U2 are releasing a series of graffiti-inspired films based on their latest album, Songs of Innocence. Due out in December, Films of Innocence consists of 11 videos by “11 of the world’s most celebrated urban artists”, each representing a different track from the album.
Although the band have yet to announce the release, news of the concept has been confirmed by a band representative, and details of Films of Innocence were available for iTunes pre-order as of 18 November. Unlike the original Songs of Innocence, this “visual counterpoint” isn’t free: released on 9 December, it will cost £6.99, or £8.99 for the HD version.
According to the item description, “U2 pioneered [this] project to celebrate the unique democratic power of urban art”. “Taking the political murals of Northern Ireland as a reference point”, the band recruited street artists Oliver Jeffers, Robin Rhode, D*Face, Mode 2, Chloe Early, Ganzeer, Vhils, Maser, ROA, DALeast, and Todd James. “Powerful and cognizant, their works scale the globe, play with time, and weave between heightened reality and animated dreamscapes.” Overall, Films of Innocence is directed by Jefferson Hack, co-founder of Dazed & Confused magazine.
Films of Innocence’s official trailer shows an emphasis on animated and stop-motion work, with an aesthetic that’s miles away from its most obvious antecedent: the “visual album” for Beyoncé’s self-titled fifth LP, released last year.
On 16 November, U2 announced that they would have to postpone a scheduled residency on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Bono “injured his arm in a cycling spill”, “requir[ing] some surgery to repair it”. Just days before, Bono allegedly “cheated death” when the rear door fell off his private jet, mid-flight. No one was hurt, although the singer’s luggage apparently tumbled out of the sky.
The album release of Songs of Innocence is currently at No 58 on the UK’s official albums chart.
