Do you have an addictive personality? Do you have an interest or a hobby that you’re too deep into?
In this morality tale, our anti-hero falls victim to one of the most potent, powerful influences out there: cheese. Rich, gooey, stinky, aged cheese. There’s a cave full of the stuff, and he can’t get enough. It’s both a heaven and hell of his own making.
“The Taste of the Smell of a Horse” is inspired by Ben’s (and his wife, Lauren’s) love of fancy cheese. And in classic Stains fashion, the song takes things to their illogical conclusion. Andrew created the lush yet haunting orchestral arrangement that transports you to the creepy, dark cheese cave of your deepest fears. We love a good timpani roll.
We ended up releasing this song around Halloween, so we really wanted to lean into the spooky factor. Andrew’s new Blender abilities allowed us to render a more haunting cover image than Ben could ever Photoshop together. You can almost smell the horse just looking at it!
And since it was Halloween, we paired it with a fun little instrumental called “Spooky Street,” full of creepy sound effects to put you in the Halloween spirit. There’s even a little surprise, sharp as a razor blade hidden in a candy bar!
Lyrics:
I, in a moment of weakness and raving with hunger
Went into the shop of the questionable monger
Led down to the cave where he ripens the cheeses
The Comtés and Gruyères and the Goudas and Bries, then
He took one and sliced off a hunk, said admire the funk
Of the barnyard, of hay, wool, and grass
The taste of the smell of a horse is acquired, of course
But it reeks of refinement and class
I had some doubts about what the old monger was saying
Equestrian aroma and flavor dismaying
Is there no other cheese that I might find alluring
Something creamy and sweet, not beastly and manuring
He told me it’s my time to shine, to not mind the rind
That was covered in fungus and mold
The taste of the smell of a horse is a powerful force
For the wealthy and sexy and bold
I held the slice, so milky white
I took a bite, and saw the light
I shed a single tear as I savored the flavor
And turned to the man I would now call my savior
He smiled and left me alone in the darkness
I feasted and gorged as the weeks and the months passed
And so I am bound to the cave, my dairy-filled grave
The products of goat, sheep, and cow
The taste of the smell of a horse, forever endorsed
For it is my everything now
The taste of the smell of a horse, I’ll die at the source
For it is my everything now
The taste of the smell of a horse is acquired, of course
But it is my everything now
