Here’s the latest video from Suburban Living, a Norfolk group masterminded by Wesley Bunch. Bunch plays live with a backing band, but records his music by himself, playing all instruments and creating hypnotic shoegaze/New Wave songs in his home studio.
Here’s the latest video from Suburban Living, a Norfolk group masterminded by Wesley Bunch. Bunch plays live with a backing band, but records his music by himself, playing all instruments and creating hypnotic shoegaze/New Wave songs in his home studio. “Video Love” comes from the Always Eyes EP, a vinyl 7 inch released last year by RVA label Dialog Records. The video, directed by RVA Magazine contributor Richard Perkins, has a retro feel, as it evokes the degraded quality of 80s videocassette productions. However, as you watch the video, it becomes clear that this effect is created through the continual use of a double exposure–throughout the video, a second image of kaleidoscopic light reflections subtly floats overtop of the main images. Combined with the superimposed text that provides the lyrics as the song plays, the overall result looks sort of like a really detailed karaoke video, playing through a machine from 20 years ago.
This aesthetic fits well with Suburban Living’s musical sound, one that owes equal debts to the guitar-based British alternative rock of the 80s and 90s. The multilayered synths throughout the song sound like they’re taken from the New Romantic records of the early 80s–Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, etc. Meanwhile, the sparkling, undistorted guitar arpeggios that give the song its main non-vocal melody are equally reminiscent of the Cocteau Twins and New Order at their moodiest. By the way, it’s interesting to see these sorts of sounds created by a guy who dresses like a hip hop-loving skateboarder. If you were to see some of these images with the sound off, you might expect Suburban Living to sound like Odd Future. Guess it goes to show you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Always Eyes is available digitally from Dialog Records at their Bandcamp page, or for a slightly higher price, you can order the vinyl, which comes with a free digital download. If you ask us, it’s always better to get the vinyl, but the choice is yours. Either way, make sure you go check out Suburban Living live at Balliceaux (203 N. Lombardy St) on Friday, March 28, along with Richmond alt-rockers Positive No. Show starts at 10 PM, admission is $5. For more info, click here.
By Andrew Necci
