Laurence Hills directs a stylish promo in a classic fashion for London-based art-rock outfit DEADLETTER.

Hills' monochromatic video for the band's Mere Mortal leans on references of Seventies street photography, and the trademark hard contrast and smoke-filled streets of film noir, in a series of well-crafted vignettes in different London locations, where the band, and particularly frontman Zac Lawrence, offer sharp-suited charisma.

Beautifully shot by DoP Sam Finney and designed by Molly Hackney, explores the sense of community and togetherness in the wake of tragedy, the concept celebrates people brought together by the loss of a loved one, grieving and grooving simultaneously.

Evocative and nostalgic, the video has a great energy, feeling gritty and raw yet also somehow dreamlike. And this was achieved under the strain of a very tight schedule: shot just one week before its release, producer Masha Thorpe coordinated the entire post process in just four days.

It ends with the sixpiece band's image frozen as a picture on a wall, next to a portrait of the late Steve Mackey - Pulp bandmember and director, whose elegant sense of style could have been an inspiration for Hills's video. A poignant ending to an impressive piece of work.