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alexis taylor hot chips and producers Mike Simonetti — founder of Troubleman Unlimited and Italians Do It Better, and one half of Pale Blue — has shared a cover song Bonnie “Prince” Billy‘s I can see the darkness. This is the latest preview I See A Darkness / Perfect Kisslimited 12 inch out June 12th via smuggler’s path A combination of covers and duo originals perfect kiss and remix Claire Rousee And Black Force. Both songs are currently streaming.
The accompanying video was directed by Ben Crook and was “written for the stage” by Taylor and Crook. Taylor and German actor David Bredin star in the film, as well as supporting roles. jarvis cocker and Sian Ahern. The two men meet again over drinks in a dimly lit room, and inch their armchairs closer together as the song’s calls for compromise and understanding grow stronger.
Taylor explains the concept in detail:
“While I was on tour, sitting alone in the dark in a hotel room, and after three failed attempts to collaborate with various filmmakers to create something for I See a Darkness, I came up with a very simple idea for myself: to set it to music, to explore the emotions and stories at the heart of Will Oldham’s beautiful songs. I saw the scenes as the intensity of the songs they were singing. There were women in the center and in the back of the same space, and I could see red balloons floating over the four people in the scene, illuminated by the chorus lamps. I wanted this to be surreal, simple, and emotionally direct, like a Samuel Beckett play that was broadcast on television. Ben Crook understood my vision and directed it beautifully, bringing the whole thing to life.
I met David Bredin in Rostock, Germany and cast him because I believed he was perfect for the role. I’m glad I trusted my intuition. He gave an incredibly moving performance and somehow exceeded my expectations of what we could achieve emotionally with this short film. He has a clear sense of what he wants to convey through his lyrics, and you can’t miss it.
Jarvis Cocker and Sian Ahern both played their supporting roles calmly and admirably, and here they were there to represent the musical roles of Mike Simonetti and Elizabeth Wight.
Bonnie himself is there, in the spirit of everything “broken,” in the words of another of his songs. This sculpture was made by Ben as a surprise for me.
It was a great pleasure to come up with this and work with Ben Crook and the whole team on the day. I had the best experience shooting a video. I hope people connect with it!”
Director Ben Crook added:
“One winter day last year, Alexis called me and asked if I could help him turn his idea into a music video. He had a very clear vision: two interacting figures sitting across from each other, emerging from the darkness, chairs slowly moving towards each other. I was immediately intrigued by the simplicity and purity of the concept.”
[“I See A Darkness”] It’s always felt like an internal dialogue: a drunk man telling himself he can change his ways, a conversation between conflicting points of view, an alcoholic’s “Waiting for Godot.” I knew right away that this movie was supposed to feel like 1970s BBC television. It needed to be authentically theatrical and not a performance music video in any way. So I shot it with vintage bulb video and 16mm film. To keep it as authentic as possible, I took the lyrics and wrote the script. The songs are divided into scenes and dialogue, allowing Alexis and the wonderful actor David Bredin to know the dialogue and action in advance.
Alexis met David while on tour and casting him as her dark friend was perfect. I felt that Elizabeth’s presence was also important. [Wight] and mic [Simonetti] In the movie. With an ocean separating us, Sian Ahern and Jarvis Cocker stepped in to play them. ”
This team-up has been years in the making. Taylor and Simonetti first met at the now-closed Output club in Williamsburg, where Simonetti was a DJ. Taylor was fascinated by his re-editing, and later by his work on Pale Blue, in which he co-starred with Elizabeth Wight. While exchanging demos, Taylor sent early sketches. I can see the darkness — he heard the house version in his head — and Simonetti pulled it elsewhere, and that friction shaped the finished track. Wight sings backing vocals, and Taylor incorporates the song into her DJ sets. “Will Oldham is probably my favorite songwriter still alive,” he says. “[‘I See A Darkness’] is a foundational song for me. ”
Will Oldham was released first I can see the darkness Released by Palace Records as the title track of Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s first album in 1999, it remains a cult favorite. Covered by Johnny Cash American III: Lonely Man (2000) Session with Rick Rubin, session engineered by David Ferguson (the same Ferguson who later produced Oldhams) purple birdKLOF Album of the Year.
I See A Darkness / Perfect Kiss (June 12, 2026) The Smuggler’s Way Claire Rouzet and Black Force remix will initially be vinyl-only, with a digital release scheduled for late 2026.
Stream: https://smugglersway.ffm.to/iseeadarkness
