Exclusive: Art Vs Science – ‘Magic Fountain’

This is the song that is going to polarise people. Art Vs Science have taken a gamble with an incredibly popular live favourite and banked on the fact that their fans are going to like it when they’re not going eight kinds of ballistic at a music festival. Having witnessed ‘Magic Fountain’ live a number of times, I can tell you that it has the potential to reach the epic, ‘Are You The One?’ Presets heights. There’s lots of pomp and circumstance, there’s lots of references to the forces of light and darkness, and if you’re the kind of guy who digs Lord Of the Rings, this is going to be your song of the year. So far I’ve heard a lot of fans telling me that they love it, and many others saying that it’s borderline ridiculous. Certainly there’s a small army of theatricality gremlins running through this track. It’s not the kind of joint, for beer-drinking, pill-popping, Good Vibrations-attending rugby players who can only digest three lines of lyrics at any given time. As singer Dan Mac joked to hip hop master Urthboy at the APRA Awards a few nights ago, “Yep, it’s a bit out there, we’re not sure if people are going to like it. But if they don’t, we can just always put out another pop one instead.”

When I was on the Bacardi Train, a few of my journo friends were convinced that ‘Magic Fountain’ was actually Dizzee Rascal’s ‘Bonkers’. Upon closer listen, it’s clear to see why the comparisons were made. That slamming keyboard riff is so visceral and addictive that it could easily have been penned by Rascal’s collaborator Mr Van Helden. But at the same time, it’s a bit too dirty, a bit too raucous and a bit too plain weird to really be that kind of crossover dance hit. Make no mistake, Art vs Science have done this one for the kids. It’s going to be insanely popular and it’s also going to grate on everybody over the age of 25, I have no doubt. But having jammed with boys and having seen them live more times than I can count, I can tell you that this earworm is but a tenth of their actual combined potential. anyone who’s seen one of Dan Mac’s legendary guitar solos during ‘Parlez-Vous Francais?’ will know exactly what I’m talking about. Chops, people. Serious chops.

Of course, there could be a huge backlash here, too. It’s winter in Australia, and all the ravers have regressed indoors and back into their shells of cynicism, which means throwaway, carefree romps like this could cop a beating. I’m totally vibing on this right now, and come September, I’m sure most people I know will be too. It makes me want to dance like a schizoid. Brother D, who is an expert at the aforementioned action, particularly when it means being able to embarrass me in front of large groups of people, is likely practicing already. Art Vs Science make being sci-fi-influenced, prog-music geeks an entirely legitimate proposition, and they do it all with tongue planted firmly in cheek. As someone who reads classic fiction, I never thought I’d be into something that sounds like the aural accompaniment to Harry Potter and the Land Of Mephedrone. But that’s how these boys roll. Ear bombs. Mind Drugs. Head Candy.

I give it 2 days until the remixes start.

Art Vs Science – ‘Magic Fountain’

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