Bernice: He's The Moon
This Toronto indie-pop combo shares a new video for a cut from a recent critically-acclaimed album. Both the clip and the song possess a warm and gentle feel that are enhanced by Robin Dann's expressive vocals and poetic lyrics.
By Kerry Doole
Bernice: “He’s The Moon” (Arts & Crafts): This Toronto indie-pop combo has made real inroads with recent album Puff LP: in the air without a shape, and now shares a new video for one of its tracks.
The clip for “He’s The Moon” is filmed and edited by Toronto-based artist and filmmaker John Price mostly on 35mm Kodak film. Bernice leader Robin Dann explains in a press release that “John gathered and combined footage of several things, including his son getting a haircut with no front teeth and a squirrel interrupting some snacking birds. The video doesn’t tell a story, but rather speaks visually the mood that the song sings - a kind of nostalgic peace and self-awareness that can only come from time and experience, no matter how we might try to rush it along.”
The tune itself is gently mesmerising, and built around Dann's mellow yet expressive vocals and poetic lyrics (sample: "We couldn't feel more beautiful, How our hair falls to the side like underwater, Like an angel, like a polar bear"). The effect is a touch evocative of Feist and Jane Siberry's work.
Bernice will soon take to the road for a run through the US and Canada, beginning on Jan. 18 at Schubas Tavern in Chicago, closing out at LA's Bootleg Theatre on Feb. 5. Tour dates here
Dann says of the tour: “We’ll be driving our 2004 sky blue Toyota Sienna named Chezzie. It makes an enormous difference to a show when some friends are in the audience – seriously – so please come out and see us, and if you feel comfortable, let your friends know about our shows. Touring is fun, and not fun, and easy, and hard, and playing music makes it worthwhile – but really we’re in it for the Whole Foods salad bar.”
Links
Publicity: Ken Beattie, Killbeat