Florence and the Machine | Queen of Peace/Long & Lost

Earlier this week, Florence + the Machine released a double-feature video for songs "Queen of Peace" and "Long & Lost." Directed again by the incredible Vincent Haycock, the duo shift gears introducing a new theme: mediation. 

It's been so long between the words we spoke
Will you be there up on the shore, I hope
You wonder why it is that I came home
I figured out where I belong

In previous videos, Welch has been a combatant directly involved in the swarming brawls -- sometimes with her lover and other times with herself. However, in this new video, her main role is mediator as she tries to placate the aggression between the village and her lover, as well as mend the hurt within her relationship.

Mediator is a tiring feat and every woman has her threshold. Though she "does her best to please," there comes a time for her to say her peace.

I will say that after my initial viewing of the video, which is more so a short film, it fell short for me. I think this is because I was so invested in the previous videos which were more literal in the fact that they were a visual representation of Welch's feelings and a poetic display of what was actually occurring in her relationship. Whereas, this double-feature is more fictional with other characters fueling the plot and driving the action. 

Or maybe it's because I thrived on the former videos' confrontation. Like Flo says -- "Maybe I've always been more comfortable in chaos."

Regardless, this dual-track short film is a work of art. I put my foolish and selfish expectations in check and watched it again...and again. With each viewing, I uncovered a new element that drew me in. It's beautiful and I absolutely love the one-take of the latter "Long & Lost" portion as Welch's character comes to terms with her decision to distance herself for the sake of inner peace. 

And so, I'm left with only one question:

when is a feature releasing?

xxChris