Single cover art (fair use)
(7) MOJO: BOMB THE BASS – BUG POWDER DUST (1994)
B-SIDE: BEAT DIS (1988)
“I think it’s time to discuss your, ah, philosophy of drug use as it relates to artistic endeavor”
Yeah, that opening narration pretty much sums up this 1994 single, “Bug Powder Dust”, by Bomb the Bass.
Well that and it’s effectively the four minute musical version of Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs, as suggested by the title. Indeed, it’s quite the game trying to unpack all the references to Burroughs and his novel as well as other pop cultural references in the relentlessly dense, ‘cut and splice’ lyrics. I’ve heard it said that songwriter and guest vocalist Justin Warfield essentially just tried to cram in as many references as possible – along with other lyrical oddities, “never been a fake and I’m never phony / I’ve got more flavor than the packet in macaroni”. In fairness, it makes about as much sense as the novel by Burroughs and its notorious ‘cut-up’ style. The lyrics get a little spicy – watch out for the recurring references to mugwump bodily fluids, particularly in the chorus accompanied by the titular bug power dust. Again – not too different from the original novel.
Arguably, Bomb the Bass – musician Tim Simenon’s electronic music ‘trip hop’ alias – is as much funk as mojo, as reflected by my B-side “Beat Dis”. Bug Powder Dust itself samples Alphonso Johnson’s bassline from Brazilian jazz fusion singer Flora Purim’s 1976 album title track “Open Your Eyes You Can Fly”.
I’m going to go more with mojo on this one, namely because of those trippy lyrics and because of the reference(s) to Jim Morrison, literally as Mr. Mojo Risin’ – “Mr. Mojo Risin’ on the case again”. (I’m pretty sure there’s another Morrison or Doors reference in “Waiting for the sun on a Spanish caravan / Solar eclipse and I’m feeling like staring, man”). Despite its relative (and esoteric) obscurity, those dense trippy lyrics and the reference to Mr Mojo Risin’ sees it as an enduring entry in the soundtrack in the film in my mind, hence its top ten placement (and top tier ranking).
“I think it’s time for you boys to share my last taste of the true black meat; the flesh of the giant, aquatic, Brazilian centipede”
RATING:
B-TIER (HIGH TIER)