The entirety of the underground, from fans of poetic acoustics to wild warehouse shows to to grimey hip-hop, finally released its collectively held breath from the past three years. When Bones, the mysterious founder of TeamSESH, tweeted “ bones – themanintheradiator soon” in 2015, the internet took to a curious frenzy.
Was it an upcoming project? Another branch of a collective? A self-directed horror movie? Speculations of a magnum opus circulated within and outside of fan circles. Everyone anticipated Bones’ creative capacity, but no one expected the degree to which he would deliver on what is his most calculated yet boundary-breaking work of art to date. In the early morning of November 2nd, 2018, TheManInTheRadiator was born to a ravenous public, and we still haven’t stopped talking about it.
Bones’ music isn’t meant to be summarized; an entire dissertation is warranted for the breakdown of each song’s composition and thematics. Brimming with 28 tracks of carefully crafted idiosyncrasy, the album is an epic within itself, each track flowing cohesively in and out of each other. From Frayed to Living Sucks, Bones has gifted us with 15 albums since first announcing TMITR, excluding the discographies he’s put out under other names (surrenderdorothy, OREGONTRAIL, RickyAGoGo, and mode).
It’s even more impressive to think that this project was always cooking in the background, gradually being tweaked until the time felt right to finally release the well-polished piece. Boasting an impeccable lineup of producers, the power of harmonious collaboration is palpable. All members of SESH and TMITR collaborators deserve credit for their support creatively, collaterally, and promotionally as well.
Feedback is wildly positive as most are still buzzing with bewilderment since first listening through the entire album. The introductory song, “TheMomentIMetTrueFear” (prod. Fifty Grand), is the mesmerizing hook to convince naysayers to stay for the next 27 songs. Bells ring angelically through the ethereal landscape, but the mood is foreboding. A voice (presumably Fifty’s) warns, “that’s where you’ll find me” in a warbled distance. Already the feeling of being either underwater, or perhaps in a different world entirely, sets the scene.
The weight of existential pain and suffering of being permeates the album, in various degrees, as it progresses. Whether presented in ballad, like “ThisGameIsRigged” (prod. fleece), or acoustically, like “BetterSafeThanSorry” (prod. greaf), or in mournful rap fashion like “RightClickSaveIt” (prod. Musa), the sentiments are clear: no longer is Bones the internet rapper with shadowy black hair. He is an indescribable legend of his own making, silently surpassing musical normality to humbly present us with rare gems that forever nestle in our nervous systems.
Coming up with one’s own interpretation of “who or what is TheManInTheRadiator” requires mentioning David Lynch’s 1977 body horror film, Eraserhead. The movie is notorious for its wretched surrealism and obscure sound design, which Bones and the rest of TeamSESH are known for themselves.
In it, The Lady in the Radiator is a defining character who, despite her deformities, sings a hauntingly beautiful tune while embracing the tormented and dying protagonist. Elements similar to its industrial setting, vintage film aesthetic, and eerie soundscape are also found in the TMITR teaser from 2016. The wait, we know now, was well worth it.
It’s plausible that Bones used part of the Lady in the Radiator’s character, music, and imagery as inspiration towards the album’s genesis. But do not dwell on one method of interpretation. The craftiness, energy, and intricate focus that are so obvious acoustically would not be possible without Bones’s solemn but powerful touch. Some say art is the same idea recycled over and over, each time producing something a little bit different yet showing hints of the material that it came from. TMITR is an outlier to this theory and music genres in general.
Rest and reaping benefits are what we hope Bones will focus on in the near future, but it’s hard to stop a machine without an off button. We’ll continue to grace our ears with TheManInTheRadiator for a while to come.
Although TMITR is undoubtedly his most anticipated and energetically devoted venture yet, who is to say that more magic isn’t already up Bones and the rest of TeamSESH’s sleeves. Carve out some self-care time to listen through and check out the rest of what SESH has to offer.