Lee Ranaldo has shared a new music video for his recording of “Isolation”, which was first released by the Sonic Youth guitarist over two decades ago. Ronaldo’s cover of the John Lennon original first appeared on his 1998 solo album, Amarillo Ramp (for Robert Smithson), which is now available to stream in full on the guitarist’s Bandcamp page.
The new video, which arrived on Wednesday, features remastered audio from the 1991 recording session courtesy of Raül Refree. Ranaldo’s cover also features drumming from late British percussionist Epic Soundtracks (real name Kevin Paul Godfrey).
Ranaldo’s new video highlights footage of various locations around the world currently undergoing mass quarantine policies as shared by his friends including Yeah Yeah Yeahs drummer Brian Chase, and experimental rock guitarist Nels Cline. The mix of submitted footage takes viewers from the empty avenues of Times Square in New York City to the endless open space of the rural countryside, making for quite the travel experience for fans who remain stuck inside their homes and neighborhoods for the coming weeks and months.
“For video accompaniment I sent a request to friends far and wide around the globe, asking for brief personal video clips of the confinement from wherever they were,” Ranaldo explained. “What they saw out on their streets, in their living spaces; whatever subjective view on our current situation they wanted to send me. I cut them all together to the song as a sort of informal, intimate record of this moment.”
Watch the new music video for “Isolation” below:
Lee Ranaldo – “Isolation” Video
[Video: Lee Ranaldo]
Head to Ranaldo’s Bandcamp to listen to the 1998 album in full.