‘Halcyon’, in adjective form, is defined as a time of peace and joy and, as a noun, a mythical bird that can charm the wind and waves into calm which makes “Promised Land” an apt intro to the dark-wave duo, Halcyon Bluefish.
“The promised land may be different to all of us.. interpret it as you will…” reads the last line of the video description on YouTube and however you choose to interpret it one thing is certain: the song cries for an end to life’s unending uncertainty.
Andrew Paine’s vocals, Ian Curtis-esque, walk the line between aloof and emotive, the deadpan delivery doing all it can to avoid being swept up by lyrics of existential peril. Aiding the emotional tapestry are steady and subtly shifting 80s drum beats, courtesy of Mandy Backström, and wistful, evocative guitar lines from Desmond Kannemeyer (of Retro Dizzy and Tough Guy fame) who also added his production expertise to the track.
On the visual front we have grey-scale in a suburban, barbed-wired back-yard, the three musicians huddled together in the gaze of ever-moving – and ever-average it must be said – camera-work. Here and there are overlays of gravestones, memento mori in case you forget the song’s ultimately about mortality.
“Promised Land”, minimal yet filled with endless interpretation, drips with the detached indulgence of the goth side of post-punk’s heyday – it’s really quite difficult not to get swept up by the philosophical seriousness of it all.
Feature pic supplied by artist
