Brooklyn-based Savants are far from being Luddites, but their penchant for keeping things analogue extends from their more organic recording processes (tape being cut by hand) to their methods of release (they self-released a limited run of their debut album on cassette). Now, they’re even making their videos the old school way.
The warped, psychedelic visuals that accompany new single, ‘Shake Pendulum Shake’, was conceived by lead guitarist, Joe Kimono, and achieved by magnetising old TVs, creating distorted spectrums that pull and bend the picture.
Its unsettling effect, shot by photographer Jin K Lee, is a suitable companion to the lyrics, which recount a dream lead singer Tony Prins had about “this strange reptilian man going into cocktail lounges on the Bowery, a real seedy character.”
Shades of the Velvets are apparent in Savants’ sound, who clearly share with their psych forefathers a keen regard for the dark underbelly of New York.
‘Shake Pendulum Shake’ is due to be released as a single soon, while Savants’ self-titled album is due in October, through Narnack Records.
In the meantime, you can catch Savants supporting The Besnard Lakes on July 28th at Rough Trade, NYC.
Photography: Vincent Pflieger
