Selector Dub Narcotic – “Hotter Than Hott” Video
To many Americans, Calvin Johnson is one of the greatest wide receivers to ever play football. To a much smaller segment of Americans, a different Calvin Johnson is arguably the most foundational figure in the divisive indie-rock subgenre known as twee. As a member of Beat Happening and the Halo Benders and the head of K Records, Johnson helped shape the childlike, excessively quaint aesthetic that later gave rise to Wes Anderson movies and whatnot. But Johnson has also explored funk, dub, and electronic dance music over the years with his band Dub Narcotic Sound System. And now he’s continuing those pursuits under the name Selector Dub Narcotic.
The project’s debut album This Party Is Just Getting Started is coming later this summer, and today Johnson has shared a video for its lead single. “Hotter Than Hott” applies his monotone baritone to a synth-surging funk track topped off with aggressive rhythm guitar. Given Johnson’s goofy inflection and the way he dances in director Red Williamson’s video, it’s hard to tell if this is supposed to be a joke or not. But it’s here, and you can watch it below.
This Party Is Just Getting Started is out 8/11 on K. Pre-order it here.