David Gray and Annie Lennox: Full Steam single details and video preview

As confirmed by AnnieLennox.com the new single of David Gray “Full Steam” featuring Annie Lennox is going to be released on November 23, 2009, on Polydor. If this is going to be a digital-only single or also physical release (the first single “Fugative” from David Gray’s new album “Draw The Line” is available from the UK in 7″ format) as well is not confirmed yet.

Read below a report by Fincher’s Quaterly Review about the shooting of the video that is going to come with the single and see a snippet from the set:

I discovered two of life’s great levellers this week. High visibility waistcoats and hard hats. These were compulsory accessories on Monday’s shoot unless you’re a pop star. I was fuming, not quite in the manner of the monolithic chimneys of Battersea Power Station, but my stylistic resistance was futile. The hair and make up boys have never looked so butch and were quite enjoying their new rugged personas. I was styling the video for the Annie Lennox and David Gray duet Full Steam Ahead. Director Andy Morahan has worked with David Bowie, Michael Jackson, George Michael and Aretha Franklin to name just a couple of his clients. He is also responsible for the West End Girls video. The story included smoke, swag, industrial wasteland and pursuit to accompany the desperate tension of the song.

A loose Bonnie and Clyde subplot has been employed, and Dave gets to drive a vintage Merc with money spewing out of the open top. For Annie it was a return to the scene of the crime. The Sex Crime in fact, as the video was shot here back in 1984. Battersea Power Station and the derelict building site that surrounds it is ludicrous considering it’s in a prime real estate position on the Thames. A massive wasteland in the middle of London. Absurd and quite surreal.

The lighting for the performance part was brilliant. Huge HMIs beamed lighting into an even smokier room with the two stoic performers rooted in dramatic postures. I’d like to shoot fashion shoots that way but the budgets barely cover the confectionary rider, let alone cranes.

The artists looked pretty damn sharp, even if I do say so myself. I can’t take much credit frankly except for perhaps enlisting the tailoring services of master style merchant Edward Sexton. Just look at the silhouettes that man has sculptured. Note Annie’s ‘Dick Tracy’ style hats are by Lock Hatters and Co. Their voices work together almost as well as my styling, heart felt and stirring. The video is going out in November and Full Steam Ahead is on Dave’s new Album, Draw The Line. Dave’s back and the music is as seriously good as the style in the video.