Video Premiere: To Kill a Petty Bourgeoisie: "Man With the Shovel, Is the Man I'm Going to Marry"
To Kill a Petty Bourgeoisie might kill a party, but they'll kill it exquisitely. The Minneapolis duo surrounds the otherworldy, Cocteau Twins-esque vocals of Jenha Wilhelm amid the electronic textures of Mark McGee. Over the decorous, nearly seven-minute run time of "The Man With the Shovel, Is the Man I'm Going to Marry", from forthcoming Kranky debut The Patron, the repetitive melody, hissing noise, and distant drums combine for a sound that is at once ominous and luxuriant.
The video for this verbosely titled track follows suit, contrasting realistic handheld footage of a really fun apartment party with shadowy shots of the young revelers after they've all been stabbed or asphyxiated. The beer is flowing, flashbulbs are going off, and couples are kissing-- and then suddenly there's blood, blood and plastic bags. All the while, Wilhelm is present and yet not present, much the way her voice is so central to the track but also virtually indecipherable, buried in echoing effects. She flickers in and out of view on a tattered green couch. The TV is showing static. Yup, one hell of a party.