How appropriate to have a new video from a director called Noel in the lead-up to Christmas. Although Noel Paul of That Go's video for Låpsley's Falling Short has imagery more associated with the other big Christian holiday.

It is ostensibly a one-shot video - beautifully shot on 35mm film by DoP Jake Scott - in which the singer (she's from Liverpool, not Scandinavia) cradles a near naked and heroic-looking young man, seemingly ill or near-death, but also capable of occasional and exquisite movement. And although this was shot on Steadicam, there's trickery (that Noel created himself in post) that suggests far more expensive motion control work.   

An intriguing and beautiful work, and a fine introduction to XL Recordings' latest signing.

NOEL PAUL:

"The Låpsley video was an exercise in simplicity. A single choreographic gesture, lit with a single light, filmed in a single steadicam shot operated by Rich James and DoP Jake Scott.

"We could only afford enough film for four takes, so that added an element of suspense and risk to the shoot. The last take was the best, and after we scanned and graded it I spent a few days and nights doing some intense after effects work."