Hello? Hello
Hello, hello, hello, hello, what do you know?
Islands, islands
One by one in an archipelago
If you’re asking me what’s my home team
I tell you it’s the same as yours
And I tell you twice this is paradise
But I don’t wanna leave the shore
I’m a people person first
And I know people are the worst
A people person so
Some things I don’t wanna know
Whatever you do, do more
Do more, do more, do more than you did before
Wherever you are, beware
Beware, beware, beware, beware, be where you are
You were on your way to work today
But there’s nothing they can pay you for
They will tell you twice this is paradise
But we’re gonna have to leave the shore
I’m a people person though
And I’m not so prepared to go
A people person first
Some people are the worst
I’m a people person first
And I know people are the worst
A people person so
Some things I don’t wanna know
Slow down, slow disco that’s what you wanted
Come down, life is short, as we know it
And while we’re waiting for the cosmic call
We’re still debating how we learned to crawl
We sing as if we know the one and only song
Here comes the man-made man
To wave a man-made hand
Here comes that cardboard hero
And there’s no empty space
Where you won’t find his face
Here comes the cardboard hero
And while we’re waiting for a change of scene
We put some money in the change machine
Here comes somebody who will always stay the same
Here comes the cardboard man
To wave a cardboard hand
Here comes that man-made hero
And there’s no empty space
Where you won’t find his face
Here comes that cardboard hero
Who needs a man-made hero?
Who needs a man-made man?
Don’t want no cardboard heroes
Don’t want no cardboard man
Slow down, slow disco that’s what you wanted
Slow down, roads on fire, no escape
And zooming out we see the world is too
But hey no worries – we know what to do
Here comes somebody who could really catch a flame
Here comes the cardboard man
To wave a cardboard hand
Here come the man-made hero
Check out that suit he wears
The fabric never tears
Here comes that cardboard hero
Who needs a man-made hero?
Who needs a man-made man?
Don’t want no cardboard heroes
Don’t want no cardboard man
about
Bart & The Bedazzled return with a brand new AA-side 45 with the highlife-vibed-plaintive pop of ‘People Person’ and the layered ‘Cardboard Man’, featuring the gorgeous guest vocals of Earth Girl Helen Brown.
LA’s northeast side is home to a dizzying number of independent artists and bands. One of the scene’s most distinctive sounds emanates from Bart & The Bedazzled, a collaborative group led by talented songwriter Bart Davenport. After debuting in 2018 with the Blue Motel album Bart reconnects with the stellar musicians that make up the Bedazzled for two exclusive new songs of, what he terms, “world dance pop meets 80s indie”. Consisting of Los Angeles’ highly respected players, the collective are undoubtedly a “musicians’ band” playing for joy, performing for and with other artists that inhabit underground haunts such as Zebulon or Permanent Records Roadhouse. This is their sound!
With these new tracks The Bedazzled usher in a new phase, adding a small dose of drum machinery to the mix, resulting in an uplifting, danceable endeavour. On top of this, hand played congas and shakers blend with ultra clean guitars to form a rich context for Bart Davenport’s patented, smooth vocal. Newcomer band member and producer Nic Hessler (Catwalk, Captured Tracks) fits these pieces together in seamless mixes that showcase the group’s most collaborative effort to date.
People Person celebrates the collective human experience, while subtly acknowledging that people often are “the worst”. It’s an upbeat ode to a beautiful world that sadly may never be saved. Meanwhile, the semi-fictional Cardboard Man critiques a society desperate for truth and a way out of dark times only to find omnipresent, puppet-like heroes offering nothing real. Featuring guest singer Heidi Alexander aka Earth Girl Helen Brown her distinctive tone and phrasing add a much needed weirdo energy to a decidedly consonant pop track.
It comes as no surprise the group has gravitated towards world-dance-ish sounds. Andrés Renteria is an accomplished crate-digger and DJ, as is bassist Jessica Espeleta. She kicks off People Person with a dubby bass line, setting the stage for Wayne Faler’s African highlife inspired guitars. It’s still Bart & The Bedazzled, but this time they come with a sound somewhat reminiscent of ’80s bands that also incorporated international flavors, such as the post Young Marble Giants project Weekend or French electro-obscuros Antena. Like those bands, Bart & The Bedazzled have a wide range of influences and the artistic intention to make something contemporary with them.
Above all, they’re a group of friends who enjoy the creative process together. For them, the journey is as important as the finished work.
credits
released November 16, 2022
Written and composed by: Bart Davenport, Jessica Espeleta, Andres Renteria, Wayne Keith Faler, Nic Hessler
Produced by: Nic Hessler
Mixed by: Nic Hessler, Additional mixing & engineering by Scott Cornish at Honeymoon Suite Studios, Los Angeles
Mastered by: Damian Schwartz at Lire Bird Studios
Cover art by: Pepe Medina
Performed by:
Bart Davenport - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Heidi Alexander (Earth Girl Helen Brown) - Vocals
Andres Renteria - Beat Programming, Percussion
Jessica Espeleta - Bass Guitar
Wayne Faler - Lead Guitar
Nic Hessler - Synthesizers
Montreal group TOPS fuse the sly melodic approach of ’80s group like The Bangles with the more understated approach of ’90s indie. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 2, 2020