Here in San Francisco, getting naked in the streets isn’t as prevalent as non-residents might assume. Sure, there’s no law against public nudity — save for a recent measure prohibiting stripping down inside restaurants and requiring those baring it all outdoors to put down a cloth barrier before reclining on public seating — but rarely is it toasty enough in the City By The Bay to go out sans a jacket or light sweater. One still encounters the stray nude or three braving the brisk conditions (always men), but such full-on displays are typically concentrated in The Castro.
In the music video for “Human Condition,” the debut song from new San Francisco pop-rockers Nova Albion, a young man and woman separately traverse the city’s 49 square miles in their altogether, free of clothing and neighborhood boundaries. The pair ultimately meets up atop a vista, the city laid out at their feet.
The clip is obviously NSFW, though the most skin viewers are subjected to is a lot of back and a little crack:
Music video starring half-naked pedestrians aside, the captivating sound of “Human Condition” pulled me in upon first spin. Providing some context, Nova Albion frontman Jayson Martinovich tells me the band is “highly influenced by U2, Arcade Fire, Tears For Fears, and Prince.” Formed in 2011, the four-piece also draws much from their environs, as the video demonstrates. “We share a deep love of San Francisco and its physical and multi-cultural landscape. We live among art and ever-changing weather systems and write from that feeling and inspiration,” he says.
“Human Condition” is the first single from Nova Albion’s forthcoming album, recorded with Michael Patterson (She Wants Revenge, Trent Reznor, Ladytron) and Nic Jodoin (Great Northern, Nightmare Air, The Morlocks). No release date yet as Martinovich says they’re fielding interest from record labels on the strength of “Human Condition,” but to expect “more singles and some cool covers” from the band soon.
Free download of Nova Albion – “Human Condition” via SoundCloud.
Also, check out this fantastic ambient remix of “Human Condition” by Los Angeles DJ/production duo Tribe Of Zebras, which reminds me of The Orb and William Orbit:
Free download of Nova Albion – “Human Condition” (Tribe Of Zebras Remix) via the player above.
