Photo by Caleb Bryant Miller
Brooklyn instrumental avant-prog trio Bassoon ably demonstrate that you don’t need a big budget to make an entertaining video. There’s nothing here that one would describe as “high art” or “pro shot,” but as far as videos of three nerdy dudes—Stuart Popejoy (bass/keys), Sean Moran (guitar), John Mettam (drums)—playing in an alcove next to an apartment building in NYC go, this one’s pretty damn good. And let’s go ahead and confirm that Bassoon aren’t trying to pass this off than anything more than it is. They’re clearly in on the joke. But look, the track “Cyclops” is a twisty, hypnotic math problem of a song that somehow suits the unserious video. Just try not to nod along with the band.
The song was taken from Bassoon’s upcoming full-length, Succumbent, which was recorded and mixed by Tony Maimone at Studio G in Brooklyn and mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music. The album is set for release on LP and all digital platforms via Nefarious Industries on November 17. You can find preorders and merch at the Nefarious Industries webshop here. And check out the band’s upcoming live dates in support of Succumbent listed below the video.
Bassoon live dates:
10/27/2023 Brooklyn, NY: Hart Bar *record release show w/ PH0, Blisspoint, Splinternet
11/09/2023 Akron, OH: TBA
11/10/2023 Chicago IL: The Burlington w/ Aseethe, Anatomy Of A Habit, Nequient
11/12/2023 Cincinnati, OH: The Comet w/ Tina Fey
11/13/2023 Louisville, KY: Highlands Taproom
11/14/2023 Nashville, TN: TBA
11/15/2023: Knoxville TN: Brickyard w/ Ninja Witch, Bongfoot, Sun Mantra
