In case you are wondering — which you are probably not — I am finally graduating college in May. And, well, I am scared shitless. Absolutely terrified. I’ve been on an “explorative” six-year plan, not too dissimilar to that of Van Wilder (minus the frat parties, of course). But, in the midst of all this self-doubt, anxiety, fear of the unknown, fear of being absolutely nothing, and well just plain exhaustion, is, my fellow directionless crusaders, a little beacon of light. This light that, and I apologize for the somewhat obvious use of the light metaphor here, shines pretty strong with a sort of aura of… guidance? Hmmm. I think it might actually be understanding, a responsiveness, no, no, no — it is the recognition of a universal struggle. It is, after much delay, the new video from Connecticut fuzz-pop quartet Furnsss, titled “Slow Dark Water.”
While I recognize that not all of those reading this are of the overly anxious, hypochondria-tic breed also en route to the end of their college career, but what I’ve deduced, after much investigating, is that everyone is going to at some point feel the floor slip out from beneath them. I hear it can be thrilling. No, but really, you might have already felt it, a few times. I admire you.
However, Furnsss’ single “Slow Dark Water,” from their latest EP New Moves, is a cozy nod to those unsettling moments of our youth. The whole EP, for that matter, is like jumping into a warm pool on a cold day; it wraps you in an immediate sense of relief. But, in “Slow Dark Water” especially, there is a fluidity and a return to what we once were that makes everything feel alright—manageable, even. And as I sit here writing this, I feel a huge weight lift off my chest… wait is this a tear of joy? Oh, god. No. Please no.
Deep, disentranced vocals spew into the eery abyss of nothingness. Yet, the lukewarm stylized approach in the singer’s voice protrudes in a way that is not bored, but rather broaching the likes of J Mascis and Stephen Malkmus. The 1990’s enkindles yet again with nerdy guitar riffs that bring listeners back to all things Weezer (good, original Weezer that is). Although influences are presented in a transparent domain, the genius behind is Furnsss is their ability to enrapture the gods of grunge, while giving this generation a unique and sprite sense of this reality. It’s not outdated. It’s not contrived, and well, it’s not obvious.
The video was shot in the always beautiful Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. In case you missed it, that’s the alleged newest spot for those disconcerted 20-somethings flocking to the borough of Brooklyn, and so it’s only fitting that a song and a video that deals with a general discontent props itself up on the backdrop of romanticized melancholia. The sound and sight combine meticulously via the efforts of director Ryan Schnackenberg and director of photography Vince Rappa (a Emerson College graduate and former Boston inhabitant).
“One interesting correlation between the band/video is the way we both deal with age,” says Schnackenberg. “Furnsss is a young band (late teens to early 20s) but they’ve also been around for a while, so I wanted to bring that sense of exhaustion, in particular with youth culture, I hear in the music to the images as well.”
And so these ideas come to fruition with the introduction of slow motion, and the contrast of grey setting with the brightly colored clothing worn by the band and their friends. Set design and filters offer closer reflections of an era over burdened with expectation and ambition. While the overall production is draped in muted perceptions of disparate youth, comedic undertows and super special cameos from LVL UP guitarist/vocalist Michael Caridi play with Furnsss’ illustrious view from the little cut out in the wall — showing us all how to keep steady as we go.