Each week, FRINGE MUSIC FIX culls the latest music video releases, carefully selecting the most bizarre, provocative, and remarkable videos from across the world.

Sit back, relax, and open your mind’s eye, things are about to get interesting. The following are our selections for the week ending February 7th, 2014.

Javier Longobardo delivers this imaginative computer animated video from the future for múm’s electro-pop track, “When Girls Collide." The video employs a vibrant and very detailed futuristic setting inhabited solely of androids and robots. It’s a wonderful vision of fantasy and science-fiction. Every shot in this video is a tip of the hat to the composition and choreography of videos we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from female fronted pop acts. From the sultry walk to the “vogue” like posing, our lead female android character is seen mimicking the mannerisms and posing of music’s biggest popstars. If the machines do one day succeed in global domination in a thousand years or so (trust me, they will), This might be the type of thing broadcast to massive wall sized TVs across the nation.

Anoraak’s video for “Behind Your Shades” is an intriguing washed out video that will have you guessing at its significance. Director O.S.A.K.A.H carefully reveals just enough narrative to lay the framework for some form of symbolism, but it’s executed in a cryptic and subtle way. The video sees two female leads, a redheaded one and a blonde, both working to solve a monochromatic futuristic style puzzle resembling a much more complex rubix cube. The impression I got from the video is that the cube could represent a person’s heart, and the act of giving it away to someone else, to have it scrambled, finally reconstructed, then repeating the cycle and giving it away again. One of the elements that are the basis of my theory is that the female leads are often seen either holding the cube or their hands near their hearts. A cube is also exchanged enclosed in delivery packaging on two occasions, which to me represents the act of giving your heart away. The entire thing is a confusing yet compelling viewing. Like the modern puzzle featured within, it’s not simple to decode.

Jorge Elrose, comprised of Ariel Pink and Jorge Elbrecht, team up with director Ron Winter, for this smoky, atmospheric and slightly satirical music video for “Called To Ring” The video features a group of attractive females “sort-of” playing instruments and headbanging in slow motion. The whole thing is set across a darkened backdrop. The eerily manipulated faces of Ariel and Jorge also make their way into the mix. The depiction of detached and non-energetic performers seems to me a subtle poke at the typical “shoegaze” performances of the 90’s and the “nugaze” movement of new acts who’ve been reviving the style.

One of my favourite things right now is the opening theme to HBO’s True Detective, which was created by Antibody. The opening features semi-transparent silhouettes of the show’s characters through which locations and landscapes can be seen. It’s a very compelling effect.

Paul Trillo’s spectacular music video for The Peach King’s “Be Around” uses a similar technique, only in a much brighter and vibrant sense. Through the contours of the male and female duo we see beautifully shot landscapes and settings captured during glorious sunsets. Unlike the opening to True Detective, the video uses a white backdrop. The video is a refreshing visual feast for the eyes.

The cream of the crop this week is a video that unfortunately, as of this time, is not yet included in the database, The Acid’s sublime video for “Basic Instinct." It was directed through a collaboration between The Acid’s Ry X and director Dugan O’Neil. The video is a stunningly shot performance that features three members of L.A. based dance group WIFE in exquisite pastel coloured costumes jumping and twirling for the camera in glorious slow motion, and sometimes at impossible heights. The mesmerising video is a perfect accompaniment to the equally powerful track it sets out to enhance.

Honorable Mentions

Annie - Russian Kiss

Adna - Night

Angel Olsen - Hi-Five

Disa - Stones

Foster The People - Coming Of Age

Harriet - Burbank

Joan As Policewoman - Holy City

King avriel - Freedom

Kool Head - Leon

Lily Allen - Air Balloon

Plastic - I Want U

Queen Kwong - Sucker

Syron - Three Dreams

Tree - Stuck Down The Wrong Rabbit Hole

Years & Years - Real

Xiu Xiu - Stupid In The Dark

Warm Brains - Happy Accidents