Welcome friends! It’s time once again for the Cool & Strange Music Countdown!

Today, first up is a song that is definitely on the “Cool” category. It is Hexstatic. Hexstatic is an English electronic music duo that formed in 1997, that consists of Stuart Warren Hill and Robin Brunson. Hexstatic specializes in creating “quirky audio visual electro.” This is MOST definitely quirky. I think this is brilliant art! We will have more from these two in coming episodes!

#3) Hexstatic – Auto  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPrT0Fzzwsg

Next up is a “Cool and Strange Music” classic. It’s by a guy named Stan Freberg. Stan Freberg passed away earlier this year on April 7, 2015. Stan was an American author, recording artist, animation voice actor, comedian, radio personality, puppeteer and advertising creative director, whose career began in 1944. He remained active in the industry into his late 80s, more than 70 years after entering it.

Today’s pick is a Freberg classic. He had a knack for doing quirky and insanely funny TV commercials as well as music. In today’s pick up track, Stan Freberg does both voices of a couple in love who go through difficult times and tragedy as well as making up again…. All with ONLY Stan doing all the dialogue for both our lovers, John and Marsha, AND with only saying names only, he goes through and entire conversation of love, betrayal and reconciliation! The engineers who recorded this when Stan Freberg was in the studio must have either laughed hysterically or thought they were witnessing an insane man. It’s hilarious. Check it out. Listen carefully!

#2) Stan Freberg – John and Marsha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkfwmB8jeSU

At #1 today is yodeler, Mary Schneider. Mary Schneider is an Australian singer, songwriter and performer, who is a master at the classic Swiss Alpine style, she is best known for yodelling the works of various standards by many a classic composer. Listen to this. There are parts of her yodel where I wonder how it is humanly possible to do this and still breathe? (Especially check at 1:49 and 2:15 and 3:12!)

‪#1) Mary Schneider – Yodelling Overtures https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awp3-7EVM0Q

Incredible!!!!! I’m gasping for air just listening to it.

Today we have a freebie for Cool and Strange Music! It’s two guys known as the “Fancs Brothers.” This is an incredible story. These two guys are NOT professional musicians but they work at an internet company! They just decided one day, “Hey! Let’s make some songs!” and so they did. This video production is by us at Robot55 (Ken Nishikawa did the work… I was snoring on the sofa in the studio!) It blows my mind that two guys, who aren’t musicians, can make such a great (and amusing song)…. Just goes to show how far “just having fun” really can take an artist or a band, no?

If you love Shibuya in Tokyo, you will love this!

Spotlight: The Fancs Brothers – Welcome to Shibuya  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjdrHWGUoR8

Past issues of:

Cool and Strange Music Countdown – Dec. 8, 2015 robot55.jp/blog/cool-and-strange-music-countdown-dec-8-2015/ (Messer Fur Frau Muller, Eliert Pilarm, Zlad)

Cool and Strange Music Countdown – Dec. 1, 2015 robot55.jp/blog/cool-strange-music-dec-1-2015/ (Mrs. Miller, Ray Stevens, Barnes & Barnes)