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Watch 2:54’s Murky Dream-Pop Video ‘You’re Early’

Moody British rockers 2:54 aren’t necessarily morning people. The last time guitarist Colette Thurlow puked, she told us recently, it was after a night opening for fellow ’90s anthem-churners the Big Pink. Led by Thurlow and sister Hannah, the band deals in darkly brooding dream-pop, more akin to similarly 4AD-indebted groups like School of Seven Bells and Trailer Trash Tracys than latest 4AD signee SpaceGhostPurrp.

So if 2:54 — one of our must-see acts at SXSW — show up early, you know it’s serious. After a couple of U.K.-only singles, the crew is set to release its self-titled debut album on May 28 via Fat Possum, and “You’re Early” is the first video selection. “I just wanna be close to you,” the sisters sing, harmonizing with each other, on a patient yet muscular song with stalker-like themes. They’ve been watching us. Oh, shit.

The newly posted video directed by Jeppe Kolstrup, who has worked with the band before, teases out this sense of quasy witching-hour dread. The band powers through “You’re Early” from behind a thick, color-shifting fog, with the Thurlow sisters looking as severe as can be. Dark-clad figures wave flags and bust out ballet-like dance moves in the murk. A lone cobwell is struck. The sense of foreboding keeps building until, when the video ends, it’s still unresolved. Look out! What’s that behind you?!

2:54 Tour Dates:
April 2 – Norwich, UK @ Waterfront Studio
April 4 – Manchester, UK @ The Deaf Institue
April 5 – Glasgow, UK @ Captain’s Rest Glasgow
April 10 – Bristol, UK @ Thekla
April 11 – Brighton, UK @ The Green Door Store
April 12 – Tumbridge Wells, UK @ Forum
April 13 – Liverpool, UK @ The Shipping Forecast
April 14 – Leeds, UK @ Cockpit
June 7 – London, UK @ Scala
June 9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory
June 10 – Washington, DC @ Rocknroll Hotel
June 11 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
June 13 – Boston, MA @ TT The Bears
June 14 – Montreal, QC @ Divan Orange
June 15 – Toronto, ON @ NXNE/Lee’s Palace
June 16 – Columbus, OH @ TBD
June 17 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
June 18 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
June 21 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
June 22 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
June 23 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore
June 25 – San Francisco, CA @ Independent
June 26 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
June 27 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah

2:54 Track List:

  1. “Revolving”
  2. “You’re Early”
  3. “Easy Undercover”
  4. “A Salute”
  5. “Scarlet”
  6. “Sugar”
  7. “Circuitry”
  8. “Watcher”
  9. “Ride”
  10. “Creeping”