Following the release of their new duo album Swallowtail, Jim White and Marisa Anderson share the wistful music film for album opener "Aerie", directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jem Cohen.
Watch the video for "Aerie" now
Building on his collaborations with artists including Fugazi, Patti Smith, R.E.M. and more, Cohen's meditative short film perfectly reflects the patient, immersive nature of the music. Following a young boy playing in the mountains, the music and visuals offer no prescriptive narrative or statement, instead simply letting the viewer observe and impart their own meaning.
Jem Cohen elaborates:
"Jim White and Marisa Anderson’s music asks questions so we don’t have to. Collaboration? Improvisation? Song structure? None of it has to be tied down. They are out on the road somewhere, luckily heading for my town. Playing hard, driving hard, a lot of experience. Meanwhile, a boy, Alexander, is up on a mountain and has to do something with sticks. It is important, requires effort. How can they be combined, will they balance, and what about the wind? He is improvising, concentrating. He is less experienced, will soon be 8. The boy and the sticks, it turns out, are on an aerie in early spring, high above an old trestle, houses and cars tiny below. Aerie is a beautiful word. And a beautiful track. I put it to a film, or a film to it. I'm honored."
Jim White and Marisa Anderson's Swallowtail is available to order now, and the duo have just announced UK and Europe tour dates for the fall, full list here:
Sep. 5 - Dublin, IE - Wheland's
Sep. 6 - Castletownbere, IE - Sarah Walker Gallery
Sep. 7 - Shrewsbury, UK - St Mary The Virgin
Sep. 8 - Barrow-in-Furness, UK - Full of Noises Festival
Sep. 9 - London, UK - Cafe Oto
Sep. 10 - Gothenburg, SE - Folkteatern
Sep. 11 - Copenhagen, DK - Alice
Sep. 13 - Lisbon, PT - ZDBs
Sep. 14 - Barcelos, PT - Jazz ao Largo
Sep. 16 - Prague, CZ - Meet Factory
Sep. 18 - Düsseldorf, DE - TBC
Sep. 20 - Clonakilty, IE - Clonakilty International Guitar Festival
Sep. 21 - Dundalk, IE - Culture Club