After 25 years in the vault, Thought Gang, the experimental jazz project from David Lynch and his longtime musical collaborator Angelo Badalamenti, has finally seen the light of day with the release of their self-titled album earlier this November via Sacred Bones. The project got off the ground during the airing of the second season of Twin Peaks and as Lynch’s Fire Walk With Me began production. Though the album was initially shelved until this year, the Thought Gang tracks “A Real Indication” and “The Black Dog Runs at Night” first appeared on the Fire Walk With Me soundtrack in 1992.
While the bulk of Thought Gang was recorded during various sessions between May of 1992, and continuing into 1993, the impetus for the project began in New York City in 1991 during the recording of the track “A Real Indication.” With the initial instrumental take for the cut done, Lynch wondered who could sing the lyrics he’d penned for the song. When Badalamenti offered, Lynch wasn’t so sure he was the man for the job. “I knew what Angelo sounded like and I thought he was going to embarrass himself,” offers Lynch. However, when Badalamenti launched into his spoken word rendition, the result caused Lynch to laugh so hard he herniated himself. ?It was like a light bulb exploded in my gut,? Lynch recalls.
The video for the song was filmed by the director in 1992. Foregoing his usual penchant for film at the time, the visuals were recorded to Hi-8. Starring Badalamenti, we first encounter the musician in a mug shot as he stares grimly back at the camera holding a police department placard. Looking every bit the part of a killer for hire, the video goes on to follow him as he wanders the streets like some nutter on the verge of boiling over in a rage-induced fit. Lynch’s warped and expressionistic imagery only seems to lend credence to the fact that his protagonist pal is probably not firing on all cylinders.
