This is Video of the Week from Wales Arts Review. We’ll be showcasing some of the best art in Wales with a new video shared every week. From music to drama and everything in between, videos will not be limited by medium. Today’s video is ‘River Body’ from Welsh band Islet.
There’s a distinctly watery feel to this week’s video of the week, ‘River Body’ by Welsh band Islet. We’re taking a step back in time as the video was originally released in the summer, as the lead track from the band’s new album, Soft Fascination, which was released last week. To celebrate the launch of the album, we decided to delve into their most recent release to get a feel for what to expect from the album.
The track itself, ‘River Body’ is a synth and drum led track dedicated to water that is in turns celebration, tribute and plea. It’s an exhortation to liberate flows of energy that allow bodies of water and bodies of people to follow their own course. Out today, their striking new music video sees the band performing the track partially submerged in the current of the River Wye, one of the longest and most polluted rivers in the UK. Filmed on location in the river, the video has a particularly poignant feel which sets the tone for the new album.
Released last week, Soft Fascination is a wild excursion into the latest incarnation of this ever-changing group; an assurgent album infused with hope and beauty. Self-produced and with the instrumentals recorded live with few overdubs, the effect is direct, in your face and immediate. There’s a grit that brings the band closer to a spiky punk energy than they’ve ever got before.
“The album is named Soft Fascination after that state of mind where focus drifts. Attention is diffused and the mind can wander. It’s about letting yourself go, being part of something that’s much bigger than ourselves”, explains Emma Daman Thomas. It’s a busy time for the four-piece who will be heading out on tour to celebrate the launch of Soft Fascination, with dates planned throughout the Autumn.
Soft Fascination is available to stream now from all of the usual music platforms.
