unfinished [and unpublished] reactions to amama by crumb, the band

from outside a window sill

i had already listened to this track before this listening session. there is very ethereal synths, almost remincent of unseelie, that starts off the song. this album, just off the singles, is very buggy, probably what is mentioned here. what does it mean to be a bug. particularly outside the window sill, in a reality created by these humans (crumb, the band) that center humans. there is no wonder that there is a focus on human noises, there are instances of tape like recordings of human chatter, under human creation. had this song had been created instead by a cat, almost certainly the cat's purrs and meows would be centered. in my cats case, likely the movement of the rotating trey contraption that contains her food. perhaps, the song would also take a more sinister turn. crumb, the band, seems to have a fairly neutral and accepting view of insect life, however, cats on occasion would consume them, or play with their life for stimulation (also children, like myself (as a child)). looking outside living entities, one could look at non living entities such as monsanto. almost certainly, if a bug enters the window sill of monsanto's home, monsanto would obiliterate the poor creature. in fact, it is unlikely that the bug could even come close to the window sill. indeed, it is the benevolence of the fine people of crumb, the band, that allows for this situation to arise. it might be the case that this song touches on the power dynamics between the human and non-human. the purposeful exclusion of non-human elements from spaces geared towards humans serves to show human domination over the rest of nature

side by side

this song's instrumental feels retrospective. there is parts of cracks, and it builds up with faster drums and soaring woodwind-esque synths (i think). it very much ties in with the lyrics which discusses how a relationship shatters herself, and the other person. i don't know, i am aroace for a reason. well, at least we arriving to bug time

the bug

i have listened to this song before. it is indeed a masterful work in both instrumentation but especially in the music video, on par with perhaps their very own "locket" and 100 geckos "hand crushed by a mallet." the bug, however dispointingly, refers to a feeling of unease, a feeling that persisted through childhood and is always present. however profound this topic is, it misses a lot to do with bugs, like how they are very small, has many different legs, etc. indeed, the use of "the bug" and being representative of this unease reflects a priveliged position, as humans. the human, to a bug, is a creature that possesses an immense capability to commit harm, and even death, on a widespread scale for bug populations. while crumb, the band, may not choose to inflect these horrors on bug populations, many humans do. and it is a manner of respect for bugs all over to treat their existence as not a tool to present negative emotions, but beings worthy of love (and life!!!) in their own respect

amama

i have yet again listened to this track. amama's singing at the start reminds me about my mom's singing. as a fellow person of indian descent, it is familiar but also a source of anxiety due to my lack of knowledge with my own cultural heritage.

i would say that this songs instrumentation spectacular, very much meshes well with amama's initial singing and how it is sampled throughout the song. it feels almost ethereal at parts. the grainy, elecronic-y images displayed in the video adds to this effect. thematically in terms of lyrics, this song feels incoherent. the lyrics reflect a sexual and romantic relationship yet the song's namesakes and its start, it is about lila's amama. could it be linking relationships differing sides through examination both relationships? perhaps, and this might be the reason why this song shares the name as the album. but i just don't feel like it has been done well. well, i guess discussion of this song was serious. not particularly thematically consistent lyrics, but actually fantastic instrumentation

genie

it starts almost like a pop song, like a pharell track. but then switly returns to more typical crumb instrumentation. in then a cool guitar part, which becomes muffled (in a cool way) in terms of the lyrics, she has the agency, but wants to lose it to become a genie and give, but wants to retain some control on what she creates, but then feels like conflicted on what she has and what she doesn't, but then in the outro consists of another person's description of her behavior, she has no control in how she is percieved. the contrasts in attitudes towards her own agency, and her eventual statements showing perception outside her own capabilities, serve to show feelings of hopelessness to control her place in society

crushxd

i have also listened to this song. it refers a turtle "crushed" accidentally by the band in their car.