Flood by Todd Chandler (Dark Dark Dark)

FLOOD

with Dark Dark Dark
& Fall Harbor







"Flood is an experimental narrative journey. It begins on the water, on a fleet of hand crafted boats, pieced together from scrap and found materials . On water time twists and bends in mysterious ways. Some people aboard the rafts cannot remember a time before the water. Others are lost in their memories from a previous life on the land. Some remember the boats starting out as a summer project among friends. Others remember fleeing their homes. Still others remember that the way of living they used to know was no longer working, and that something had to give. As the flotilla creeps down the river the past, present, and future stories of the boats and their inhabitants becomes clearer and more elusive.

A mash-up of genres, Flood blends narrative, documentary, musical, and improvised experimental film. The film will be shot amidst the installation artist Swoon’s Swimming Cities of Switchback Sea project, in which seven homespun boats will be built and crewed by an eclectic group of artists and performers. The boats will float down the Hudson River conducting performances as they stop in towns along the way.

The primary cast of Flood is comprised of the bands Dark Dark Dark and Fall Harbor. The musician/actors will be performing in the film in addition to composing the score. There will be two final versions of the film: one which will be a stand-alone feature length film screened theatrically and at festivals, and another which will tour galleries, performance and community spaces in Spring 2010 with the musician/actors featured in the film providing a live musical score during screenings."


I just watched the trailer for Flood, which was brought to my attention by Chandler, and I must say I was blown away. Although I'm not much for thick rimmed glasses (shout out to Tallahassee), I will admit the film is gorgeous and seems like it will be an incredibly moving narrative like a mix between Mark Twain, river rats, Noah's ark, and two very talented--and not to mention aesthetically pleasing--bands. The presentation is awe-inspiring and the cinematography is seemingly outstanding. Definitely a strong collection of talented people. Check out the website and watch the teasers and buy the bands albums!

FLOODMOVIE.COM

FLOOD TEASER from flood movie on Vimeo.

Dark Dark Dark - The Snow Magic

Genre: Gypsies yess?
Year: 2008
Label: Blood Onion Records
Who: Nona Marie Invie, Marshall LaCount, Todd Chandler, Jonathan Kaiser
Where: Manhattan/Minneapolis
Like: crying while drinking on the streets in the slums of Russia in the 20s
Rating: 7/10

Compare to: Beirut, Firekites, Deer Tick, These United States, Dresden Dolls

Heavy strings and harmonious vocals make Dark Dark Dark's debut album The Snow Magic a pure vision of fluid instrumentation and jarring imagery. The band's past is so deeply woven within the dynamics of their sound and style that it is impossible to not be moved by this album, though it may be a tad too movie soundtrack sounding. Singing of ghosts, murders, and of course love, Dark Dark Dark's dueling male/female vocals make you wanna swirl around to embroidered paper doll cut-outs and cotton ball clouds. Its intense if you're in the mood for daunting gypsy music sung by semi-realistic gypsies.


Choice tracks: Ferment in D Minor, Dig a Grave


1. Ashes
2. Benefit of the Doubt
3. A Cloud Story
4. Colors
5. Dig a Grave
6. Ferment in Dm
7. Junk Bones
8. New York Song
9. A Spell for Letting Go
10. That Light
11. Trouble No More
12. Winter Coat
13. All the Things


Try It. Then Buy It.
More about the band.