Elvis Depressedly dips even deeper into their signature, grizzled and grungey lo-fi pop niche with new track and video, “Thou Shall Not Murder”. The vocals, lyrics and overall ambience swirl into a gentle, soothing and bleakly honest two and a half minutes of musical minimalism. The track nails Depressedly’s signature, wrung-out misery blended with the vocals of Mat Cothran (hinting at the stylistic sound of Elliott Smith) for a track that weighs heavy on the heart in both depth and relief. Instrumentally, the track opens with an invitingly hazy mesh of guitar and synth, washing the track with both warmth and rich emotional buildup.
The video for “Thou Shall Not Murder” is raw and reminiscent of the purity (or perhaps just the image of purity) rooted in childhood innocence. With an opening scene prodding at the heart, the video sends a young boy backwards by rewinding the tape and leading viewers to the origin of his grief. It makes for a powerful song matched by a video thick with ache and muddled regret. The release of “Thou Shall Not Murder” marks a clear trajectory for New Alhambra, Elvis Depressedly’s upcoming album set for release May 12.
