The fourteenth track in my All-Time Top 25 Tunes is number eight, ‘Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors’ by Editors.
There are a couple of reasons why this far-too-often overlooked gem of musical excellence made it in to my All-Time Top 25.
The opening lyrics is one reason:
‘Pull the blindfold down,
Until your eyes can’t see.
Now run as fast as you can,
Through this field of trees’
Mean anything to you?
To me they perfectly describe a brilliant yet haunting scene in the 2001-released, Spanish film ‘Intacto’.
And that film – Intacto – is one of my all-time favourite films.
Hearing those lyrics sung transports me back to the cinema where I sit, engrossed in/shocked by that film.
In equal measures.
Aside from chiming with a thought-provoking film, ‘Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors’ has much to recommend it from a musical angle too.
I love the way the track subtly builds to an almost noisesome yet easily overlooked crescendo.
The subtle backing vocals play a brilliant supporting role, often hidden by the screaming guitarwork.
It’s a work of underlying subtlety which has to be mined.
I do love the film Intacto.
I also love this track.