Singer and multi-instrumentalist Cass McCombs has released the music video for “I Cannot Lie,” a track from his new compilation album A Folk Set Apart: Rarities, B-Sides & Space Junk, Etc.
The music video was directed by Malcolm Pullinger, according to Pitchfork, and features clips cut together from the 2005 documentary film Following Sean. The documentary, directed by Ralph Arlyck, is a follow-up to the filmmaker’s 1969 short film “Sean.” Pullinger was a producer on Arlyck’s 2005 movie, making him a great choice to direct this music video centered around it. The song “I Cannot Lie,” recorded in 2003, was also used within the film.
The scenes from the film depict a number of things, including interviews, speeches, police brutality, riots and more – all in black and white. Though McCombs’ music is from a more modern era than the footage appears to be, the sound fits well with the visuals. His fuzzy, guitar-driven alternative rock makes you feel like you might be listening to music recorded in the 1960s. Watch the video for yourself below, via YouTube.
McCombs made a statement about the video, which depicts a lot of relevant imagery even today:
Alongside its original release on 7 inch in 2003, “I Cannot Lie” appeared in the documentary Following Sean by Ralph Arlyck. I had been a fan of Ralph’s work, and my friend Malcolm was working with him on the film and introduced us (I actually wrote some of “Your Mother and Father” on Ralph’s piano). This video is an excerpt from Following Sean, slightly reworked. These images from the Bay Area in 1969 still seem relevant today, especially the shots of protesters being beaten by militant police.
Although most of the material included on the A Folk Set Apart album isn’t exactly new, it probably has fans excited about more music from McCombs. His last full-length studio album release was 2013’s Big Wheel And Others, though he recently collaborated with Soldiers of Fortune on the track “Old Roman Wall” from their latest album Early Risers.
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