“Pretty at Dawn” by Golem Dance Cult: Where Horror Films and Dance Floors Collide
Knowing what to when and exactly makes you different from other artists and this is what this band has done. Sometimes you don’t really need new music, but resurfacing the gold old ones makes it interesting. And Golem Dance Cult just kicked off the year with a brand new video for their track “Pretty at Dawn,” and it is exactly the kind of weirdness we need right now. Based in Belgrave, Australia, this project is the work of two old friends, Charles Why and Laur. They describe their vibe as an old horror movie directed by Dali and colored by Andy Warhol. If that doesn’t make you want to click play, I don’t know what will. And if it was a movie, it will always be my favorite.
The song is part of their album “Shamanic Faultlines,” and it features some really cool guests. Inga Liljestrom provides these haunting, ghost-like vocals, while Jean-Philippe Feiss adds a deep, moody cello into the mix. It sounds a bit like if Killing Joke and Beck had a baby that grew up listening to Bauhaus. It is heavy and gritty, but it has this mechanical groove that makes you want to move.
One thing I love about these guys is that they don’t care about being perfect. They recorded it at Black Obsidian Woodshed Studio and focused entirely on the vibe. It feels raw and alive. The lyrics dig into the messy side of relationships, basically reminding us that things are rarely what they seem on the surface. It is dark, ritualistic, and honestly a bit addictive.
You know that moment where it’s all glamorous and shiny, till that side of them kicks in, then all their dark side appears, and you begin to wander. People pretend these days that their relationships are all perfect, but deep down when they alone, they know it’s draining them. But just cause she’s pretty at dawn, they choose to stay anyways.
The video itself is a trip. Created by Milan Bruneau and edited by Klaus Karloff, it fits the “ritual meets rave” energy perfectly. It’s meant to be watched with the lights down low. It’s a bit of a requiem for a dying romance, but with enough electronic energy to keep it from being a total downer. Like I said earlier, if it was a movie, it will be ma favorite. The amount of hidden truth this gem brings out is crazy and entertaining, imagine living with your pretty neighbor, and you been stalking them a bit to get their attention, then one day you chance on them devouring someone inside their room, but next day, she’s all pretty and walking as if nothing happened.
You can grab the album on vinyl if you’re into that, including a “splatter” version that looks as wild as the music sounds. This is the second video they’ve put out to promote the record, and it definitely proves these guys are in a lane of their own. If you’re bored of the usual pop stuff and want something with a bit more soul and grit, give “Pretty at Dawn” a listen.
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