If ever there was a video that captures the essence of Sydney Eloise & the Palms’ shimmering, wistful pop and classic take on songwriting, “Always Sailing” would be it. Shot on 8mm film, the video exudes a grainy sense of blissful nostalgia similar to the one that lurks in the corners of most of the group’s songs. Then, there’s the imagery — a sailboat full of friends traversing through sunlight and open water, lots of playful camaraderie — which all interlock seamlessly with the band’s lush ’60s pop grooves and summery hooks.
In a lot ways, the clip plays out like a dream or a distant memory full of fuzzy features and hazy recollections. There’s a trace of melancholy here too, a felling that the past is forever encroaching upon our present. Like the group of colorful balloons that get released at the end of the video, it makes for a lovely image, but the beauty — and the moment — is fleeting.
Sydney Eloise & the Palms’ debut LP, Faces, is available on vinyl, CD, and digital via the Cottage Recording Co.
More Info
Web: sydneyeloiseandthepalms.com
Bandcamp: sydneyeloiseandthepalms.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @SydneyEloiseMusic
Instagram: @sydandthepalms
Twitter: @SydneyEloise