Glancing over the website of jangle pop duo Beloved Binge, I found myself drawn to a particular description of the band's approach - "They showcase the power of the absurd to help transcend despair." It's a notion that not only struck me as being pretty much a superpower in the context of 2019, but seems to be reflected well in the single "Departures I" from the band's sixth full-length release, Signals, out on October 11th.
Regarding track's subject matter, Beloved Binge explains: “If you’ve ever lost a fur-face, this song is for you. This song speaks to the bond: “Didn’t we laugh and chase ideas?” Maybe you didn’t speak human language together, but you spoke heart. Our fur-face, Syba, a Husky-Shepherd, lived just past 17 years, an extraordinarily long life. She was running and jumping, climbing our stairs until the end. Her mirror obsession began in year 15 ("Only your smudges remain in the mirror.") The lyrics at the end are a song we used to sing to her while walking, which never failed to make her pick up the pace ("Left paw, right paw, front paw, back..."). "
As the human companion to several dogs over the years, there are aspects of the song and accompanying music video, premiering below, that I find moving and affecting - the referenced detail about smudges remaining in the mirror is especially heartbreaking, yet "Departures I" moves past feelings of anguish toward something warm and reassuring. To me anyway, the video ultimately suggests that all dogs do indeed go to heaven.
Dig the frequently psychedelic video for "Departures I" below, preorder Signals here, and, if possible, check out Beloved Binge at one of their upcoming live shows:
Oct 11 - Philadelphia, PA – Album Release Show at Kung Fu Necktie
Oct 21 – Asheville, NC – Static Age Records
Oct 24 – Winston-Salem, NC – Monstercade
Oct 25 – Durham, NC – Shadowbox Studio
