Live Review: Jono Ma thinks Confidence Man's 'Bubblegum' needs more cowbell in new remix

CONFIDENCE MAN’s hit single ‘Bubblegum’ is back in yet another form with its second remix by a highly acclaimed musician. It turns out confidence is really all you need to make your way to the top. First Andrew Weatherall gave his acid synth seal of approval and now Jono Ma (of famed Jagwar Ma) has given well, his cowbell of approval with the ‘Jono Ma More Cowbell Remix’.

First of all, more cowbell? Was there any cowbell to begin with? Are you pawing through the archives of your mind, putting aside all the times you cut shapes to Confidence Man and trying to conjure up the memory of a cowbell clinking during the ever-bright banger that is ‘Bubblegum’? Don’t be shaken, there was never any cowbell. If you are unfamiliar with the phrase ‘Needs more Cowbell’, please refer to the below video of one Christopher Walken as a producer teaching the secrets to turning any song into a banger, and well – it always needs more cowbell. The title itself is a fun-loving nod to a cult Saturday Night Live sketch about producing music featuring an intense cast of celebrities. The name is a funny and interesting comment on the remix. On his cowbell-based decision, Jono Ma said, assumedly tongue pressed jovially in cheek, “Annoyingly, I was late submitting the remix, it took me weeks to realise the track still needed more cowbell!! I’m an eeeediot!”

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Pass the point of the humorous title and its present and pertinent cowbells, Jono Ma’s remix is a complex appreciation of the original song. While many may be swept up in the grandeur of two hotties synchronised-dancing on stage, there is a basis of beats that do actively adhere and push by your average pop music. When the beats of ‘Bubblegum’ are taken into the hands of renowned beatsmiths, the basslines, bongos and synth work can be flipped into complex, club-ready tunes.

Jono Ma interestingly stripped away the majority of Janet Planet’s trademark spoken-vocals of her unambiguous love of bubblegum, leaving only a few lines. Mainly focusing on the gathering bass and shooting synths that make up the core of the original, Jono Ma wanted to really turn the song into a rich remix to stand the test of time. The remix is astoundingly good yet, after the previous Andrew Weatherall treatment, it isn’t surprising. Confidence Man seem to have gotten some big names as fans, deciding to let their official remixes go down a more serious route, destined for the cool clubs of big cities rather than be remixed into banger after banger that could be heard on Nova after 9.

It should be obvious to anyone paying attention to Confidence Man – they are shooting stars, they light up the night sky; elicit wonder and wishes from all who see them and they have a clear trajectory that’s out of this world. It’s insane and wonderful to see an Australian group, not inherently linked to a straight up Australian stereotype take on the world and well, they are going to keep doing it as they do Europe later this year. Keep an eye on them, as truly - they are one aesthetic based music video away from the top.

Catch Confidence Man on tour at the below dates:

17/05 London, PIAS Nites @ Corsica Studios

18/05 Brighton, Komedia Aussie BBQ, The Great Escape (12.10pm)

18/05 Brighton, Track & Field at Castle St. Gym, The Great Escape (7.15pm)

18/05 Brighton, Sticky Mike’s The Great Escape (11.30pm)

21/05 London, Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen Aussie BBQ

24/05 London, The Social

25/05 London, Sebright Arms

26/05 Manchester, Dot to Dot Festival

27/05 Bristol, Dot to Dot Festival

28/05 Nottingham, Dot to Dot Festival

WORDS BY LLOYD CRACKETT