In the build up to this weeks release of their two-part psych opus, Occult Architecture Vol. 1, Moon Duo have released an animated video for the lead single, Cold Fear, directed by Micah Buzan.
Describing the process, Buzan says “For Moon Duo’s music video, I had 5 weeks to make 5 minutes of animation. Being a one-man-studio, one minute of animation can easily take me 100 hours to produce. I learned how to animate more quickly by trusting in the process to take care of itself. I animated one scene after another, with basically no idea for what was going to happen next. Moon Duo gave my some tips for the video and a general idea for how to end it so that we could lead into the next video, but other than knowing the ending, I had no idea what I was doing.
I decided to focus on making one drawing at a time in order to let the animation grow organically. I didn’t want to make something too random, but I also didn’t want to force a storyline. The main objective was to create visuals that matched the paranoid energy of Moon Duo’s song ‘Cold Fear.’ There is a theme in my animation of growth and decay, which mirrors Moon Duo’s Yin and Yang concept from their new work.
The track opens with this heavily processed motoril drumming, before these waves of guitar and noise wash over you. As is the Moon Duo’s want, they build this tension more by staying on the same chord, make you want – almost wish for the change. When it comes though, there’s something almost more satisfying about it. Throw in a damn good pop tune and some wispy vocals, and you’ve got something you can’t resist.
