While this week may have showed a slight decrease in the overall number of music video releases which came across our screens, it certainly did not lack in quality. The following are my picks for this weeks best music videos that you may not have seen.
Katy Bs video for "5 AM" was my first pick released this week. Its a quite literal fit for the song, as it depicts a stylish late night masked party recalling films like Eyes Wide Shut. Like the song, we dont quite know what the night finally brings, but something of a sexual nature is definitely suggested. Which brings me to what I liked most of all about this video; in a music video land recently awash with NSFW-everyone-baring-all-explicit-displays, its refreshing to see that while this video might hint at a creepy masked orgy, it certainly leaves all of that to your perverted imagination. As can be expected from any great pop video, the jaw dropping mansion setting, Katys stunning beauty, and some excessive use of lens flare that would make J.J. Abrams proud, the whole thing makes for one hell of a great music video - and one thats much more tasteful than it sounds in print. To make things even more literal, I may have actually watched this at 5 AM, as it was released sometime in the very early hours of Sunday morning.
Thomas Azier once again recruits Sander Houtkruijer for his video for "Ghostcity." Their previous video together was for "Angelene," which likely didnt get the attention it deserved, despite being a beautiful piece that effectively captured the dark tones of Aziers exceptional synth pop. In much the same way, Houtkruijers video for "Ghostcity" enhances the atmosphere of the music, but this time enfuses a club feel to a track perfectly suited for cool dance clubs across the world, all of which I wish I was at.
Director duo Skinny, whose most noteworthy recent video was for M.I.A.s "Bring The Noize," once again does what they do best with Angel Hazes "Echelon (Its My Way)," by crafting a tongue in cheek pastiche of characters all having more fun than me. The cast is comprised of hicks, bikers, and attractive females who could easily have been dressed by Grimes. That idea in mind, perhaps its no coincidence that Grimes collaborator, Brooke Candy ("Genesis"), appears in the video along side Haze at her most fun loving. Theres a lot to see in this busy video for Hazes excellent track, and it all works in synchronicity to compliment the strong lyrical stylings of one of hip hop's most promising female MCs.
French director duo Fleur & Manu once again prove that their imagination and artistry is not limited to the superpowered youths of their most renowned music video series for French electro act, M83. Like their mind blowing video for Gesaffelsteins "Pursuit," which I should mention ranks very highly amongst my favourite videos released this year, "Hate Or Glory" shows the directors once again visiting much bleaker and ominous territory than their prior work. This is very fitting, as Gesaffelsteins industrial tinged music brings to mind the darkest, most violent and angriest imagery imaginable.
"Hate Or Glory" opens with an abrupt shooting, and goes on to tell the gritty tale of a man ascending the ranks of power assumably through crime and gang violence. I wont give away the ending, but lets just say, after taking his quest for fortune to excess, he quickly learns what many have before, the roads are not all paved with gold.
Cults are a band whos always understood the value of a great music video. From their groundbreaking Forest Gump-like edit of footage from the Jonestown Massacre in their Isaiah Seret-directed video for "Go Outside," to the tragic yet beautiful storytelling in "Abducted" and "You Know What I Mean," Cults have quickly and simultaneously made their mark as musicians and proprietors of great music video accompaniments.
This time, Cults have continued their impressive legacy by recruiting director Hiro Murai for their standout new single "High Road," the first from their forthcoming sophomore release Static, which will be released later this month. Murai is that rare breed of director who is employed just as often in the indie genre (St. Vincent, Earl Sweatshirt, Scissor Sisters, Friends, The Shins) as he is with popular mainstream artists (B.o.B., David Guetta, Usher, The Fray). Its immediately easy to see why. His slick and stylish production and imagination shows no bounds and can just as easily be appreciated by viewers who lean towards the unusual as it can be by slightly more conventional audiences. "High Road" is shot in glorious black and white and clearly pays tribute to 60s era horror and suspense directors the likes of Alfred Hitchcock. As the video unravels, we find ourself the passenger in a wonderful tunnel of seamless imagery such as floating furniture, burning cars, and of course, the majestic faces of Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin. This is one Twilight Zone worth unlocking.
