Palace 'Head Above The Water' by Oliver Hadlee Pearch

Oliver Hadlee Pearch has taken a decidedly visceral approach to his music video for Palace's Head Above The Water. Dealing with the nervy physicality of the human body and all its twitches, spasms, and other instinctive bodily processes, the piece effectively creates a hypnotic series of close-up portraits, in which something doesn't appear to be quite right with its subjects.

Insisting on suffocating imagery such as a human statue in a bag being sucked of its air, and a man laid out on a table struggling to breathe, it's pairing with the sleepy, somewhat melancholic melodies of Head Above The Water makes for an the existential watch, reminding us of our fleshy, corporeal impermanence. 

“When you are swept up by a wave, you are caught underwater, not knowing which way is up or down, left or right. This was sort of the starting point for this video. This idea of confusion. Concussion even," Oliver told Noisey, where the video was premiered last week. 

"Dreams played a big part in this film. How many different scenes can sit side by side harmoniously. I wanted to try and create mini-narratives which all lead the same way yet are completely removed from each other. Tied together. Across the video we want the audience to be hypnotized, drawn in yet not knowing why or how.”

Watch 'Palace 'Head Above The Water' by Oliver Hadlee Pearch' here