Can't Go Back

Album: Beautiful Future (2008)
Charted: 48
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Songfacts®:

  • This song was produced by Paul Epworth. Among his other production credits are "Foundations" by Kate Nash, which he also co-wrote, "Graffiti" for Maximo Park and "Helicopter," "So Here We Are" and "Banquet" for Bloc Party.
  • The video features a number of models including, Lily Cole, being dispatched by a cruel maniac. It was directed by Kim Gehrig who recalls on Promo News: "When I was researching this video I spent an entire weekend locked up in my flat watching Italian horror movies. I was home alone and by Sunday night I was so completely freaked out, I couldn't even go to the shop for milk, and had to drink black coffee.

    Bobby (Gillespie) was so great to work with. He really got into the idea - although he was pretty keen to be the one to kill the girls himself, and it took a little while to talk him round! Bobby is very original in the way he performs and incredibly compelling to watch. The idea of the colored light corridor was to give him an unusual stage on which to perform. I wanted him to be the central force in the video, and for it to feel like he was almost willing the deaths.
    Katy England styled the video and we went for a subtle '70s vibe. We managed to get great models to star in the deaths - Lily Cole, Alice Dellal, Rosemary Fergusson and Kiera Gormley. Very easy on the eye, and by the way big up the fabulous hair and make-up team of Petros Petrohilos and Eamonn Hughes.
    The final image of each death was really important. I wanted each one to be almost like the murderer was an artist creating images. I think Lily's chandelier hat is my favorite. (Director of Photography) Tom Townend and I got into the 'giallo' mood with the colourful lighting. We wanted to use strong colours, a bit psychedelic without it becoming too sickly. The art direction, by Gregg Shoulder, also had that retro feel. The most difficult thing was probably constructing the rig for the chandelier to land on Lily's head."

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