I’ll tip a drink down my neck
The thrill of a hand so wild
Some God-given right under mine to take the eyes of criticize
Wolverhampton is part of England’s storied Black Country, put into song by everyone from Nick Cave to PJ Harvey…to Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.
Next in the queue of Black Country muses is the highly catchy (if abrasive) “Lethe” by Baudelaire, their second single that takes its name from the famous poem by Charles Baudelaire himself. Weaving gothic atmospheres with industrial sonics and noise-rock fury, the sextet delivers unnerving, cathartic music that brings to mind Interpol, Franz Ferdinand, The Teardrop Explodes, Editors, and Boy Harsher.
Produced by Gavin Monaghan (Robert Plant, Ocean Colour Scene, and Paolo Nutini), Baudelaire’s stomping number explores “the unlit corners of the human condition.” Lethe dives right into the frightening volatility between alcohol and violence, specifically within the infamous British drinking culture. These hooligans are sowing seeds of chaos with each chug…where will the night take them? The band’s lyrics poetically describe this intoxicated debauchery swiftly spiraling out of control.
The accompanying film, directed by Carl Battams and starring Charlie Ayres, is a slow-motion extravaganza of a hazy memory…and lousy choices…saturated by the crimson colour of blood.
Watch below:
Formed in 2021, the band’s reputation for chaotic live shows has led them to support the likes of Cabbage, Crows, and Cheap Teeth. Baudelaire will also perform at Sonic Wave Festival this year alongside The Twang, Sports Team, and Editors.
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