Directing duo BRTHR did some real justice to the Japanese crime masterpiece that was the Weeknd's In the Night. The new video for Keith Ape ft. Jedi P's "Diamonds" plays to the same tune, though this one toys around with some more experimental visuals, including virtual reality simulation. While In the Night felt a lot more narrative driven, and similar to Wong Kar Wai's Fallen Angels, "Diamonds" feels much more ambient, and simply explores the world it creates.
The camera loosely follows Keith Ape around a brightly lit fantasy city, dipping in and out of parties and pretty much anywhere it feels like taking you. There is some pretty serious Gaspar Noe influence in the way that the perspective and tone resembles that of Enter the Void; but this feels like a positive expansion of that theme, dipping into some VR fantasy that only excites the imagination for what could be possible for the art world. I'm really stoked on how DP Erik Henriksson captured this world- his experience in creating sweeping, rich shots really shines through here. (Also here)
Overall, I think that this video serves as a well realized piece of psychedelic art, and what it lacks in narrative, it makes up for in world building, and a concise amalgam of visual styles. I am interested in what BRTHR will create next- and perhaps what they will do with actual VR when the technology catches up!
