After the prerelease of ‘Crispy Skin’, Squid have dropped a mesmerising new track and music video for their latest single, ‘Building 650’. An experimental mixture of trance-inducing sound and a bustling Tokyo backdrop give hint to the musical chaos their third album Cowards will bring.
Squid performed in Japan in 2022 at the Summer Sonic Festival and were clearly hit with inspiration. Singer and drummer Ollie Judge’s surreal lyricism combined with the busy instrumental arrangement are a reflection of the buzzing anxiety felt in lively cities like Tokyo as a tourist.
Shot on film, the video encapsulates the colourful beauty of Tokyo in a raw and exposing light. Hazy city landscapes cutting to action shots of actors Hiroki Sato and Akari Mimura bring a nostalgic tone similar to 90s noir films like Chungking Express. The dreamy film visuals add contrast to the quintet’s accurately described “anxiety rock” genre said in an interview with Nina.
‘Building 650’ is a near 4-minute whirlwind of heavily layered melody and lyrical tension, capturing Squid’s lawless composition style. Following the release of their new album, Cowards, in February, the band will commence a UK and European tour that will definitely be worth attending.
Words by Izzy Logie
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