Sepia-toned home movies and found footage have long become the go to method of choice for cash-strapped DIY artists looking to put together on the fly visuals that can tap into an aura of quirky eccentricity while simultaneously offering a diffuse sense of nostalgia. However, overuse has rendered the practice tired and predictable, forcing artists to either search for alternate methods of production or be more judicious in their selection of footage.
It’s clear that Warning Light’s new video for “A Love Complication” won’t be winning any awards for originality, but it has the advantage of being bolstered by a killer soundtrack that manages to inject additional color and texture into the washed out visuals. The theme is ocean heavy as the production is abound with images of crashing waves, palm trees, crowded beaches, water skiers and kids playing in the water. Over the course of the video, the vibe becomes increasing tense and creepy, like you’ve stumbled across footage of someone’s family vacation and you’re increasingly unsure of whether or not you should watch. It’s an altogether different feeling from the one I got when I listened to the song on its own, so credit Drew Haddon for using the resources afforded to him to recontextualize this track and create something striking and worth watching.
Warning Light’s forthcoming LP, Oftenchance, is out October 23 via Stickfigure Recordings.
More Info
Bandcamp: warninglight.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @warninglight
SoundCloud: @warning-light