Melbourne-based quartet Partner Look share their latest off-kilter single, “Rodeo Tragic.”
The Australian supergroup consists of members of Cool Sounds and The Ocean Party, taking their name from a German expression meaning two people wearing similar or matching outfits. This couldn’t be more fitting for the video for “Rodeo Tragic,” the newest single from their upcoming debut album By The Book set for release on February 4th on Trouble In Mind Records.
Sisters Ambrin and Anila Haisnaln join their partners Daints Lacey and Lachlan Denton, weaving through minimalistic tempos as Ambrin’s playful lyrical wit shines. Sharp edged bass grooves lead the pace of the track while brightly colored synths give way to an absurdist image of talking horses and refined pop melody led by the Haisnaln sisters.
“Rodeo Tragic was one of the first songs we wrote together one night when the four of us were hanging out over a selection of soft drinks. As we were recording the demo, I was making up lyrics and for some reason all I could think of was seeing a horse on the beach,” writes Ambrin. “Later on when I sat down to write proper lyrics, the words, ‘I’m just a horsey by the sea, I’m just a horsey doing me’ had already become part of the song. With some input from the others, the song gradually turned into an anthem for the freedom of horses.”
Directed by Eva Lazzaro, the track’s music video features the band polished up in matching knits as various images of horses frollicking are spliced throughout.
“The video was made by our friend Eva Lazzaro who has made a few other videos for bands in our friendship circle (Skydeck, Snowy Band and Good Morning). We just asked her to come along and film while we were shooting the photo for the cover, the band writes in an email to Ears to Feed. “We were hoping we would come out looking ridiculous, and as if we thought we were top models from the 90s, or a TV show created pop group. I don’t know if we managed this, but the footage of horses cut into the mix, and the outfits that Anila (our bass player) made for the photo shoot, hopefully, save the day.”
Listen to “Rodeo Tragic” below and preorder the album here.