Art Feynman — the eccentric alter ego of accomplished visual artist and producer Luke Temple — presents the new single, “Passed Over,” from his forthcoming album, Be Good The Crazy Boys, out November 10th on Western Vinyl. “Passed Over” explores struggling with FOMO — “I’m ok to be passed over // Let them have it // I don’t care” — a narrative that would be relatable if the song didn’t sound so completely unhinged. Across a vast psychedelic palette, “Passed Over” features a robotic instrumental breakdown and an out-of-this-world saxophone performance from Nicole McCabe. Following the “synth-pop jam” (FLOOD) “All I Can Do” and the “breezy” (Brooklyn Vegan) “Desperately Free” — “Passed Over” is another thrilling glimpse at the tropical contours of Be Good The Crazy Boys. “It can be refreshing to decide to eat last, it’s stressful if you’re always needing to be at the front of the line,” explains Feynman.
Until now, Art Feynman has strictly been a solo act, a way for Temple to explore surprising sonic landscapes without the burdens of identity. Slightly twisted takes on Kosmische musik, worldbeat, and art pop can all be found scattered across the Art Feynman discography, but with Be Good The Crazy Boys, Feynman fully immerses himself into pools of collective madness. Unlike the first two Art Feynman albums, Be Good The Crazy Boys was recorded live in-studio with a full band. The result captures a spirit of restless anxiety, and recalls the most frenetic work by Talking Heads, or Oingo Boingo at their darkest.
“To me,” Temple explains, “there was a lot of energy that needed to be released as the result of living in isolation for 6 years. It also seems to speak to a general anxiety we’re all holding, but it’s expressed in a cathartic way.” It’s this acknowledgement of general anxiety that separates Feynman from the other fictional personas that have been cropping up in the music world lately. Feynman doesn’t sound suave, confident, or even heartbroken in these songs; it sounds like he’s on the verge of a panic attack.
With Be Good The Crazy Boys, Art Feynman proves to be more than just a character. He represents the part of the modern, collective consciousness that’s struggling to maintain balance in a toxic, chaotic world. In less skilled hands, that concept could result in a very somber listen. Fortunately, when Art Feynman gets his hands on the chaos of the modern age, it simply makes you want to dance.
Watch the “Desperately Free” Visualizer
Pre-order Be Good The Crazy Boys
Keep your mind open.
[Don’t pass over the subscription box either.]
[Thanks to Patrick at Pitch Perfect PR.]
