It’s exciting to see Interpol back in action with news of the release of their seventh LP ‘The Other Side of Make-Believe’, due out on 15 July through Matador / Remote Control. To ease the anticipation, Interpol have released a single and video for the opening track, ‘Toni’.
The archetypal Interpol sound is at the fore: sweeping, organic waves of sound that paint an epic portrait with endless horizons. ‘Toni’ is filled with a spacious atmosphere, the circling, tinkling piano forms an insistent undercurrent driven by the pounding rhythms that ebb and flow. Paul Bank’s distinctive tenor haunts with a sense of yearning, with a sly nod to the band’s past – there’s always a seventh time for a first impression.
The accompanying video tells a dramatic story of conflict and strife, danced with passion and fluidity in a sea of denim and angst. The video is the first instalment of a two-part dance film directed by Van Alpert (Post Malone, Machine Gun Kelly), with the second chapter to follow soon. Speaking on the collaboration, Banks notes:
It was a blast working with Van Alpert on the video for our song ‘Toni.’ We bonded over shared film inspiration as well as a passion for classic music videos by the likes of Glazer, Cunningham and Jonze. Van, in my opinion, is in the club with these legends; and it’s exciting to watch him build his own enduring body of work.”
Van Alpert says:
I wrote a crazy idea that I felt was new for Interpol, a hyper-modern, cinematic dance film. A ‘Lover’s on the Run’ story, with a classic cliff-hanger ending. Dream job working for my all-time favorite band! Paul Banks ties everything together and elevated the concept, because he’s naturally a great actor, artist, and collaborator.
Interpol have always been the masters of space: creating beautiful haunting sonic constructions imbued with an haunting and enigmatic presence:
‘The Other Side of Make-Believe’, featuring production by legendary veteran Flood (Mark Ellis), as well as former co-producer Alan Moulder, can be pre-saved and pre-ordered here or through the link below.
Feature Photograph: Atiba Jefferson
