As they prepare for the release of their highly-anticipated sophomore LP Cool World, Oklahoma City noise rock quartet CHAT PILE have revealed the album’s third single Funny Man.
The song is about “…being a servant, indentured or otherwise. I hate having to explain the content of these songs, because I want it to mean whatever it needs to mean to those listening, but essentially it concerns illusion vs reality in regards to America and war. The title comes from an obscure British movie but otherwise there’s no relation” says CHAT PILE frontman Raygun Busch.
Bassist Stin adds, “My favorite thing about Funny Man is that we’ve finally accomplished creating our version of the ultimate Beavis and Butthead couch music. This is like our Thunderkiss ’65 or Existence is Punishment.”
The new single arrives with a music video by multi-disciplinary artist Matt Rosenbaum.
Stin comments, “The patient, static nature of the video fighting against the frenetic energy of the song makes for a cool and queasy juxtaposition that I personally love. Matt was able to tap into a very specific uncomfortable feeling that conjures those depressive semi-conscious dream states that we’ve all experienced but can’t quite articulate.”
Besides being the name of a largely forgotten (and panned) 90s film, Cool World makes for an apt title of CHAT PILE’s sophomore full-length record.
In the context of a CHAT PILE record, the words are steeped in a grim double entendre that not only evokes imagery of a dying planet but a progression from the band’s previous work, moving the scope of its depiction of modern malaise from just “God’s Country” to the entirety of humankind.
“Cool World covers similar themes to our last album, except now exploded from a micro to macro scale, with thoughts specifically about disasters abroad, at home, and how they affect one another,” says Busch. “If I had to describe the album in one sentence,” he continues, “It’s hard not to borrow from Voltaire, so I won’t resist – Cool World is about the price at which we eat sugar in America.”
Cool World is out October 11th via The Flenser.
CHAT PILE were recently announced to perform at the 2025 edition of Roadburn in Tilburg, The Netherlands. More live performances will be announced in due course.
