The collapse of the music industry and the demise of physical formats as media of choice has led to a backlash in underground circles, where the object has become increasingly fetishised. We’re witnessing a return to cottage industry type production, where artists record at home or otherwise as cheaply as possible on shoestring budgets or less, and hand-crafted packages produced in minuscule runs. Not having label backing is no longer considered a mark of inadequacy or a lack of artistic worth: it’s all about the DIY ethic, and making the product something unique. Necessity is indeed the mother of (re)invention. When it comes to DIY, Mark Wynn is a master, espousing a no-fi trash aesthetic that’s all encompassing. The man don’t give a fuck.
His latest offering, the eight-song ‘No Fun (Not That One)’ is available as a CD with a 20-page poster/booklet thingumy containing a cut-up mish-mash of appropriated, detourned images and text accompanied my his own off-kilter ramblings. On the subject of which, Mark’s own notes on the release sums it – and him – up perfectly:
‘Written at some point in December inbetween cutting bald patches into my wig, offending and confusing audiences in Colchester and walking home offended and confused at my own stupidities.... I wrote these songs inattentively when I was thinking of something else, what that was I don’t now know but I did know then, no?. I did all I could to make the best thing I could... then I just gave it up and went to the pub and drank what I found lying about in the same place because I’m glam like that yes....’
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Beneath the scuzzy garage glam racket are some nifty little ditties. Lyrically, it’s all about the everyday, not so much kitchen sink drama as cutlery drawer and some bastard’s used all the teaspoons and there’s a fork in the knife section grousing. It doesn’t get realler – or crazier – than this.
Mark Wynn Online
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