Sinking

There’s something to be said for an artist who commits fully to an idea without hedging. The video for Rabbit Heart is Florence sinking into a river, pulled down by the people around her, and it has this whole pagan ritual quality that could tip into pure camp in less confident hands. It reminds me of Bat for Lashes’ work, though warmer somehow, less shrouded in dread.

The song itself is as baroque as it comes. Strings, drama, that voice of hers cutting through everything with real power. It’s not subtle. It’s not trying to be. Most artists would trim this back, sand down the edges, make it more palatable. She just goes deeper.

In a landscape full of artists hedging their bets, there’s something refreshing about that kind of commitment. The kind of thing that shouldn’t work but does because she means it.

Lungs comes out next month. I’m paying attention.