GUM - 'Would It Pain You To See Me?'
Australian psychedelic rock pioneer GUM is a master of melding hypnotic textures on his latest single ‘Would It Pain You To See?’.
As co-lead of Pond and a touring member of Tame Impala, Jay Watson (GUM) has made boundlessly imaginative contributions to Australia’s psych-rock scene. The multi-instrumentalist has a knack for combining divergent sounds into kaleidoscopic arrangements, and his newest release is a testament to his ability. ‘Would It Pain You To See?’ is the second single from his forthcoming sixth album ‘Saturnia’, and it traverses the unknown in what feels like a warped space odyssey.
‘Would It Pain You To See?’ is littered with uncertainty. Speaking about the track, GUM has stated: “I wrote this in lockdown with my newborn son, on my Wurli. My songs are never really literal or with obvious meaning, but if I had to say what this one is about it would be the conflict of apathy and caring a lot about something, that’s inside all of us. It seems to be particularly confusing and crude in today’s day and age.”
The track is introduced by pattering electronic drums and a serpentine groove of violin and electric guitar melodies. Fitting for the time that the song was written, reality feels too heavy as GUM’s vocals float in. “We live in un-imaginary times,” he sings sombrely, settling in a sense of ambiguity. “You’ll never know if you were done, ‘til you’re gone.” As GUM’s contemplation progresses, the instrumental deepens into a more elaborate soundscape with buzzing synth trills and heavier riffs. GUM’s ultimate question is the subject of the chorus. “Would it pain you to suffer now? Would it pain you to see? What’s there left to discover now in me?”
In the accompanying music video, GUM highlights the duality of isolation and exposure through the passage of time. Sitting in a windowed box with only his instruments and goldfish, he is surrounded by a lone violinist, a mural, and a series of clownlike busts. He appears largely unbothered, only stepping outside of his box to bow before the artwork in front of him. Touching on the push and pull of apathy versus caring, the track courses the emotional weight of acknowledging internal conflict, the challenge of self-discovery and finding the balance within. Never following one specific course, it is enigmatic in lyricism and instrumentation, a captivating precursor to the upcoming album.
‘Saturnia’ is set to be released on 15 September via Spinning Top Records, and fans can anticipate a rich product of the artist’s vision.
Words by Kayla Sandiford
