In a couple of decades, research will come out that charts the astronomical rise in human screen time during the pandemic. Except Apple probably owns that information and isn’t going to give it up lightly…it will be too revealing of just how lucrative sacrificing our mental health was for a handful of companies. Watching the new video from CASSELS, “About Not Writing,” I’m amazed at how well their jangling riffs and discordant percussion captures the anxiety loop of the pandemic response. Not just on an individual level, either; the way this song goes from a steady, almost comforting pattern of sound to a confrontational, aggressive spiraling is an amazing artistic rendering of a descent into madness. For me, personally, for three years and counting (okay, way longer than that) I’ve felt like I’m standing still in the eye of a storm, clinging to my center while opinions, shame, pride, greed, and fear whirl around me. CASSELS makes me feel less alone. This new single is off a split 7” single with Beige Palace via God Unknown Records and Human Worth — pre-order it here. Get tickets for their April European tour dates right here. Right now, check out their video for “About Not Writing,” featuring over 6,000 hand-drawn frames by Michal Mikuš.
As someone with low-level anxiety about going outside, I really enjoyed the first few weeks of lockdown. However after a while I could feel myself starting to go weird. Writing became much harder when every experience and interaction was reduced to a screen. In the end all there was to write about was the act of writing itself. That, and the daily inertia. Sitting around in my pants, watching the days slip away. It was an odd time.
Guitarist and vocalist Jim Beck
I WILL PERCOLATE AWAY THE DAYS
TWITCHING BOREDOM
ITCHING FORESKIN
THE CATERWAULING POLICE
SIRENS CALLING ME FROM THE OUTSIDE
ARE A
FAR CRY
FROM THE
STAGNANT SAFETY OF MY
DOMICILE
I SHUFFLE
THROUGH DREAMS
HALF-HEARTEDLY
FUMBLING
AT THE CONDIMENTS
IN THE
REFRIGERATOR
DOOR
BURIED BENEATH
A SEA OF ENNUI
I REST
PEACEFULLY
AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE ROTTEN
OCEAN FLOOR
LUCKILY OLD MAN TIME IS HERE WITH ME
SO I REFUSE TO CONCEDE AND FEEL LONELY
SO MUCH TIME
SO MUCH TIME FOR COMPANY
SO MUCH TIME
SO MUCH TIME
TO WRITE
ABOUT
NOT
WRITING
https://www.instagram.com/casselsband/
Upcoming CASSELS live dates:
11 April – Trefpunt, Gent
12 April – L’International, Paris
13 April – Quai M, La-Roche-sur-Yon
14 April – La Bateau Ivre, Tours
15 April – La Bulle, Lille
18 April – The Social, London (SOLD OUT)
