As the world slowly seems to disintegrating, one of the greatest sources of stress is the feeling of interpersonal disconnection. Communities have always, at best, been a vague concept even before the pandemic struck but now they increasingly exist in fragile bubbles or virtual spaces. No amount of zoom meetings can compensate for what is being lost.
Sophie Dodds and her Edinburgh-based band have hit upon an original way of reminding us how vital these human connections are. The lyrics to this song are drawn from collected dreams of friends and family gathered during the initial months of COVID-19.
Though unrelated, connections were discovered to confirm the theory of a collective unconsciousness. The evokes the consoling thought that, although we may all be stuck in our separate worlds, something still binds us all together.
This idea is backed up by a quote from C.G, Jung: All consciousness separates; but in dreams we put on the likeness of that more universal, truer, more eternal human dwelling in the darkness of primordial night."
Sophie has weaved the dream words and worlds into the concept of an imaginary home evironment. Melodic and melancholy violin and piano provide a subtle backing.
In the accompanying video, edited by Alberto Bravo, participants created pictures of their dreams using whatever medium they liked.
There are references to various forms of transport including huge yachts, horse-drawn carriages and giant planes, but none of these seem to provide a means of escape. No-one is going anywhere.
The chorus poignantly captures the mood (and the nagging fear) : "Is it the end of the world? We have such little control."
'Dream House' is beautiful, touching and a little heartbreaking.
