the talking ad
for Judge Reinhold’s new show and decides to use it for his ventriloquism act.
He opens the magazine and Franklin, his puppet, says variations of “My name is
Judge,” over and over. That’s what I’m doing.
What’s
that, Cassette Gods review? You have something to tell me?
“Marshall
Art is the international project of jmr and streifig, in which the former
builds castles with NES chiptunes and the latter destroys them with a
directional blast of post-rock guitar.”
Well
golly. That’s terrific information there, Cassette Gods review. Say, do you
think I’d like this Marshall Art band that you’re going on about so much?
“Marshall Art is the
international project of jmr and streifig, in which the former builds castles
with NES chiptunes and the latter destroys them with a directional blast of
post-rock guitar.”
OK,
that’s enough. I already know if love this frickin tape. Plus, my word count’s
going through the roof. Better calm it down.
Still, Cassette Gods review does have a point, and the quote it’s
chosen says it best. Marshall Art lie at this amazing intersection of chiptune,
post rock, and prog, and each song is a powerful blast of all of that. It’s
surprising when two likeminded dudes who don’t live anywhere near each other
(Ottawa and Moscow are pretty far apart) can cohere as they do on this tape.
And they even have a theme song, the side B-filling “Marshall Art” – it’s
nineteen minutes long! So really, truly, get ready world, Marshall Art is your
new favorite band. Gunpei Yokoi and Jon Anderson are looking down from heaven
with approval, arms around each other’s shoulders and swaying to the excellent
tunes. (Oh right, Jon Anderson’s not dead yet.)
--Ryan Masteller
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