Kim Gordon takes a cinematic turn on new track ‘Bye Bye’
Sonic Youth legend Kim Gordon has returned to her solo project, announcing her sophomore release, The Collective, with this twisted little track. Writing a perfect soundtrack for raging and reckless women, ‘Bye Bye’ sees her go on the run.
Lyrically, the track winds through nothing much more than a packing list. Name-dropping designers, essential items and little reminders; written down, they could be notes-app bullet points, but paired with a deliciously dark instrumental score, ‘Bye Bye’ is imbued with a cinematic edge. And the the track suddenly feels like it is plucked straight from the movies.
Gordon’s signature bass and guitar styling is glorious. The track is glitchy and aggressive without ever being too much. It takes it all just far enough without tipping over the edge. The song sees Gordon lean on long-term collaborator, producer Justin Raisen. His previous work with other left-field exaggerated artists like Charli XCX and Yves Tumor made him the perfect man for this job, coming together for a cinematically overblown track that merges’ Gordon’s punk history with Raisen’s electronic education.
It feels weird to say that a song is for fans of a film, but ‘Bye Bye’ is definitely for Gone Girl fans. It feels like it would be a perfect alternative soundtrack to the infamous ‘cool girl’ scene as the glitchy undertone pulses through the track like strains of pure anger and evil.
Telling the story of a woman on the run without providing any context or back story, the music video also seems to borrow from the movie as the actor hacks off her hair with a stone-cold stare in the mirror. A song for fans of unlikable female characters, women with rage, and cold, calculated mindsets – ‘Bye Bye’ captures that energy.
From the music video, directed by Clara Balzary, to the production, to Gordon’s enduring musical talent, the track feels like a coming together of perfectly suited parts. Suggesting big things to come on the full album, it really seems like Gordon has the team around her to bring out her best work.
Managing to make a track designed to signify complete sensory overload and the further extent of panic and rage yet make it addictively listenable is a feat. It’s proof by Gordon continues to be a leading light in the alternative scene, and why we’re already excited for the record, coming March 8th.
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