Revisiting old gems from the GAJOOB archive is always an adventure, and few experiences have been as thoroughly maniacal as listening to The Moth’s “Pummel Box”. Originally released on cassette in 1995, this collection of home recordings is the deliciously insipid offspring of what can only be described as unstable creativity at its lo-finest.
“Pummel Box” confronts listeners with a spastic twitch that feels like an attempt to escape from some sort of metaphorical box. It’s indulgent, yes, but in the most gloriously cathartic way. The sounds are raw and unrefined, capturing the essence of a tortured mind at play behind closed doors and padded cells. For those who revel in the unconventional and the chaotic, this album is a real treat.
The album is an eclectic mix of found sounds, readings, monotone vocals, phonetic play, noisy percussion, cheesy synths, and an array of other noises. It’s not created for mass appeal; rather, it is tailored for those who appreciate the beauty in madness and the artistry in chaos. Beneath the din, there are moments of piercing clarity—cathartic outbursts that punctuate the otherwise relentless sprawl of sound.
“Pummel Box” is certainly not for everyone. It’s the kind of album that might drive a person seeking melodic harmony to the brink of sanity. However, for those who find solace in the sporadic bursts of pure, unfiltered expression, it’s an auditory journey worth taking.
As I digitized GAJOOB’s archives in 2024, I felt compelled to unravel the mystery behind this cassette. The name “Andrew Scott” surfaced from the envelope, hailing from Middlesex, UK. The handwritten j-card attributed the creation mostly to Andy Duncan.
Online searches revealed an Andy Duncan involved in “clowning” activities, interviewed on The Sidecast podcast in recent years while perched in a tree—a fittingly surreal twist. Further investigation led to Andy Duncan, the original guitarist for OK Go. Somewhere amidst the confusion, a reference to Andrew Scott seemed to connect the dots.
Is it possible our Andy Duncan, the creator of this wonderfully bizarre tape, has morphed into various creative identities over the years? If you’re out there, Andrew Scott, Andy Duncan, or any other alias you may go by, let’s catch up. Your work remains a fascinating piece of outsider art, a time capsule of unfettered creativity.
For those willing to embrace the chaos, “Pummel Box” stands as a testament to the boundless nature of DIY recording. It’s a journey through the mind of an artist unafraid to explore the fringes of sound and expression. And for that, it deserves to be remembered.
Media: cassette.
CONTACT: Andrew D. Scott, Middlesex, UK
