VIDEO REVIEW: Agnes Obel’s “The Curse”

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Danish artist Agnes Obel has recently released North American tour dates in support of her latest album, Aventine.  She will be hitting up NYC’s Bowery Ballroom on March 2nd, and given the video for her song “ The Curse “, I expect it will be a sullen but beautiful set.

The music video was certainly composed with an artful eye; it’s filmed in black and white, yet the palette ranges from crisp achromatic shots to hues of sepia and cream.  The opening scenes, which feature almost everything but Obel herself, remind me of the sinister imagery of Ingmar Bergman.  In one frame archaic buildings come in and out of focus while birds-or maybe tadpoles-smear across the sky.  Cloudscapes, architectural compositions reminiscent of M.C. Escher’s staircases, and showers of sparks all contribute to an unsettling and ghostly short film.  The ambiance produced by these visuals is perfectly matched with the moody ballad, which features piano, viola, and cello, as well as Obel’s haunting voice.

Though the video was shot in Berlin, it has an otherworldly quality that can’t be confined to a particular place or time.  Enjoy the video, and catch Obel on her tour.  If you’re not in New York, see the remaining tour dates below.

 

Feb 20 – Wakefield, QC – Blacksheep Inn

Feb 21 – Toronto, ON – The Great Hall

Feb 22 – Burnstown, ON – Neats

Feb 25 – Montreal, QC – Gesu Centre

Feb 26 – Quebec City, QC – Palais Montcalm

Feb 27 – Montreal, QC – Gesu Centre – Montreal Winter Highlights

Mar 1 – Cambridge, MA – First Church

Mar 2 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom

Mar 4 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live

Mar 6 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent

Mar 8 – Seattle, WA – St. Mark’s Cathedral

Mar 9 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir

Mar 12 – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy