Bungler Interview: “I just have fun making records”

Like the great London label Human Worth, Philadelphia’s Strange Mono is all about giving back to the community.

Working alongside their ever-growing roster of local artists, the proceeds from each Strange Mono release goes to the local charity of the said artist’s choosing.

The other salient point of the Strange Mono story is the artists whom they work with are all pretty damn fine. Many of them have featured throughout these pages over the past 12 months, and the latest release continues that trend.

Bungler is the project of Paul Hewes whose latest long-player Light in the Corner is set for release tomorrow. A member of Philly languid folk slackers Snoozer and also of Idiot Forever, under the Bungler guise Hewes delivers a series of fuzz-laden, lo-fi ditties that produce the kind of warmth of log burner fire.

Drawing from a wide array of influences, on Light in the Corner Hewes covers vast territory throughout the history of rock music, with echoes of Suede (Knot), The Beatles (Panic Pending), Radiohead (Calm) and T.Rex (Woods) all heard throughout this 10 song 23-minute escapade.

With the highlight coming via the bombastic power-pop of Rant, it rounds everything out in a very all-bases-covered manner, and that’s why Light in the Corner is a record that provides that vital bridge to a better place.

Ahead of tomorrow’s release of Light in the Corner, exclusive to Sun 13, be the first to listen to the album in full below. We also had the opportunity to ask Hewes some questions about the album and more.

https://soundcloud.com/strangemonorecords/sets/bungler-light-in-the-corner/s-m2DoaVBxlsI?si=37ae54f66cf94517b5541e6448c18044&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Sun 13: Can you tell us about the process behind Light in the Corner?

Paul Hewes: “Most records I make just seem to happen. There’s never really any plan or process so to speak, it just happens to be that at a certain point I notice I have x number of songs written out and recorded that I put them together and say look an album. Light in the Corner, was kind of a title referring to hope, I suppose? As in it might be dark and shitty all around but there’s a light in the corner so head that way. I keep writing and recording because much like a shark if I stop, I will die (A shark that makes music that is, you know, those special species of shark that circle the depths of laguna sound).”

S13: What was the main aspect you wanted to achieve with the album?

PH: “I don’t know. I hope people enjoy it. I just have fun making records, and its better way to relieve stress as opposed to excessive drinking or whatever people do to get through it all.”

S13: There are a lot of influences in the melting pot. I can hear Neil Young, post-hardcore, and even some Britpop. Something tells me your record collection reaches far and wide. Would that be accurate?

PH: “I would say that’s a fairly accurate assumption. I dig Neil, and I do love Britpop, and I do try to listen to all sorts. I tend to get bored easily. Currently I am oscillating between artist such as Glen Gould, Sun Organ, Soul Glo, Orchids, Kranos Quartet, Philip Glass, Primus, Karen Dalton, and a bunch of other nonsense.”

S13: There’s a raft of collaborations here too with Dan Angel (Gunk, Nyxy Nyx, Ugh God) Sam Kassel (Sandcastle) and Kieran Ferris (Joy Again, Snoozer). From the outside looking in, Philadelphia seems like a place where community spirit is vital. Would that be accurate?

PH: “Dan, Kieran, and Sam are true blue friends, and I have known them for many years. I don’t know about other scenes all too well, but Philly has a decent community of supportive people. I’m very blessed to have talented friends who are willing to tolerate contributing to my sonic compositions. Dan and I especially have worked together a lot, and I’m currently working on another full-length Bungler record with him, so that exciting.”

S13: Strange Mono are a wonderful DIY label. How did you come to working with them?

PH: “I first heard of them through their incredible output of wonderful Philly musicians such as Sandcastle, Drums Like Machine Guns, Webb Chapel, Nyxy Nyx, Quagga, just a bunch of unique and weird artist that I love. They also re-released To Binge and Purge in LA by Worshiper, a mammoth record that I encourage anyone to listen to.

“I also really dig that they put an emphasis on charitable outreach, where proceeds from the tapes go back to the community, that for me is an incredible aspect of Strange Mono, I’m happy to be a part of the family.”

S13: The proceeds from the album will be going to Savage Sisters Recovery. Can you tell us about this organisation?

PH: “Savage Sisters is a non-profit which provides trauma informed recovery housing, harm reduction, outreach, and statewide education in the Pennsylvania area. I’ve lost a lot of loved ones in my life to substance abuse, so I’m willing to help any organisation that wants to combat addiction with empathy, by ending the stigma of addiction, and providing necessary care and rehabilitation to those affected. If my silly little tape can provide help or alleviation to someone with a substance abuse problem, I at least did something to help. That’s why you’re here, to help everyone else get through all the awfulness, and hopefully make it better.”

Light in the Corner is out tomorrow via Strange Mono. Purchase from Bandcamp.