This week: Savages, Yeasayer, Animal Collective, Skylar Spence, Surfer Blood, Miike Snow and Hiérophante.
The criteria for the following selection of new music videos range from ‘good video + good song’ to ’massively insane video + average song’ to ‘crap song + weird enough video to be included’. Also there’s a shit one at the end, just to be completist.
In order of fave to least fave, here are some radio friendly unit shifters…
Savages – ‘Adore’
“Do you adore life? I adore life” repeats Savages’ Jenny Beth in a manner so threatening that it makes you think she’s going to take it away from you at any moment. This brooding, tightly-wound slow-burner is the most interesting thing Savages have done so far, and hopefully means their second album Adore You (out Jan 22nd) won’t be quite as derivative as their debut. Although don’t expect them to develop a sense of humour any time soon.
Hiérophante – ‘Clichés’
A simple idea, but holy heck the effort that went into making this video is incredible. Artist/musician/cynic Hiérophante’s latest is a damning indictment of our bland, narcissistic use of Instagram and it would be ‘video of the week’ if it didn’t make you despair so much. Look at these assholes… YES ESPECIALLY MARNIE THE DOG.
Yeasayer – ‘I am Chemistry’
Yeasayer had a temporary dalliance with mainstream pop on Odd Blood in 2010, before disappearing back up their bum with Fragrant World in 2012. However their new single ‘I am Chemistry’ sees the Brooklyn beatniks successfully blend psychedelic experimentation with gorgeous melodies. Until 3m18s, when there’s a neck-breaking turn into shitness. Excellent video though.
Skylar Spence – ‘I Can’t Be Your Superman’
A manicurist rescues her husband from gangsters by dousing them in nail polish remover, turning them into giant finger-tips. There’s a dance routine, some vomiting and a bummer ending. I couldn’t decide if this was awful or not, so I’ll let you make the decision.
Animal Collective – ‘FloriDada’
Animal Collective’s new single, taken from forthcoming album Painting With, comes with a seizure trigger warning, so please don’t watch if you have photosensitive epilepsy. Or if you’re offended by a pair of genitalia-lacking T-1000s attempting rufty in The Lawnmower Man’s Sri Lankan summer home.
Miike Snow – ‘Genghis Khan’
Miike Snow doing their usual superior clinical pop thing, but the video is wonderful. Reframing the cliched relationship between a super secret agent and his evil disfigured nemesis as a gay love story. Top marks all round, and far more satisfying than Spectre.
Surfer Blood – ‘Point Of No Return’
A sumptuously shot video with a cute premise, that amounts to little more than an overlong car advert you normally see in the cinema that makes you want to slash the seats because you’ve already watched 25 minutes worth of equally bland mind-rot already.
