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We first met Panda Kopanda back in 2007, when we filmed their Crescent Arts Centre gig as part of a short film project we were making. As we unashamedly admitted back then, Panda Kopanda are one of Bandwidth’s personal favourite Belfast bands – so the opportunity to work with them again was always oh-so-secretly hoped for.

In the winter of 2008 that happy wish came true. The band approached us looking for a debut video single for their achingly-anticipated upcoming album ‘This Hope Will Kill Us’ – the concept was a total eyeopener to us. Like a lighting bolt it was apparent to us – ‘Spirals’ wasn’t to be a single in the traditional sense, but rather a visual ‘accompaniment’ to the album. Makes sense if you think about it – what else are music videos?

Furthermore, even though the Pandas’ Crescent Arts Center gig had been originally intended as part of a short film, it never occurred to us at the time to include the film’s protagonist, Heather (played so well by Ellen Turley, who you may recognise from The Pecadillos), as she watches the band play during the scene. ‘Spirals’ was intended to remedy this, and continue the story of Heather some time later. Ellen came back to reprise the role once more (albeit with shorter hair) and the band obliged, lead singer Gavin confusing matters by turning up in a delighful sparkly dress (don’t ask don’t tell). Watch the leary camera angles and ‘drunken’ wobbling frame – then the mystery feet skulking away down the staircase at the video’s end. There’s a story going on here that doesn’t involve the band – its a drunken love story between two spectators. But the dress doesn’t have anything to do with it.

And yes, despite some brief cutaway filming grabbed during soundcheck, this is all footage of the band playing the song live, captured in one solid take, at the Club Flick-knife night in the Pavillion, Belfast, the week before Hallowe’en 2008 (that explains the plastic cobwebs then).

Director/Camera: Will McConnell
Bandwidth Films 2008

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