Seven Nines and Tens Premiere Video for “Popular Delusions” From Over Opiated in a Forest of Whispering Speakers
Vancouver progressive noise rockers Seven Nines and Tens release their third album, Over Opiated in a Forest of Whispering Speakers, through Willowtip Records on Jan. 7. The first single from the new record is “Popular Delusions,” premiering a new video below directed by Bobby Markos, and its streaming ahead of a listed Dec. 29 digital issue only brings encouraging considerations for the trio’s first outing since 2017’s Set the Controls for the Heart of the Slums (review here), upping the clarity of their self-production while approaching their floating melodies with additional confidence and a deeper sense of arrangement.
Let’s get two things straight. First, the universe is fucked and everything is awful. Second, I have nowhere near enough education in noise, post-hardcore, ’90s emo, shoegaze or whatever else to properly dissect what Seven Nines and Tens are accomplishing here. To my weary ears, “Popular Delusions” effectively moves from a heavy Western guitar line calling back to Earth or Across Tundras into a proggy melodic wash of post-noise rock, gorgeously lush in its unfolding but as they show about 
a minute and a half into the 4:43 video, still able to host some volatility of tone.
There are moments of the procession that bring to mind what Hum were able to do after reemerging from the ether last year, but Dave Cotton (guitar/vocals), Max Madrus (bass/vocals) and Alexander Glassford (drums/vocals) bring a harder-edged spin to “Popular Delusions” that builds from where they were four years ago on Set the Controls for the Heart of the Slums. As an opening track and a first showcase for Over Opiated in a Forest of Whispering Speakers, it is enticing, though given the band’s past, I wouldn’t expect everything else to follow suit with what they’re doing here.
And perhaps when it comes to my own ignorance, it’s not so terrible in this case, since Seven Nines and Tens have so obviously put the priority on individualism, on making something new from their influences, rather than carbon-copying those influences themselves. Stick with “Popular Delusions” all the way through. Both the hypnotic video and the driving, harmonized, multi-tiered payoff of the song itself are more than worth it, and they could hardly be more appropriate to end the song with the repeated line, “In the middle of a fever dream.”
Video, quotes from Cotton and Markos, and preorder info follow.
Enjoy:
Seven Nines & Tens, “Popular Delusions” video premiere
David Cotton on “Popular Delusions”:
We started working with Bobby when he made a video for the Seven Nines & Tens song “Fight for your Right to Partial Relevance” in late 2019. Although the clip is unreleased (it’ll be released eventually) myself and the band were blown away by his work. Upon release of our new single Seven Nines bassist Max Madrus was particularly vocal about working with Bobby again. When Bobby gave a description of his treatment for the clip I was astounded. Our producer Adam Vee said the ending gave him chills. It’s almost uncanny to me how he conveyed the song in images. I feel like his video may complete the song.
Bobby Markos on “Popular Delusions”:
When the band sent me “Popular Delusions” to work with, I immediately began listening to the track while going through archival materials, trying to find a look to use as a jumping off point. I loved the concept of rooms containing impossibly large settings, so I began 3D modeling a modest sized home that would contain a variety of vast landscapes. I eventually modeled seven different room settings and then used some basic arithmetic to line them up linearly on the z-axis. Then, using After Effects 3D camera function, I moved through the entire body of work while syncing up with all of the song’s dynamic points. The final scene is a 3D modeling of the album art for ‘Over Opiated in a Forest of Whispering Speakers’.
The first single from the 3rd Seven Nines & Tens record “Over Opiated in a Forest of Whispering Speakers.”
Pre-order the record via Willowtip Records/Universal Music Group https://sevenninesandtens.bandcamp.com
Release date: January 7, 2022
Video created by Documavision
https://www.instagram.com/documavision/
https://www.facebook.com/documavision/
Recorded at Rain City Records by Matt Roach
https://www.facebook.com/Raincityrecords
https://www.mattroach.ca/
Music, lyrics, and guitar are written by David Cotton. Maximillian Madrus played Bass and sings. Alexander Glassford played the Drums and sings as well. Both contributed to arranging and pre-producing the tune. Matt Roach co-wrote portions of the vocal melodies and lyrics. He also produced the song along with Adam Vee and Cotton. Adam mixed and mastered the tune as well.
Seven Nines & Tens on Facebook
Seven Nines & Tens on Bandcamp
Tags: British Columbia, Canada, Over Opiated in a Forest of Whispering Speakers, Seven Nines and Tens, Seven Nines and Tens Over Opiated in a Forest of Whispering Speakers, Vancouver
