Zanilonia – the eclectic musical vehicle for multi-instrumentalist David Zee – returns with another interesting, ominous-sounding track inspired by the noirish work of Alfred Hitchcock – “MacGuffins of the Mind.”
Wait, what’s a “MacGuffin?
Coined by Alfred Hitchcock, and leaning on Wikipedia: “In fiction, a MacGuffin is an object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in itself.” So, the MacGuffin, although a source of conflict, is usually deeply irrelevant or a complete fabrication. And in Zanilonia’s “MacGuffins of the Mind,” David Zee sees veritable MacGuffins utilized in contemporary society – excitable but unimportant ideas, opinions, and conflicts created by, and filtered through, an internet-augmented hyper-scrutiny to instill outrage, and ultimately, division.
You: “That’s all well and good, but who plays what, and what does the music sound like?”
Me: “GREAT questions. Answers in three…two…one…”
David Zee plays everything you hear. And that includes the sound of thrown shoes bouncing off the titanium torso of his personal kitchen robot (who’s quite efficient at washing dishes, but incapable of making anything other than burned toast).
What does “MacGuffins of the Mind” sound like?
It begins with a synthesized bass riff reminiscent of classic spy genre television (a genre wholly dependent on the MacGuffin). It also invokes the soundtrack of a certain spy-inspired arcade game (I’m looking at you, Spy Hunter!).
When the riff ends, the verses shed most instrumentation to deliver the lyrics. With slowly returning bass, harpsichord, acoustic guitar, and an almost salsa-like beat, the chorus is quietly delivered. And then, we return to that ominous synth-bass riff with its squawking, bending, and threatening synth-lead accompaniment.
After passing the second verse, we’re granted a bridge with groovier, shuffling drum beat, warm synth washes, and plucky synth-string soloing. And it culminates with a quiet conclusion; it’s simply acoustic guitar, and David Zee’s final lyrics.
But is it good?
If you enjoy the soundtracks of classic spy thrillers, appreciate clever musical shakeups, or simply enjoy the ominous music one might hear while nefarious agents materialize baseless crises to destabilize peaceful social cohesion, you’ll love Zanilonia’s latest track, “MacGuffins of the Mind.”
—
BELOW: Listen to Zanilonia and check them out on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. Please support Zanilonia by visiting their website, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music on Spotify, Soundcloud, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, Pandora, and Deezer. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music.
(Want to have your music reviewed on The Ark of Music? Click HERE.)
Follow, stream, download & connect with ZANILONIA online:
