“Your guess, I guess / Is as good as mine / We could pool together / And be half right all of the time” —The Over Under by Lloyd Cole
Lloyd Cole‘s new album Guesswork was released in July.
Cole has long been a fan of Bristol contemporary artists Harrison and Wood and contacted them to see if they would like to do a film for “The Over Under.” The self-styled “Laurel & Hardy of contemporary art” was more than happy to oblige.
Watch it here.
John Wood and Paul Harrison make single-channel videos, multi-screen video installations, prints, drawings, and sculptures that elegantly fuse aesthetic research with existential comedy. The artists’ spare, to-the-point works illustrate the triumphs and tribulations of making art and having a life. Wood and Harrison employ exuberant invention, subtle slapstick, and a touch of light-hearted melancholy to reveal the inspiration and perspiration — as well as the occasional hint of desperation — behind all creative acts. John Wood (b.1969, Hong Kong) and Paul Harrison (b.1966, Wolverhampton) met in 1989 at the Bath College of Higher Education, and have worked together since 1993.
“The Over Under” is a sublime slice of 21st century synth-pop and it sees Lloyd tackle middle-aged angst with his customary wit and style.
“I was very nervous when I approached John and Paul suggesting they might enjoy the song and maybe they might make a film/music video, I was thrilled that they accepted, and I’m ecstatic with the result,” says Cole. “It is simply perfect. If I have a regret, it’s that I wasn’t involved with our videos in the ’80s and ’90s. I was always too busy, it seemed, but really that’s no excuse and I have some very mediocre work to my name. I’m really enjoying the challenge these days and I’m truly blessed that great visual artists are happy to work with me. Now, how can I persuade Neil Tennant to be in one with me for ‘Moments and Whatnot?’ and who will make it?”
The video for “Violins” featured the video installation “The End of Civilization” by Turner Prize-winning artist Douglas Gordon. Watch it here.
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