Having already shared the Hall & Oates sampling lead single “On Hold” off their upcoming third full-length album I See You earlier this month, the electronic indie trio The xx has now also shared the track’s accompanying visual treatment.
Directed by British photographer Alasdair McLellan (which explains the inclusion of Palace and adidas skater Blondey McCoy as an actor), the video takes place entirely in Marfa, Texas. It serves as a love letter of sorts to Marfa, where a portion of I See You was recorded.
In “On Hold,” vocalists Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim sing through phones, and McLellan perfectly captures the essence of being a teenager in a small Texas town, including black and white segments of a party that Jamie xx is djing at for the young partygoers.
Despite its simplicity, the juxtaposition of the downtempo song with portraits of small town America make it pack quite an emotional punch. McLellan’s excellent photography makes it hit home even more, as he is able to convey both the unbridled joys of being young and the uncertainty about life at that particular age.
Watch “On Hold” here. I See You releases January 13th, 2017.
