Sibille Attar | Heartbreaking Bravery

April 29, 2018

Snail Mail – Heat Wave (Music Video, Live Video)

The last week ended strongly, offering up an absolute treasure trove of full streams for a host of records that may find themselves being discussed again in December. Speedy Ortiz, Double Grave, Rachel Angel, Spielbergs, Holy Now, Anemone, Sibille Attar, Launder, Porlolo, and Grouper were all artists that played a part in that outpouring (as did the just-featured Forth Wanderers). Still, the focus of this post falls to an entry in a different format entirely: Snail Mail‘s elegantly crafted and surprisingly pointed clip for “Heat Wave”.

The solo project of Lindsey Jordan, Snail Mail has been making a series of incredibly smart decisions over the past year, including their partnership with Matador Records. Another one of those decisions was enlisting Brandon Herman‘s talents for the clip, allowing the filmmaker to handle directorial, editorial, and DOP duties with aplomb. The project and the filmmaker have delivered a carefully constructed metaphor for the importance of fighting for yourself, even in the face of unfavorable odds and seemingly insurmountable pressure.

“Heat Wave” finds clever ways to make its timely heft an incredible amount of fun (without sacrificing an ounce of integrity). Centered on Jordan, wrapped up in a hockey-centric escapist fantasy, “Heat Wave” refuses to pull punches throughout a range of exceptional moments, from an anxiety-inducing confrontation to some cathartic moments of unbridled rage. By the clip’s finale, Jordan’s made sure that absolutely nothing’s left on the rink and that the songwriter can escape with both contentment and a touch of pride.

Uplifting and upsetting in turns, “Heat Wave” is an effective portrayal of the themes frequently deconstructed by the clip’s protagonist. It’s a gentle reminder of societal culpability and just as effective as a demonstration of how our own convictions are necessary for not just advancement but survival. The song’s a new highlight for the project and the clip is its best to date. We should all be grateful that Snail Mail’s being given the chance to accelerate.

Watch “Heat Wave” (and a live performance of the song) below and pre-order Lush from Matador here.

April 19, 2018

Big Ups – Fear (Music Video)

This most recent Tuesday came and went with little fanfare but left a lot of great material in its wake. Among its many unearthed gems included songs from Hit Bargain, The Essex Greene, S.M . Wolf, Lazyeyes, Slow Mass, Blues Lawyer, Frog Eyes, Savage Mansion, GRLwood, American Wrestlers, HOO HAs, Sibille Attar, Anemone, Alex Dingley, Batts, Richard Nuclear, clips from Courtney Marie Andrews, The Sidekicks, Media Jeweler, Cut Worms, Run Logan Run, Deafheaven, The Magic Lantern, and a two-song release from Blue Streak. While all of those, as always, deserve looks and listens the focus is here is solely on the re-emergence of site favorites Big Ups by way of their music video for “Fear”.

Following the scintillating “PPP”, Big Ups have now stoked the excitement for their forthcoming Two Parts Together even further with “Fear”. The song itself is the band at their most aggressively simple, relying on their use of restraint as a means of aggression with characteristically sterling results. Capitalizing on the song’s cumulative effect is the accompanying music video, cut together by drummer Brendan Finn using performance clips from the band culled from various sources and footage that came from the band member’s through several tours [Disclaimer: Heartbreaking Bravery footage of the band performing at Palisades is included in the clip].

As is the case with every Big Ups track, the intensity when the song reaches its apex is blistering and its quieter moments are as arresting as ever, the dichotomy surges breathing some life into the clips as they flicker on the screen. There are times where “Fear” almost feels like a statement about the band’s endurance, versatility, and longevity, yet their own legacy never becomes an overwhelming focal point. Instead, there’s enough freewheeling sensibilities and uncertainty that it subverts the trap of becoming a referendum and simply settles on being a living testament to their present power.

“Fear” is effective, efficient, and more than serves its purpose: anyone that listens or watches the clip has been served noticed that something menacing is lurking just around the corner. All we have to do is wait until May 18.

Watch “Fear” below and pre-order Two Parts Together from Exploding In Sound here.

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April 3, 2018

March’s Honorable Mentions

Only a few days into April (and a few posts away from resuming regular daily updates), it seems as good a time as any to look back at some of the outstanding tracks, clips, and records March had to offer. Since the first week of March was largely covered by the last big recap, the focus here is on the material to find release in the month’s subsequent three weeks. An incredible round of songs, some sterling music videos, and a few standout records managed to make their mark. Below is a compilation of items worth hearing and seeing, so don’t miss a beat and save this tab to explore to your heart’s content.

STREAMS

Mastersystem, Bad Breeding, Pllush, The Sidekicks, Tancred, Drens, Deeper, Hop Along, Iceage, Haley, Spielbergs, Wheelbarrel, Air Waves, Holy Now, Lawn, Yazan (x2), Sharaya Summers, Daniel Tanghal, Dose, Eureka California, Simeon Walker, John Parish, Sibille Attar, Moon Racer, Pre Nup, The Love-Birds, Oceanator, Archie and the Bunkers, Escondido, Death By Unga Bunga, Leisure Tank, The Magic Lantern, Coping Skills, Weller, Character Actor, Ruler, Emily Isherwood, Nice Try, Connections, Vlad Holida.