Readers of GIITTV’s ‘Nordic Music Scene’ may be familiar with Known as Tymm, aka Tommy Blixt. Ambage is his new band, described as a mix of prog rock, emo and psychedelia. Blixt, who previously focused on religiously-themed songs (‘Heavenly Realm’ and ‘Serpent, Holy Serpent’ for example) has changed direction somewhat with his latest effort.
It’s a strange one. ‘Blank Vision’ is a song about experiencing a panic attack. The story takes place in the mind of the character played in the video by Katrin Berndt. Berndt is an interesting character in her own right. She’s a serial YouTuber, one of the best known in Sweden and beyond with over 400,000 subscribers, who is recognised for her various varieties of vlog on her eponymous channel. She often posts about makeup, tattoos (she seems to be covered in them), and her own personal life. It isn’t known if that personal life includes panic attacks but her most infamous video is called ‘REVIEW: Manic Panic Virgin Snow’, so there is a fair chance it does.
The message is that you as a person can experience terrible things in your mind to the point that it feels as if you’re killing yourself.
Having been subjected to a few such unpleasant attacks myself, I can’t recall ever feeling like I was being drowned, tortured, or pulled apart, or like hanging myself, and I certainly didn’t dismember my teddy bear.
But the black and white minimalism of the video, allied to the almost subliminal snatches of blood red, intense lyrical content and a manic, pulsating beat really can convince you that such outcomes are conceivable.
The video was recorded and edited by Hannes Hollender but having seen Blixt’s videos before and having commented on his ability to build atmosphere, both aurally and visually, I reckon he had more than a hand in this one as well.
Before you watch it, there is a warning that the content could be disturbing, recommending viewer discretion. It isn’t explicit but it does make you feel uncomfortable.
