Can you folks believe that October is almost over already? Halloween is right around the corner, which means AMC is playing all your old favorite horror movies, and Hocus Pocus is in constant rotation on the Disney Channel. And hey, if you’re hungry, CANDY’S ON SALE! It’s a great time to be prepping for the cold, and enjoying what little sunshine is left before the big snow hits. And now that you’re migrating indoors more often, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be catching up on the best videos the web has to offer. With M83 pushing their new album hard, our friends at No Cover gearing up for another season, and more videos dropping on Cluster 1’s doorstep than ever before, it’s the best time to relax in that office chair, and give up on raking leaves. So sit down, enjoy some videos, and if you’re bored, make some and send them in. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter as well! -TM
The Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble – “Pretend”
Decadence is the name of the game in this Cluster 1 premiere. The Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble’s video for “Pretend” has added a different vice around every corner. There’s gambling, sex, the richest food fight in history, and even some crazy leg fetish. Does it sound a little all over the place? Yeah. But the real joy comes in watching the artful directing, costumes, and sheer off-the-wall concept. Then again, with a name like Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble, off-the-wall might come easy to them. -JM
Cookies – “Wilderness Tips”
When it comes to puppetry and animation, Sesame Street still remains one of the masters. If you need proof, look no further than Cookies’ latest music video. A simple clip about how OJ is made was edited and re-purposed to create an animated, rapping orange. The editing synches up with the vocals perfectly. Sure, it’s no Big Bird, but there’s no denying this orange can hold her own. -JM
M83 - “Midnight City”
M83′s “Midnight City” plays out more like a subplot to X-Men, only it’s shot in a far more stunning visual style than Bryan Singer ever could have accomplished. The short story documents a group of “gifted” teens who have mastered telekinesis (props). Finally, they escape from the facility that runs tests on them, and get to see the world on their own, and that’s a feeling we tend to forget very quickly in this life. -TM
M83 Interview
Recently, our own Sami Jarroush sat down with M83 mastermind Anthony Gonzalez and had a chat. While Jarroush tried to brush up on his French, he and Gonzalez discuss the challenges of making a double album, making music on computers, and the differences between coastal audiences in America. -TM
My Brightest Diamond – “We Added it Up”
My Brightest Diamond puts a classical spin on everything in the video for “We Added it Up”. A pair of incredibly skilled dancers matches their moves in a dark blue environment, with a light turning them into smooth silhouettes. As they dance in front of the light, in perfect timing, one wonders how much practice went into this in order to get every move right. -TM
No Cover Outtakes Part 4
It was the final episodes of No Cover where we really started to meld together as a cast and crew. It no longer became about business, and everyone was having a good time. It’s why the outtakes from the last few episodes have always stuck out as some of the best in our minds, because we were on a different sort of creative wave at this point. Enjoy the last of the outtakes of season one, when Marshall, his deputies, the cast, and the crew, were really rocking out. -TM
Ohbijou – “Niagara”
Rather than showing human movements that flow like water, Ohbijou go for the opposite. Rain pours from the sky, dropping in strange patterns that feel more human than naturally possible. Light projections put faces on to waterfalls. Silhouettes are created against water vapor. You rarely see liquid used this way outside of art installations. Refreshing. -JM
Polinksi – “Stitches” (ft. Big Black Delta)
Once upon a time, graphics for video games looked like crap. It’s true. Some of the games were made up of a series of still pictures, which is exactly what “Stitches” pays homage to. While the song plays out, a hard boiled mystery unfolds before our eyes telling the tales of Detective Polinksi, and all the 8-bit obstacles that come his way. It’s times like this one yearns for Windows circa 93. -TM
Saint Motel – “Puzzle Pieces”
We’ve seen dance music videos. We’ve seen the POV of characters on screen. What about the two of them combined? That’s a new one. But, how do you make it work? You grab a helmet-cam and find one of the best dancer/choreographers around in Ryan Heffington. -JM
Xray Eyeballs – “Deja Vu”
The zombie craze continues with Xray Eyeballs! Just like these slow-shuffling, mindless creatures, the zombie genre refuses to die, finding fresh mediums and modes to attack. Unlike most zombie flicks though, there’s no group of ragtag survivors to stop the onslaught of the undead – including Xray Eyeballs. Instead, the four moan and groan their way to a farm, taking the area for themselves. They also find instruments to perform the song in a field nearby. A large quantity of food, no nearby threats, and entertainment. Sounds like a winning formula for any zombie. -JM
