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