The filmmaker behind some of the most unique movies to come out in recent years, “Ex Machina” and “Annihilation,” is none other than Alex Garland. Taking a break from sci-fi feature films for a moment, Garland sat in the director’s chair for a music video that turned into a little “Ex Machina” reunion by the sea.
Garland directed a beautiful music video for the band Beak (sometimes stylized as BEAK>). This marks the fourth known collaboration between Garland and Beak>, as the band did the score to Ex-Machina and Annihilation (or at least Geoff Barrow co-did).
The video which is mainly autumnal shots of beaches, roads, fields, and camera viewfinders, stars another “Ex Machina” alum, Sonoya Mizuno. Throughout the video, she comes in and out of shot.
The band’s synth sound coupled with the mystery and eerieness of the video makes it both relaxing and slightly anxiety-inducing, as you’re sat there wondering what is happening to the woman. This shouldn’t be a surprising feeling, considering the collaboration the band and Garland did on Annialation.
The Bristol-based trio, led by drummer Geoff Barrow, makes music generally consisting only of bass, drums, voice, and drippy analog synth. Their songs are more like extended instrumentals and seemingly send you into a rhythmic trance.
Garland and the band previously released another version of the video, cut to an older take of “When We Fall” that appeared on Beak>’s 2015 “split” EP with alter ego <Keab. You can watch the new version of the clip below.
Beak> are currently on tour, with a few forthcoming U.S. dates including an appearance at the Desert Daze festival in California. Their newest album “>>>” arrives this fall.