This was a very early version of Dimmer, back when Shayne Carter was really still figuring out what form his new project was going to take. It was another two years before Dimmer really kicked off with the much slicker “Evolution”. This early track feels a lot less polished, almost like a demo.
Shayne Carter plays a man on a mission, purposefully striding around downtown Auckland at night, clutching a leather briefcase. He even walks past the White Lady food truck and gives it a good stare, because you never know what’s lurking in those cheeseburgers.
Directed by Steve Morrison, it’s a very moody video and it seems to be another one influenced by that Tarantino cool. Just watch the interaction between Shayne and the taxi driver who does not approve of his cigarette smoking.
The YouTube comments suggest there may be other footage, with commenter Devilscucumber asking, “Is this the censored version? I feel we are missing a homicide somewhere…” Well, perhaps it’s better to have the menace implied rather than shown.
The taxi takes Shayne to a late-night cafe. Given his earlier visit to the White Lady, perhaps that’s all he was after – some good late-night kai. I bet that cafe does good nachos.
Best bit: the White Lady, good for late-night burgers.
Coincidental that this should come up a day or two after they play their final show …. which my ears are still ringing from!
I wish I could pretend that was deliberate, but it’s just a nice coincidence!
The Nuns pulled this from the air from memory, because of the untimely taxi driver deaths at the time of release.
Ah, that’s a bit of interesting history.
Barry Jenkin ex Radio With Pictures presenter and radio dj is the taxi driver