We sent So So Modern down to the Noel Fielding exhibition at the Maison Bertaux cake shop to see if The Mighty Boosh Star is more than just a pretty face.

On 15 November 2007 the first episode of the third series of surrealist comedy series The Mighty Boosh aired for the first time on BBC3. The resulting surge in BBC3’s viewing figures was as immense as it was ill-predicted. Around 6.7 million couch potatoes tuned in to catch the show, eschewing the myth that it is only studenty-art-types that make up the show’s viewing demographic.

Completely unexpectedly Noel Fielding and his weird mate with the little eyes had single handedly, using only a few old packets of Polos and some sticky backed plastic, claimed the highest viewing figures for any programme in BBC3’s long and illustrious history of broadcasting. The nation applauds, the series continues. The Crack-fox has us all in stitches.

Fair enough, the guy has his credentials. I won’t begrudge him that. But can we really take Noel Fielding AKA the lank-haired Camdenite in studded, white cowboy boots and PVC jumpsuit seriously as an… art bloke? I mean a proper art bloke, like the ones you see in Hoxton and Shoreditch?

So So Modern - so so confused

To answer this oh-so-contentious question we have enlisted the help of four NZ-based, art-punk, electro multi-instrumentalists that are currently blowing the minds of everybody within earshot with their completely unpredictable, synth-based, totally awesome sound from the future. NME foolishly attempted to label it as ‘the Futureheads playing Chic songs at double speed with utterly nutzoid bits whilst performing them like b-boy cybermen.’ Magazines like B cited ‘the imagination of Foals, the attitude of Devo, the complexity of Liars, the dancing IQ of Daft Punk and the insane energy of Polisics.’ Both managed to confuse and confound the hell out of us.

Funny looking red man with light underneath... by Noel Fielding

When I press Mark of the Modern for his explanation of it all, even he can’t give me a straight answer, and he’s in the band! We meet up at Fielding's chosen gallery space, Maison Bertaux (a tiny cake shop in the heart of Soho) to answer the burning question; is Noel Fielding really just a twat from Camden? And should he fuck off back there? We’re just asking.

When I pose the question to So So Modern’s Mark he tells me he only recently found out about the Boosh. “Coming from NZ you get drawn to the different, the original. The country is one of the most isolated in the civilized world.”

With fewer big corporations secretly propping up the local art-scene like in London, people are forced to create art for arts sake. “We make use of this sense of freedom when it comes to writing our music. We draw a lot of influences from a lot of different genres. A lot of our attitude toward performing has to do with our history in the punk and hardcore communities. That’s the type of energy we put into our music, plus there’s the natural energy generated by the band when we get together.”

But Mark is impressed by Fielding’s work. “I can see the connections between what he does with the show and what he’s got up here. You can see a lot of the same surrealist and pop influences in the paintings. Some of this is really cool but I think I prefer his comedy to his artwork if I’m brutally honest about it.”

But is he a twat though? Retaining the resolute professionalism of a true art-critic, Mark continues with intelligent discourse despite my vulgar subjectivism. “I think the idea of staging an exhibition in a cake shop is pretty genius.”

“Or maybe stupid?” I offer.
“No there are many correlations between the worlds of high-art and dessert. Neither is absolutely necessary for survival and both if not regulated can easily slip into the realms of self-indulgence and completely lose relevance. I like art, and I like dessert. Both can bring pleasure to society in their unique ways but I don’t want to over-indulge in either.”

So So Modern are going to be playing London again on 16 Jan at the Buffalo bar. Check them out www.sosomodern.com

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