IFLTS: 'Untitled,' Interpol

Posted on Aug 9th 2007 2:00PM by Kim Davis
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'Untitled,' Interpol
From 2002's 'Turn on the Bright Lights'

I'm fascinated with passionate encounters or "love scenes" (both in films and those that happen in real life) that occur despite (or perhaps as a result of) dark circumstances. Read: star-crossed lovers who find themselves in a compromising situation, be it battling self-preservation, hedonistic tendencies, moral or ethical struggles, or otherwise. In-too-deep torrid affairs, for example.

Point being, if I were to say, be involved in such a situation, and needed to choose a fitting, dear-to-my-heart soundtrack, it would hands-down be this jaw-droppingly beautiful opening track to Interpol's debut album. Interpol -- a band whose music often lends itself to the cinematic -- crafted a song which reflects what I think (or maybe know) the aforementioned experience feels like.

The song creeps in like a drug -- layers of rhythm are added and all of a sudden, you're consumed. Paul Banks' sparse and quasi-promising, borderline reluctant lyrics, "Surprise, sometimes I'll come around," sound weak and unconvincing. But just when doubt ensues, the band launches into emotive, heavily-textured high-to-low arrangements. And then the inevitable: You come down. The pulsating bass line subsides and the song leaves you precisely where you started. Down. And wanting more.

[Sidenote: 'Friends' opted to use this (at the time) obscure track for the ~~horribly awkward~~ "momentous" Joey and Rachel kiss. That was a reckless use of a song I Freakin' Love. It really pissed me off.]

What song do you freakin' love? Write our next IFLTS. Send it to us at spinnereditor@aim.com

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