Massive Attack, Young Fathers - Voodoo In My Blood (2016)
Possessed by the sound.
Rosamund Pike is bar none in this eerie homage to Isabelle Adjani’s subway sequence in Possession (1981) for Massive Attack. It’s visceral and hysterical, perfect for the times where we find ourselves. The video features Pike walking into a subway hall. The tension builds as she walks deeper inside the narrow passageway without another soul in sight. Finally reaching an underground atrium, she encounters a mysterious metallic orb that approaches and floats around her as if sentient. She becomes strangely transfixed before releasing a wicked cackle. She and the orb engage one another in a disturbingly rapturous dance that perfectly underscores the track’s deep bass, chilly synths, and obliquely menacing lyrics, filled with imagery of cheeky grins and bloody teeth.
Director Ringan Ledwidge said of the inspiration for the film:
“I’m a huge fan of the film Possession. As a kid I was obsessed with (lead actress) Isabelle Adjani, and would watch absolutely anything with her in it. I must have discovered the film when I was about 12, and it absolutely blew my mind. That particular scene in the film is insane. It’s so riveting yet so disturbing at the same time, it’s so original and different and… strange. It’s still to this day a film I’ll implore anyone I see to go and watch it. I can’t believe the irony of the fact that the director died last week. It seems appropriate in a strange way that it’s come out when it has, as a celebration of what he did as a filmmaker. It’s quite special.
The lyrics on the track talk about voodoo and possession and so on, but (the way the idea for the video came about) was actually quite bizarre… I’d been thinking a lot about technology – about how it’s very seductive and sexy, but also very benign until you engage with it, and how that engagement takes over your life. In a funny way it is sort of like possession. I mean, I’m a big tech-head as well, but it kind of enthralls me and terrifies me in equal measure.”
Stay haunted & thanks for reading Looping Records!