24 Jun 2020 // A review by Callum Wagstaff
'All Zest, No Stress' is the catchphrase for Whanganui-based one-man cartoon band Something Zesty. If it were on a cereal box it would be the bit written in a big spiked speech balloon.

Isaac Chamberlain (of DRXNES and Machete Clan fame) illustrates and composes to the adventures of Chambzy and pineal-eyed cat-thing friend Zestro. It's a musical project that is part and parcel with its visual dimension, so much so that it's hard to say which medium is accompanying the other.

"Mad About It came out of a frustration for not being able to finish all my other tracks aha!"
This is the first single release from Something Zesty, and based on the inspiration for Mad About It, there must be a few more songs on the way in future, hyped to involve more Chambzy and Zestro features.

The video for Mad About It involves the friends going for a blow off drive up a desert, or around the world or through reality or something. On the way he does burnouts, pisses off the sun, pisses off a planet and consternates a cactus and a banana. All of this takes place to a soundtrack built on bluesy tones backed by a slacker punk exoskeleton. It's got the road trip vibes of Heading on the Highway with the transcendental unreality of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

The song itself is a bundle of catchy phrases punctuated by the kind of bluesy surf rock licks that made Rock Lobster and the Batman theme the timeless powerhouses of music they are now. Mad About It will have you muttering "no more no more" to yourself in the shower and doing your own burnout sound effects.

This song has all the makings of a late night after-after-party "showing stuff to your friends on YouTube" staple. It's a rocking track with a high re-watch value video about a couple of lovable characters.
I hope to hear more from Something Zesty so I get to revel in more of Chambzy and Zestro's adventures.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ ( 4 / 5 )

Something Zesty is the imaginative and energetic cartoon-musical adventure created by Isaac Chamberlain in his bedroom studio in Whanganui. Making full use of Isaac's knack for illustration and galaxy bending musical creation, Something Zesty follows the adventures of 'chambzy' and his partner-in-funk 'Zestro' as they explore the galaxy of music searching for planet Zest. From the valleys of Mars sculpted by punk rock to the laser beamed anthems of the beep pop techno dimension, Something Zesty is Isaac's mission to add free flowing funk to a chaotic world. All zest no stress!

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Something Zesty

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