There might be a plethora of products sitting under your tree, unwrapped and shiny new. But just in case you’re looking for something else to do we thought we’d oblige with another list of music videos from the file marked ‘memorable’.
As it’s the final week before our winning selection is announced we decided to bring things fully up to date, or almost at least. So for your delectation the following list contains some seriously abstract lo-fi montages, a bunch of people dressed as pandas harassing band members, a rather camp multi-coloured cabaret of crazy characters, and a B-movie pastiche amongst its many delights.
So far it has been a fascinating journey into a frequently unappreciated area of music, and we’re sure there are plenty of choice reels that have been overlooked, or never seen by us. If you know that’s the case then speak up, point us in the direction of the clips that need celebrating and call us a bunch of uncultured idiots. But, before you do, be sure to give the last eight entries here a try, it’s unlikely you’ll be too disappointed.
Hudson Mohawke Joy Fantastic / Directed by Konx-Om-Pax
Mr Pax is the guy responsible for Mohawke’s artwork, which explains why at times this looks so much like a moving image version of the young producer’s album cover. Like the music it’s verging on lunacy, and leans heavily towards what some would call kitsch. Garish colours blend with kids TV costumes to wonderfully tasteless effect. In the end, like mushrooms, the only thing you’re left wondering is whether or not to do it again.
Audio Bullys Only Man / Directed by Jonas & Francois
If you look at things in one way, this effort from two of France’s best practitioners isn’t too special. We’ve completely ignored that notion, and fallen in love with this heavily stylised ode to pop culture. So many soles, so many subtle effects and increasingly captivating camera tricks. There’s more than a hint of edgy cool about this whole affair, though we don’t understand what’s actually going on. But then that’s not always the point.
Flying Lotus Kill Your Co-Workers / Directed by Beeple
It’s worth mentioning that this track is taken off the EP Pattern and Grid World. For those who have already hastily viewed the clip below, things should start to make a little more sense now. Acclaimed animator Beeple knocks up a visual treat for that man Fly Lo, as viewers get a sneaky peak at a parade in the aforementioned place. We like the idea of a ‘Beef Shop’, and the whole computer game feel, so just had to put this one in.
Hot Chip I Feel Better / Directed by Peter Serafinowicz
Though not the strongest of tracks from this outfit, the video is arguably the best they’ve ever commissioned. Flipping an obvious finger or two up at JLS and their talent show pop star peers is all good with us to be honest, and when it involves a sickly looking guy hovering about vaporising people with his mouth it’s even better. Add a floating head with destructive laser beam eyes and very few plastic pop teens will get out alive.
Aphex Twin Come To Daddy / Directed by Chris Cunningham
How could this not make it onto one of these lists. Cunningham’s here again, and this time at his most disturbing. It’s no wonder people are scared of British youth with gangs like this running around, as the spawn of Richard James run riot through a decidedly dodgy looking estate, tormenting an old dear who’s walking her dog before the man himself, here a demon, makes a final appearance to scare us all half to death.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Az_7U0-cK0
Mount Kimbie Would Know / Directed by Tyrone Lebon
Another one from the box of obscure. What starts off looking like a low budget love story soon turns into a combination of cuts, animation and blends that take the viewer in the same direction as the music. Once in the depths of this multi-layered montage that’s not always a pleasant watch, so the only thing to do is accept that you’re halfway to oblivion and it’s a long way back to the surface. Or at least another minute and a half.
LCD Soundsystem Drunk Girls / Directed by Spike Jonze
Band and director were always going to get along fantastically well, given both have a penchant for wit and DIY flavours. It’s unclear if the point is that drunk girls are less annoying than panda costume wearing gangs marauding around video shoots and stopping artists from performing or not. Either way the increasing violence inflicted on the musicians by their avid fans in fancy dress is infinitely amusing, as this goes to show.
Mr Oizo Analog Worms Attack / Directed by Quentin Dupieux
One of France’s most successful electronic music artists is also, conveniently, a feature and short form director. His moment of glory is unquestionably the creation of Flat Eric and Flat Beat, but given the fact he’s a filmmaker and this is something of an homage to B-movies we thought it fitting to put it in instead. Welcome to the world of Analog Worm (whatever they are) Racing; it’s like the dogs, but slower and with more lettuce.
Also in this series
