Live Review: WATCH: Polica ft. Justin Vernon ‘Tiff’ (Official Video)

When POLICA and JUSTIN VERNON debuted their new single ‘Tiff’ at Coachella, the reviews raved about the smooth harmony and rich atmosphere. But when put to visuals, the track delves into dark, inner torment and leaves us wincing.

Filmed in nauseatingly narrow close-up, the video features a lurid torture scene where frontwoman Channy Leanagh is both guard and victim. It is absolutely ruthless: asphyxiation, beating with a hammer and, at the height of Vernon’s soulful vocals, water boarding.

It’s not so much a thriller film as a brutal display of self-loathing. The video description is simply: “A portrait of a woman as her own worst enemy.” Directors Nabil & Mike Piscitelli have certainly brought in the violence, streaked in tones of grey and black (and red).

At times it is too confronting to focus on the music (especially with screams added in) but it is chilling to have the free-flowing vocals up against such haunting images.

Words by Antigone Anagnostellis

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