Artist or Band Name
Ungus Ungus Ungus
Email Address
Musical contortionists Ungus Ungus Ungus return to bending boundaries with more of their signature mind-tickling tracks on their seventh studio album 'The Fun House', out August 28th.
With six full-length albums under their belt and having taken the stage at an array of internationally regarded festivals, including Woodford Folk, Port Fairy Folk and Rainbow Serpent, Ungus Ungus Ungus are back with an electrifying album that promises to deliver an unpredictable and enlivening experience, at times intentionally disorienting in its stylistic turns but always staying on track to a good time - much like the fairground ride from which the album takes its name.
With players based across three states, the Naarm/Melbourne-centred band returns with their shapeshifting, dancefloor-friendly sound. Conceptually, the album explores foundational dimensions of life together with its assorted peaks, valleys and contrasting flavours. Bandleader Max Schollar-Root says of the album:
“As a band that plays fast and loose with genre, we have held nothing back stylistically, taking the listener on a journey from our signature circus party freak folk through psychedelic dub, funky hip-hop, electro swing, drum and bass, and ambient spaciousness.”
The album opens with ‘Funlerable’, a driving, moody track featuring circus organs and haunting vocals that speak to the duality of joy and vulnerability as an oscillating feature of life. ‘Poltergeist’ follows with a theatrical lament to lost love that builds from a slow cabaret feel to an uptempo frenzy. ‘Dr Quiet’ slows down the pace, giving way to atmospheric dub and sensuous, leisurely horns, setting the scene for the conceptual funk odyssey of ‘Wishes Three’, a foray into the foundations of where food comes from through deep grooves, group vocals and character-driven lyrics.
Opening the B-side (on the vinyl version of the album) is the mysterious, mellow ‘Secret Track’, which features a verse from acclaimed local MC Flash Poetry. ‘Sauna Swing’ rebuilds to bouncing electroswing, with the momentum further amplified by ‘Move’, a drum’n’bass-infused ode to the moving body with guest vocals from FemCee. Ambient instrumental track ‘Beginnings’ rounds out ‘The Fun House’ with a meditative, uplifting resolution, with warm synth textures gently releasing the listener from the carnival ride.
With its eclectic fusion of genres and styles, Ungus Ungus Ungus’ ‘The Fun House’ captures the chaos and unpredictability of life, as well as the pleasures and soft landings to be found along the way. Overflowing with boisterous creativity, each track reinforces their commitment to making inventive dance music for live performance. The album offers a taste of the spectacle to come at their album launch at Shotkickers in Thornbury on August 29.
'The Fun House' will appear on streaming platforms Friday, August 28.
Album Release Show
Saturday, August 29th - Shotkickers, Thornbury| Tickets
With Gusto Gusto, Trickbox X Flash Poetry
