Burn Bundy Burn

Le Cygne Noir

Single Review

Written by Luke Knowles

Take the story of one of Americas most infamous serial killers. Then add two parts 70’s inspired electro rock and you get something all together, eerie. Fittingly, on the 28th October singer/songweriter Le Cygne Noir will release their Halloween EP ‘Death & Consequences’. A collection of tracks inspired by the stories of some of the most twisted minds in criminal history. Burn Bundy Burn is the first taste of this EP and its definitely an acquired taste. Needlessly to say this song in no way glorifies the events of Ted Bundy. In fact the song goes some way to mock the infamous killer.

With the publics obsession being what it is with true crime content (just take one look at anyones podcast or Netflix library) its safe to say that writing music inspired by these peoples lives isn’t anything all together new. However, for me what Le Cygne Noir has done with this track is quite interesting. Rather than taking a brooding or even aggressive route with the music, he has pulled inspiration from the music of the time and created a track that feels like it has been released from a time capsule. With snappy electronic drums and shimmering guitar breaks the track carries a dark glam rock edge to it. This in some ways fits perfectly as though Bundy was an evil human he was also notably known for his good looks and charm. So combining a glam guitar with a darker mix seemingly embodies this contradiction.

It doesn’t stop there though. Rather than diving into the awful acts he committed the song focuses mainly on his escape attempts, of which there were many, and seems to in someway that I can’t quite put my finger on, makes them seem like the actions of an idiot. I think this is mostly in the dead pan and brilliantly produced vocal line that carries the song through. During the verses which are told from Bundy’s perspective the vocal almost takes on a simplistic arrogance that soon dissolves into a ‘I meant to caught again’ kind of attitude. Its hard to put into words, but you can definitely hear the subtle change as the verses draw to a close. Then in the chorus Le Cygne Noir lays into Bundy and calls out his arrogance and labels him as insane, “….Charming man, you think your better than your helpless victims, cause you are clinically insane….”

Overall, as I said when I started this review Burn Bundy Burn is a track whose inspiration is an acquired taste but is definitely a track that hasn’t been put together lightly. This is a track that carries a pitch black humour in stand has been produced so that every inch of it highlights the theme. It truly makes me interested to discover what the remainder of the EP sound like and who else he has chosen to get the Le Cygne Noir treatment.

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