Resistance Calls: The Spider Ferns Release New Video
By Patrick Galactic
The Spider Ferns: husband/wife duo, purveyors of dark, fever-dreamy grooves and noted forest dwellers, have been steadily mining new sonic terrain since their inception.
Starting in 2013 with a folk-by-way-of-trip-hop vibe, the ‘Ferns greatly raised their downtempo game on Soon Enough, their debut full-length, in 2015. Tethered to an omnipresent electronic pulse, Kelly Fleek’s shimmering soprano weaves between the beats with artful precision.
Their follow-up EP, Safety, released in January, further refines that approach. “In Violet Bloom (feat. Audiosapien),” a standout track from the EP and the subject of a recently-released video, rings through as both despondent and defiant.
“Beneath the waves of fear and doubt, many voices fall”, Fleek sings before solemnly asserting that “resistance calls.” To me, it is a recognition that injustice against one weakens us all.
Sonically, the track features an aggressive bass groove and beat contrasted against a light Rhodes keyboard as Alton Fleek’s guitar fills in the gaps between verses with tastefully minimal melodies. The chord changes are also minimal. The band rides the groove and lets the synth-y strings add dynamic tension, giving Kelly Fleek’s vocals a free-flowing, stream-of-consciousness quality. At four minutes, The Spider Ferns bring the song to a close without it getting over repetitious.
Directed by John Theroux of CTPAK Film Crew, the video blends strong visual psychedelia with a commanding shot of Kelly Fleek singing directly to the viewer “We have lingered too long.”
“In Violet Bloom” leaves a lasting visual and auditory impression, greatly enhanced by repeat viewings.
Lyrics
In violet bloom of spring and tide
A resistance grows along
A distance measured in heavy footfalls
Crowning business, building walls
We have lingered too long
We have lingered too long
We have lingered too long
We have lingered too long
Beneath the waves of fear and doubt
Many voices fall
We are shattered if we do not respond
We will splinter and run
In violet bloom of spring and tide
A resistance grows along
Marching ever in heavy footfalls
Unifying, breaking walls
Resistance is ours
Resistance is ours
Resistance is ours
We have lingered too long
We have lingered too long
We have lingered too long
In violet bloom of spring and tide
Resistance calls
In violet bloom of spring and tide
Resistance calls
Resistance calls
Resistance calls
(Editor’s Note: NadaMucho.com included both The Spider Ferns and Patrick Galactic on our list of “41 Seattle Bands We’re Watching in 2015.” Since that time, we’ve met Patrick in person and cajoled him in to writing for us.)