Video: Friendly Fires, “Kiss of Life”

story Julianne Escobedo Shepherd

“Kiss of Life” is the new single from rural Brits Friendly Fires, a mass of their signature salty-sweet hooks and house-informed rhythm patterns, plus some drum syncopation that may indicate they’ve been steeping in some UK funky house as of late (quick, somebody remix this). Profiled in FADER #57, where we were privy to their first ever margaritas (we’re assuming those weren’t the last), basically these dudes can do no wrong in our eyes. But this video, while beautifully shot, is giving us red-flaggy vibes, like the whole “mask-wearing dudes on ~~African~~ Brazilian drums=the rhythm of life!” thing, and we’re not sure if we should blame Kanye, Paul Simon or Tom Cruise. Either way the song is a total jam.