Ben Butler and Mousepad - Formed for Fantasy

This is an exciting lad. Ben Butler & Mousepad is the work of Joe Howe, previously of the amazing electro-punk splatter duo Gay Against You. Here he's joined by live drummer and partner in crime Bastian Hagedorn (GTUK) and together they have created a vastly progressive and highly entertaining cosmic electro LP. Inspired by sci-fi fantasy and prog artists such as Magma and Goblin, Mr. Howe and Mr. Hagedorn have taken all the goodness of their previous outfits and reworked them into new unforeseen shapes. Originally from Glasgow but now a sort of universal entity BB & MP have pulled out all the stops to make 'Formed By Fantasy' one of the wonkiest and wild outings I've heard in some time plus I'm treated to guest appearances from Momus, Bobby Birdman and Vice Cooler (of xBxRx, KIT, Hawnay Troof etc), all of whom make valuable contributions to this crazed electronic broth. 'Formed By Fantasy' still has the maddening 'about to fall in on itself' quality that attracted me to Howe's Gay Against You and Germlin projects but the music here is more composed, ambitious and considerably funkier in delivery. I guess it could almost be labeled mature but that's probably taking things a little too far. Safe to say this is a impressive collection from men with more ideas than I've got records... And I've got a lot of records. Currently on tour with Deerhoof in the US... Lucky lads.