Iron & Wine have been very busy of late touring the world in support of their latest album Beast Epic. This month finds them in Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea and China and next month they return to Europe with further dates in North American during September and November.
To celebrate, they’ve shared a new video for “Last Night”. The stop-motion video was created by Rachel Blumberg who, as well as being a drummer (The Decemberists [2002-2005] as well as a number of Portland-based bands including the incredible Michael Hurley and The Huntress and Holder of Hands) is also a visual artist and filmmaker. She has previously made music videos, using stop motion, for the likes of Gillian Welch and Nada Surf among others. The use of stop motion, although a painstaking process, brings a certain charm and magic to music videos. It’s a favourite animation process for the likes of Marry Waterson who has been kept busy making videos for many in the folk world – her own music as well as the likes of James Yorkston, Maz O’Connor and Emily Portman. Likewise, only last week we featured a beautiful stop motion video for Haley Heynderickx‘s No Face which was inspired by the Miyazaki character of the film Spirited Away.
Blumberg’s use of stop motion for Last Night cleverly displays the fragility of relationships, the simplicity of their actions, adding slices of humour…the everyday routines take on a new depth when viewed this way, a reminder of how emotionally fragile we can be. It’s quite brilliant.
Later in the year Iron & Wine will return to the UK to headline Black Deer Festival in Kent, as well as perform in Ireland and Glasgow. Full details below…
Jun. 23 – Eridge Park, UK – Black Deer Festival
Jun. 24 – Westmeath, Ireland – Body & Soul Festival
Jun. 25 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy
Beast Epic is available now via Sub Pop.