Not only is Mcbaise’s new music video for “Alice,” his first animated music video since 2021’s “Water Slide,” but it’s also the first time the illustrator/musician (aka mcbess) has ever coordinated such a release with his full arsenal of art.
On May 23, the music video for “Alice,” will be released on his London-based indie record label, Dirty Melody Records, which is also when the public will get its first listen of the song that will be on his fourth LP due to be released later this year. You can pre-save the track into various streaming services here.
On May 9, clothing label, The Dudes, will drop its Summer ’25 lineup exclusively featuring characters from the new animated video.
The Dudes Summer ‘25 clothing release will feature entirely characters and artwork from Mcbaise’s new music video which will be released May 23. Head to the The Dudes website on May 9, however, for the full lineup of threads. IMAGE COURTESY OF THE DUDES
And on May 22, pre-orders will open for his latest collectible toy, which is a collaboration between mcbess and Vincent Techer, a London-based 3D artist.
“After recording the track, I started work on the clothing collection with The Dudes, the vinyl toy and the animated video,” mcbess said in a press release. “It’s the first time we’ve coordinated all these elements, which makes it extra special for fans who have been patiently waiting for new material.”
The toy is based on the main character of “Alice,” a female hiker that “explores a beautiful mountain vista, only to find that her ill-fated journey takes her a lot further than she ever intended,” according to the press package.
This is just one of several articles of clothing that mcbess designed. IMAGE COURTESY OF THE DUDES
Yes, it does appear to be at least a psychedelic nod to the 163-year-old tale “Alice in Wonderland.”
I’ve had a chance to listen to the new song, and I’ll say it didn’t disappoint me. I am one of those fans who’ve been waiting patiently for new material from mcbaise.
One thing I’ve learned about him is he puts more emphasis on quality than quantity.
London-based Matthieu Bessudo, originally from Cannes, France, first was known as the illustrator mcbess. Later, he launched a psychedelic soft rock project called Mcbaise. IMAGE BY DEREK BREMNER; COURTESY OF DIRTY MELODY RECORDS
The new track leans into one of his strengths as a writer of deliciously buttery and equally interesting bass lines.
I’m going to publish a review of the song May 23, but I’ll add two more things about the song now: it leans heavily into an 80s yacht rock vibe, and it might be one of the best pieces of work lyrically he’s ever written.
Check out my 2023 interview with him here. He’s been involved in other music projects before, notably the indie stoner metal band The Dead Pirates, but in 2014 released Mcbaise’s first LP, Sea Bass, which I reviewed here.
“Alice,” is actually the second music video and release from the forthcoming LP. On Valentine’s Day, he and labelmate and friend 1000GUAPO collaborated on the bromance song, “TTM.”