Today’s video of the day is Pere Ubu – "Golden Surf II" released in 2014.
Pere Ubu’s “Golden Surf II” launches Carnival of Souls with a chaotic, urgent blast. The 2014 track hits fast and hard, setting the tone for one of the band’s most unsettling albums. The video pairs this raw energy with stark, distorted visuals that reflect the song’s explosive nature. Formed in Cleveland in the mid-1970s, Pere Ubu helped shape post-punk and art rock. Led by David Thomas, the band blends experimental noise with garage rock roots. Their sound often challenges traditional structure, making each release distinct.
Carnival of Souls came after Lady from Shanghai, released in 2013. While Lady from Shanghai leaned into sharp electronics and paranoia, Carnival of Souls took a more cinematic approach. The band had created a live underscore for the 1962 cult horror film Carnival of Souls. That experience inspired the album’s eerie, theatrical mood. “Golden Surf II” kicks off the record with a rush of distortion, pounding drums, and Thomas’s unmistakable vocals. Greil Marcus praised the track, saying it “shoots out like a flood.” The song’s intensity pulls listeners into a swirling world of dread and transformation.
The video mirrors this energy. Grainy footage, quick cuts, and surreal imagery emphasize the track’s nervous momentum. It feels urgent, strange, and thrilling—just like Pere Ubu’s best work. Clarinetist Darryl Boon joined the band for this era, adding an odd, atmospheric layer to several tracks. His presence helped shape Carnival of Souls into one of the band’s most theatrical albums. Though the band has evolved across decades—from The Modern Dance to Why I Hate Women—Pere Ubu remains unpredictable. Carnival of Souls fits into their catalog as a late-era statement of purpose. It’s haunted, noisy, and alive.
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