37
Jack Cheshire explores themes of escapism and dissociation amid societal decay in his forthcoming new album, Interloper (out 22 November 2024 on Loose Tongue Records). In May, he revealed his first single, Valium, featuring long-time collaborator and co-producer Jon Scott (GoGo Penguin, Mulatu Astatke) on drums and mixed by Shuta Shinoda (Hot Chip, Anna Meredith, Ghostpoet). Today, he unveils the accompanying sublime music video by Willy Robinson.
Willy Robinson’s Van Sant-inspired piece weaves a strange and singular spell. It alludes to Georges Perec’s ‘infra-ordinary’ throughout (see quote below) but is, at its core, an abstract exploration of identity, dissociation and alienation. An offbeat gem which lingers long and unfolds slowly, this is worth spending some time on.
“What we need to question is bricks, concrete, glass, our table manners, our utensils, our tools, the way we spend our time, our rhythms. To question that which seems to have ceased forever to astonish us. We live, true, we breathe, true; we walk, we open doors, we go down staircases, we sit at a table in order to eat, we lie down on a bed in order to sleep. How? Why? Where? When? Why?
Describe your street. Describe another street. Compare.
Make an inventory of your pockets, of your bag. Ask yourself about the provenance, the use, what will become of each of the objects you take out.”
Jack Cheshire on Valium:
‘I remember someone describing valium as a ‘get out of jail free card’ to me once and I’ve never quite shaken that impression. Wilful detachment from your anxious self, momentarily softening all the hard edges, gliding into a hazy half-wakefulness. One of my overriding takeaways from the last stretch of time has been how exhaustingly grim everything can seem. Sometimes I find myself wishing I didn’t care; wishing I was oblivious to it all and cocooned in bliss. Willful detachment comes with a hefty price and I wanted to explore this inclination to disappear and the associated guilt that comes with it.’
Valium is also our Song of the Day.
