Gothic dark gaze (or is that doom rock?) is alive and well in New York City. The latest entry into this forever cult genre comes from the band Winkie, who just released their first video ‘Illuminated’ (streaming below). The track is included in their full-length album “One Day We Pretended To Be Ghosts." Filmed by friends from the band Prima Primo (who recently performed at New Museum in New York), the video features alternating images of muted primary colors (red and blue) and stark black and white. Painted fingernails hold keyboards, while dark, murky images detail hands on guitars, in a constant slow motion atmosphere that reflects the song’s droney nature. With female vocals over a descending bass progression, thumping tom toms and clacking rimshot percussion, the track is sonically reminiscent of The Cure’s darkest period (“Pornography” era), although the super distorted vocals make the lyrics completely undiscernable. The band is working on the release of a new video for another track (“Arrows") later this month. – Dave Cromwell