Austin instrumental minimalists [Balmorhea](https://balmorheamusic.com/) have teamed up with Los Angeles-based artist and filmmaker [Claire Cottrell](http://clairecottrell.com/) for a trilogy of short films/music videos for their upcoming album _Clear Language,_ their first since 2012.

The collaboration sees Cottrell shooting the videos [using just an iPhone](https://creators.vice.com/en_us/article/gybpym/amazing-iphone-photography-awards), with no script or outline. Instead the idea was, in order to create a visual accompaniment to the duo's music, Cottrell would capture events in a more natural way&#x2014;with some minimal stylistic flourishes&#x2014;exploring "locations [not often thought of](https://creators.vice.com/en_us/article/xykk3d/heres-a-2000-mile-digital-wall-of-immigrant-artwork-to-rival-trumps-barrier) as rich in beauty or visual value."

The trilogy kicks off with the music video for new song "Sky Could Undress," and takes place in areas around Zona Norte, which sits north of the US&#x2013;Mexico Border, near the border wall that separates San Ysidro from Tijuana. "I was born about 10 miles from the border and growing up it didn't mean what it does today," [notes](https://balmorheamusic.com/clear-language-film-trilogy) Cottrell. "More people should see it with their own eyes, and take the time to learn the history."

Like the video for "Sky Could Undress," the whole trilogy taps into the current political climate but offers some relief to the discord of 2017, being a more meditative, mending, and reflective way to approach the issues. So each video is set somewhere not only "politically relevant" but beautiful, too.

"It was an opportunity to create a body of work: photos, moving image, printed matter, a complete narrative," says Cottrell about the collaboration. "I wanted to shoot it all on my phone. It feels like the language of our time, definitely of my generation, and it's become such a familiar way to observe a place. The piece is one extended snapshot&#x2014;a lot of it was shot out of the window of my car."

Film Nº1 in the Clear Language Film Trilogy by Claire Cottrell

“There are no clear borders, only merging invisible to the sight.” ― Dejan Stojanovic

Soon after Balmorhea finished the work on the music for ‘Clear Language’ they began thinking about how they would want to represent to music visually.  They turned to LA-based artist Claire Cottrell. They were attracted to her visual work for her rich use of color, her ability to communicate depth with simplicity and her distinct visual language.  Through a series of conversations the group decided that Cottrell would embark on a trilogy of films reflecting the unspoken themes of ‘Clear Language’. The images from these films would provide the source material for every visual aspect of the album.  Shot entirely on the iPhone and with no script or outline, the director would explore locations not often thought of as rich in beauty or visual value.

The political climate of early 2017 weighed heavily on the group as they discussed how to proceed. Balmorhea’s music for many reflects a deeply emotional and human landscape that touches a wide range of emotion that is often subject to individual interpretation. Throughout the years the group has been approached by many listeners with deeply personal stories of how their music served them in a time of suffering, healing or celebration; it seems to be a truly unifying force.  At a time in the world where there seems to be a never ending stream of conflict and anger, the group decided that they wanted to set each of the three videos in a location that was both beautiful and politically relevant. The first installation of the trilogy was shot in the area surrounding Zona Norte, CA, just north of the Mexico-US Border and the walls that separate San Ysidro from Tijuana.

The series as a whole intends to subvert stale political dialogues and a chance for the music to open a window to a deeper measure of understanding and a new-found intimacy.

Pre-Order Clear Language:
Bandcamp https://balmorhea.bandcamp.com/album/clear-language
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/clear-language/id1252681306?ls=1&app=itunes
WV http://westernvinyl.com/shop/wv150

Balmorhea
https://balmorheamusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/balmorhea/
https://twitter.com/balmorheamusic
https://www.instagram.com/balmorheamusic/

Balmorhea - "Sky Could Undress"

Balmorhea's album _Clear Language_ is out September 22, 2017 via Western Vinyl. Pre-order the album [here](http://westernvinyl.com/shop/wv150), learn more about the band [here](https://balmorheamusic.com/), see more from artist Claire Cottrell [here](http://clairecottrell.com/), and learn more about Balmorhea and Claire Cottrell's _Clear Language_ film trilogy [here](https://balmorheamusic.com/clear-language-film-trilogy).

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[_Trump's Border Wall Got a Redesign by a Latino-Owned Contracting Firm_](https://creators.vice.com/en_us/article/kbvbwx/trumps-border-wall-got-a-redesign-by-a-latino-owned-contracting-firm)

_[A Japanese Art Collective Had a Funeral for Liberty on the US&#x2013;Mexico Border](https://creators.vice.com/en_us/article/pgq73b/a-japanese-art-collective-had-a-funeral-for-liberty-on-the-us-mexico-border)_

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[Premiere] iPhone-Shot Music Video Explores Beauty on the US–Mexico Border

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This story is over 5 years old.

[Premiere] iPhone-Shot Music Video Explores Beauty on the US–Mexico Border

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