It has been a week of quality not quantity on the video front, and we have hand picked a short line up of clips that are just about as good as it gets from some world class acts at the top of their game. If you are looking for killer tracks backed by the highest quality visuals, we have got you covered. Check em out below!
Phantogram – You Don’t Get Me High Anymore
Shot on the vast and desolate landscapes of the Salton Sea, the clip for latest single from Phantogram’s upcoming album Three is a visual assault that romps through destruction like it’s a walk in the park. Guitarist/vocalist Josh Carter says You Don’t Get Me High Anymore is about “the loneliness in superficial relationships and that feeling of not being able to find happiness in places that were once so easy to come across.” We already fell in love with the amazing Big Grams collaboration with Outkast’s Big Boi in 2015, so we are counting the days until September 2nd when we will be treated to more genre defying walls of sound from these guys.
https://youtu.be/jryzEU7WAlg
Clipping – Baby Don’t Sleep
Experimental Californian hip-hoppers, Clipping, are back with a vortex of noise and light that is guaranteed to leave your head spinning. In the clip for track Baby Don’t Sleep the screen flashes with black and white bars like a TV stuck between frequencies providing a chaotic backdrop for the incredible flow of rapper Daveed Diggs. The visuals from artist Christopher Cichocki are the result of experiments with interference static, oscilloscopic wavelengths, and flicker-frame animation and compliment the spliced and jolted sounds of the trio’s producers, William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes. Baby don’t sleep? There is no way you will be able to after watching this. Album Splendor & Misery is out September 9th, you can pre-order here.
https://youtu.be/jkVIRXPG7oY
Banks & Steelz – Giant
If someone told my teenage self that in ten years I would see a collaboration between Interpol’s Paul Banks and Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA I would have laughed and told them that we’d sooner see Elton John pairing up with Ghostface Killah. But, here we are and the result, Banks & Steelz, is just about as insane as it sounds. In the clip to accompany track Giant we see RZA spitting his flawless brand of aggressive verse with Banks lingering in the background, interjecting at intervals with his affected new wave indie Brit vocals that carry the anthemic chorus. According to RZA the pair bonded over playing chess and vibing in the studio and the result is both confounding and catchy. Album Anything But Words is set to land on August 28th.
https://youtu.be/Jtf5isao73E
How to Dress Well – Lost Youth/Lost You
In the week’s LEAST safe for work video, How to Dress Well aka Tom Krell takes us on a sensual alt-pop journey with track Lost Youth/Lost You. An entanglement of bodies writhe across the scene in a hazy choreographed love-in, syncing to the smooth and sultry vocal track. Off upcoming album Care, it is an intimate exploration that isn’t afraid to mix tenderness with scale, soaring at times with euphoric and gigantic sound. The album isn’t due out until September 23 but you can pop this one on repeat for now and pre-order here.
https://youtu.be/_6kGupEINJg
Check out the NSFW version here.
Urthboy – The Arrow feat. Timberwolf
Aussie favourite Urthboy this week treats us to a new clip made by long time fan and animator Dominic Aldis. With nothing but lead and paper he has created a stunning four minute journey that is made up of over 2,700 images and a whole lot of love. The autobiographical track recounts the ups and downs of the MC’s experience with label Elefant Traks and his quest to find purpose in an intense landscape. It is heartfelt and raw, with Timberwolf shining in his guest appearance. Great to see a gem like this surfacing in our own backyard. Show it some love and give it a spin.
https://youtu.be/_6kGupEINJg