Six of my favorite videos from 2006, in no particular order.
J-Dilla – Nothing Like This (Dir. Daniel Garcia & The Mixtape Club)It’s a seafaring adventure that ebbs through an ocean of emotion. The story follows a wayward water creature on a trip through love, loss and reunion, backed by an otherworldly melody from master Dilla.
Ima Robot – Lovers in Captivity (Dir. Matt Amato)
Music video maestro Matt Amato paints a portrait of two companions elevated from street romance to dance-driven celebrations of love. The images mirror the song’s winning crescendo, with a heart soaring reminder that "love has got to be free." A real gem, with two great performances and a heaven sent thumbs up from Bob Fosse.
Cornelius – Fit Song (Dir. Koichiro Tsujikawa)
A stop motion masterpiece and a wonderland of joy found in everyday household items. Sugar cubes, matchsticks and modeling clay join up with the rest of the knickknacks for a wildly inventive telling of Cornelius’s kick start jam.
Daedelus – Sundown (Dir. Clay Lipsky)
Clay Lipsky’s soaring animation does well to capture Daedelus’s neo-Romantic vision. The video pulses with energy and invention; a whirlwind of vibrant colors toppling Industrial objects and architecture. At the center of it all stands the dapper dandyman, sending forth his far-reaching musical sunlight.
Built to Spill – Conventional Wisdom (Dir. Shafei & Levitz)
One man’s passion for anachronism, as documented by the dynamic Shafei & Levitz, with way more horsing around then you’ve ever seen in a video before. The adroit camerawork and great sense of subject goes a lot deeper than the running time should allow. Plus, there’s jousting. Huzzah!
The Knife – Like A Pen (Dir. Andreas Nilsson)
Pure kinetic mischief from frequent collaborators The Knife and Andreas Nilsson, who offer us this mad world of dissected images and lunatic characters, stirred together by a rampaging brown blob and his powerful yellow pencil.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Monday, January 22, 2007
ELEVATION THROUGH SOUND'S MUSIC VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Pale Fountains - Jean's Not Happening
Early/mid 80's. Part of that "quiet pop" movement that existed at the
moment. Produced by Ian Broudie from The Lightning Seeds.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
LABRAT COMPUTER MONITOR MATINEE #5
FROSTY'S BOLLYWOOD BLAST
I'm a huge fan of Bollywood films from 1967-1982. I recently visited India and lovied the high presence of these amazing movies and the music that accompanies them. Around every corner I was greeted by awesome dance sequences and super Hindi jams. To share this experience with you I've selected a few Bollywood favorites for you to dig.
Usha Uthup & Bappi Lahiri-Auva Auva Koi Yahan Nache
Meri Nazar Hai Tuj Pe - the Burning Train (1980)
Justice Chaudhury / Sridevi
Karle pyar karle - Talash (1969)
MORPHO'S MOMENTS IN MOTION
Art of Noise - Moments in Love
From somewhere between creepy and surreal comes this rarely seen Art of Noise video for the orchestral classic, Moments in Love. A conically-costumed lady and her gentleman partner dance on ice for a room of aristocratic weirdoes, while one of the guests, a masked and mustached man, appears to struggle with lovelorn memories of his childhood turtle. Don't worry though, once you watch, it will all become clear. And by "clear," I mean, utterly baffling.
The Vaselines - You Think You're A Man / Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam
What a treat! Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee, together known as The Vaselines, reunited over the summer for an intimate little gathering in London. It's probably been over ten years since they last played together, and while they might be a little rusty, the music shines bright through the cobwebs, lit by their jovial spirit and brilliant songwriting. Hopefully they'll head stateside sometime soon.
Prince Far I - Throw Away Your Gun
"Love is good!" The gravely-voiced prince sends thick words from soundsystem to souls in this seductively-painted chronicle of life in 1970's Jamaica.
Fugazi - Waiting Room
Five years after the demise of Minor Threat, and one year after forming as a band, Fugazi rocked this Washington D.C. community center into a state of elevated madness. The all ages show reached its pinnacle with a thunderous rendition of Waiting Room, where the punk kids bounced wildly and the band - shirtless, sweaty, and inches away from its devoted crowd - promptly knocked the roof off.
Love - Your Mind and We Belong Together
A proto-video from 1967, featuring the original Love gents as they tromp through the woods, eat ice cream, drive around and stir up mischief. It's a beautiful, washed-out 16mm memory of our man, Mr. Arthur Lee. Rest in Peace.
I'm a huge fan of Bollywood films from 1967-1982. I recently visited India and lovied the high presence of these amazing movies and the music that accompanies them. Around every corner I was greeted by awesome dance sequences and super Hindi jams. To share this experience with you I've selected a few Bollywood favorites for you to dig.
Usha Uthup & Bappi Lahiri-Auva Auva Koi Yahan Nache
Meri Nazar Hai Tuj Pe - the Burning Train (1980)
Justice Chaudhury / Sridevi
Karle pyar karle - Talash (1969)
MORPHO'S MOMENTS IN MOTION
Art of Noise - Moments in Love
From somewhere between creepy and surreal comes this rarely seen Art of Noise video for the orchestral classic, Moments in Love. A conically-costumed lady and her gentleman partner dance on ice for a room of aristocratic weirdoes, while one of the guests, a masked and mustached man, appears to struggle with lovelorn memories of his childhood turtle. Don't worry though, once you watch, it will all become clear. And by "clear," I mean, utterly baffling.
The Vaselines - You Think You're A Man / Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam
What a treat! Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee, together known as The Vaselines, reunited over the summer for an intimate little gathering in London. It's probably been over ten years since they last played together, and while they might be a little rusty, the music shines bright through the cobwebs, lit by their jovial spirit and brilliant songwriting. Hopefully they'll head stateside sometime soon.
Prince Far I - Throw Away Your Gun
"Love is good!" The gravely-voiced prince sends thick words from soundsystem to souls in this seductively-painted chronicle of life in 1970's Jamaica.
Fugazi - Waiting Room
Five years after the demise of Minor Threat, and one year after forming as a band, Fugazi rocked this Washington D.C. community center into a state of elevated madness. The all ages show reached its pinnacle with a thunderous rendition of Waiting Room, where the punk kids bounced wildly and the band - shirtless, sweaty, and inches away from its devoted crowd - promptly knocked the roof off.
Love - Your Mind and We Belong Together
A proto-video from 1967, featuring the original Love gents as they tromp through the woods, eat ice cream, drive around and stir up mischief. It's a beautiful, washed-out 16mm memory of our man, Mr. Arthur Lee. Rest in Peace.
LABRAT COMPUTER MONITOR MATINEE #4
FROSTY'S MUSIC FANTASIES FOR ALL TO SHARE
the Monks - live on Beat Club
Tommy D recently turned me onto the Beat Club. Thanks for ruining my life! Now I'm compelled to drop out of society and spend my living moments watching amazing clips from this incredible television program.
Evolucion Reggae - Lee Perry, Upsetters & the Gladiators
Lee "Scratch" Perry and pals soak some tape with real rockers sound. He bounces behind the Black Ark mixing board while the Upsetters, Junior Murvin & the Heptones bring heavy riddims to life. Want more for your roots reggae money? Well stay tuned as it gets deeper with a glance into the Gladiators inna studio stylee.
inside SA-RA
A peak into the inner working of ultra-effective beat freaks. The SA-RA cats take you inside their studio to shine light on the shaping of their cosmic sound or as they call it "afro-magnetic-electronic-spiritualism." Can you dig?
Biz Markie - Toilet Stool Rap
Do you doo doo? Biz Markie sure do. This is the most elevated moment in music history. Open your eyes and ears wide but keep that nose shut cuz Biz is breaking down the deal with his dookie.
Pentangle - Hunting Song
This Pentangle clip shows the virtuosity of their musicianship, some fly clothes and plenty of serious head nods. Since this was a BBC performance the sound and picture quality is amazing. This is timed nicely as Pentangle's Bert Jansch has just released an amazing new album.
MORPHO'S MYSTERIES UNLEASHED
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Noonward Race
Guitarist/bandleader John McLaughlin sounds like he's on quaalude sleepy-time as he introduces the song, but once the music starts he leaps into a hyperdrive finger dance up the double axe. Soon enough, Billy Corbham is working over his drum set, and you're screaming like a little girl. When it starts to seem like the color is going all bugaboo, it's actually your brain melting.
Gang Starr - Jazz Thing
Composed for Spike Lee's Mo' Better Blues, this early Gang Starr tune is a reverent lesson in jazz history. Guru's slow-cadence rhymes weave perfectly with Primo's production for a sweeping cultural love letter, mixed with some great archival images of various jazz cats getting busy.
Jean-Jacques Perrey - E.V.A.
JJ the great weaves his magic bleeps in this recent performance of the oft-sampled E.V.A. Shot by a fan in the crowd, the footage is a little raw, but it's great to see Jean-Jacques still feeling young at 77 years of age (watch as he tears up an air guitar solo).
France Gall - Baby Pop
"Yeah-a-yeah a-yeah!" A giant-hearted 1960's scopitone that bursts with saturated joy. France Gall and her back-up gals defy all frowning as they bounce around in gleeful abandon. Written by French pop hero and legendary creep Serge Gainsbourg.
My Bloody Valentine - Knows When
Flaring color swirls around the ethereal Valentines for a haunting, beautiful video that does well to represent this gazing masterpiece. The song comes off Loveless, easily one of the greatest albums ever made.
the Monks - live on Beat Club
Tommy D recently turned me onto the Beat Club. Thanks for ruining my life! Now I'm compelled to drop out of society and spend my living moments watching amazing clips from this incredible television program.
Evolucion Reggae - Lee Perry, Upsetters & the Gladiators
Lee "Scratch" Perry and pals soak some tape with real rockers sound. He bounces behind the Black Ark mixing board while the Upsetters, Junior Murvin & the Heptones bring heavy riddims to life. Want more for your roots reggae money? Well stay tuned as it gets deeper with a glance into the Gladiators inna studio stylee.
inside SA-RA
A peak into the inner working of ultra-effective beat freaks. The SA-RA cats take you inside their studio to shine light on the shaping of their cosmic sound or as they call it "afro-magnetic-electronic-spiritualism." Can you dig?
Biz Markie - Toilet Stool Rap
Do you doo doo? Biz Markie sure do. This is the most elevated moment in music history. Open your eyes and ears wide but keep that nose shut cuz Biz is breaking down the deal with his dookie.
Pentangle - Hunting Song
This Pentangle clip shows the virtuosity of their musicianship, some fly clothes and plenty of serious head nods. Since this was a BBC performance the sound and picture quality is amazing. This is timed nicely as Pentangle's Bert Jansch has just released an amazing new album.
MORPHO'S MYSTERIES UNLEASHED
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Noonward Race
Guitarist/bandleader John McLaughlin sounds like he's on quaalude sleepy-time as he introduces the song, but once the music starts he leaps into a hyperdrive finger dance up the double axe. Soon enough, Billy Corbham is working over his drum set, and you're screaming like a little girl. When it starts to seem like the color is going all bugaboo, it's actually your brain melting.
Gang Starr - Jazz Thing
Composed for Spike Lee's Mo' Better Blues, this early Gang Starr tune is a reverent lesson in jazz history. Guru's slow-cadence rhymes weave perfectly with Primo's production for a sweeping cultural love letter, mixed with some great archival images of various jazz cats getting busy.
Jean-Jacques Perrey - E.V.A.
JJ the great weaves his magic bleeps in this recent performance of the oft-sampled E.V.A. Shot by a fan in the crowd, the footage is a little raw, but it's great to see Jean-Jacques still feeling young at 77 years of age (watch as he tears up an air guitar solo).
France Gall - Baby Pop
"Yeah-a-yeah a-yeah!" A giant-hearted 1960's scopitone that bursts with saturated joy. France Gall and her back-up gals defy all frowning as they bounce around in gleeful abandon. Written by French pop hero and legendary creep Serge Gainsbourg.
My Bloody Valentine - Knows When
Flaring color swirls around the ethereal Valentines for a haunting, beautiful video that does well to represent this gazing masterpiece. The song comes off Loveless, easily one of the greatest albums ever made.
LABRAT COMPUTER MONITOR MATINEE #3
MORPHO'S MUST-SEE MOTION MOMENTS
The Horrors - Sheena is a Parasite
Prepare for the nightmares. After a seven year(!) absence, Chris Cunningham makes a creepy return to music video, with a band he picked off myspace. That's Samantha Morton starring as the parasitical gizzard-launching dance maniac. (Click here for a better quality Quicktime version.)
TV On The Radio - Pass It On A game of telephone goes tragically wrong in this pleasing piece of marketing satire. Be ready for chuckles. Not a music video, but one part of a promo series for TV On the Radio's "Return to Cookie Mountain" LP. Featuring one of my favorite Davids.
The Poppy Family - Which Way You Goin' Billy?
Bubble gum joy! Susan and Terry Jacks had a hit with this heartbreak beauty in 1970. The video is an awkwardly-posed but charming glamour shot of the pair as they seek out the elusive Billy.
Joy Division - Transmission
Post-punk poet Ian Curtis pours himself into a fiery television performance of Transmission. Some of the best herky-jerky spaz dances you'll ever see (he would actually emulate his own epileptic fits). Bookended by an amusing "bloody" rant from Factory owner Tony Wilson.
Harry Nilsson - Smothers Brothers appearance
Folk rebels the Smothers Brothers enjoy a welcome visit from Nilsson, whose heart-melting voice teams up with the piano for a lesson in medley.
FROSTY'S FULL BLOWN FILM FREAKOUT
Donovan - Hurdy Gurdy Man
"Hurdy Gurdy Man" backed by a montage of scattered scenes. I like to think this was shot live and Donovan was teleporting, but that's just me and my high grade LSD talking.
This is Ska!
A 1959 documentary segment on ska. The announcer is square as can be but the footage is fresh. The excitement of new music is alive as Byron Lee & the Dragonaires, the Skatalites and Toots and the Maytals all get busy.
Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood
Milli Vanilli got heat but Tom Tom Club can most definitely be excused for lip-syncing on this Italian TV show. Just dig the light up dance floor and the hot, poofy gear the ladies are rocking. There's an awesome international disco drop by the Italian host at 1:45.
Bad Brains - Sailin' On (Live '79)
A classic clip opening with vintage subway footage followed by Bad Brains performing live in 1979. Pre-dread HR is in total on-fire, freak-out mode. Check him rolling around the club in his white threads. Explosive energy is only a click away.
The Horrors - Sheena is a Parasite
Prepare for the nightmares. After a seven year(!) absence, Chris Cunningham makes a creepy return to music video, with a band he picked off myspace. That's Samantha Morton starring as the parasitical gizzard-launching dance maniac. (Click here for a better quality Quicktime version.)
TV On The Radio - Pass It On A game of telephone goes tragically wrong in this pleasing piece of marketing satire. Be ready for chuckles. Not a music video, but one part of a promo series for TV On the Radio's "Return to Cookie Mountain" LP. Featuring one of my favorite Davids.
The Poppy Family - Which Way You Goin' Billy?
Bubble gum joy! Susan and Terry Jacks had a hit with this heartbreak beauty in 1970. The video is an awkwardly-posed but charming glamour shot of the pair as they seek out the elusive Billy.
Joy Division - Transmission
Post-punk poet Ian Curtis pours himself into a fiery television performance of Transmission. Some of the best herky-jerky spaz dances you'll ever see (he would actually emulate his own epileptic fits). Bookended by an amusing "bloody" rant from Factory owner Tony Wilson.
Harry Nilsson - Smothers Brothers appearance
Folk rebels the Smothers Brothers enjoy a welcome visit from Nilsson, whose heart-melting voice teams up with the piano for a lesson in medley.
FROSTY'S FULL BLOWN FILM FREAKOUT
Donovan - Hurdy Gurdy Man
"Hurdy Gurdy Man" backed by a montage of scattered scenes. I like to think this was shot live and Donovan was teleporting, but that's just me and my high grade LSD talking.
This is Ska!
A 1959 documentary segment on ska. The announcer is square as can be but the footage is fresh. The excitement of new music is alive as Byron Lee & the Dragonaires, the Skatalites and Toots and the Maytals all get busy.
Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood
Milli Vanilli got heat but Tom Tom Club can most definitely be excused for lip-syncing on this Italian TV show. Just dig the light up dance floor and the hot, poofy gear the ladies are rocking. There's an awesome international disco drop by the Italian host at 1:45.
Bad Brains - Sailin' On (Live '79)
A classic clip opening with vintage subway footage followed by Bad Brains performing live in 1979. Pre-dread HR is in total on-fire, freak-out mode. Check him rolling around the club in his white threads. Explosive energy is only a click away.
LABRAT COMPUTER MONITOR MATINEE #2
FROSTY'S FLICKS FOUND AROUND
Blonde Redhead - Melody
A glimpse into another gorgeous day at the Blonde Redhead manor. Shot in such vivid sun-washed vision you can almost taste the ripe tomatoes on their tongues.
Iggy Pop and The Stooges, Live in Cincinatti, 1970
I've been reading the amazing punk document "Please Kill Me" so Iggy and the Stooges have been boiling on my brain. This is a clip of the Stooges in the prime of their on-fire freakiness. The straight laced tv host is hilarious trying to keep it all in the realm of reality. If he had known "TV Eye" stood for Twat Vibe Eye he would have given up instantly.
Newcleus - Jam On It
Forget about sugarplums dancing, this is what my daydreams looks like. I think this is the world Sun Ra was envisioning in the previous clip. Children of the world take note. Start your breakdance posse today!
MORPHO'S TALKIES YOU CAN DANCE TO
Lee Perry - Declarations in 1982
Crazy Lee pays witness to the great Selassie while raising a holler against racism and injustice. He also drops an impromptu melody about running in the mud and lets the camera sneak a peek of his legendary Black Ark Studio.
MC5 - American Ruse
Those Motor City upstarts kick-out a spirited lip-sync of “American Ruse” on an old TV Show called The Lively Spot.
808 State feat. Bjork - Ooops
While the 808 brainiacs were never video stars, the camera loves their co-star in this charming old collaboration with the princess sugarcube.
Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra - Some Velvet Morning
Take a waking dream into Lee Hazelwood’s seaside tale of love and Greek mythology. This tune would eventually be covered by Lydia Lunch, and later by Primal Scream. The wonderfully dated video looks like the cover to a romance novel. Nancy Sinatra floats like a flowery white Phaedra while Lee gallops down the beach in Zoro-esque loungewear.
Lou Reed, John Cale and Nico - Femme Fatale
The quality isn’t great, but the grainy footage and gritty recording seem somehow appropriate for this achingly beautiful classic.
Blonde Redhead - Melody
A glimpse into another gorgeous day at the Blonde Redhead manor. Shot in such vivid sun-washed vision you can almost taste the ripe tomatoes on their tongues.
Iggy Pop and The Stooges, Live in Cincinatti, 1970
I've been reading the amazing punk document "Please Kill Me" so Iggy and the Stooges have been boiling on my brain. This is a clip of the Stooges in the prime of their on-fire freakiness. The straight laced tv host is hilarious trying to keep it all in the realm of reality. If he had known "TV Eye" stood for Twat Vibe Eye he would have given up instantly.
Newcleus - Jam On It
Forget about sugarplums dancing, this is what my daydreams looks like. I think this is the world Sun Ra was envisioning in the previous clip. Children of the world take note. Start your breakdance posse today!
MORPHO'S TALKIES YOU CAN DANCE TO
Lee Perry - Declarations in 1982
Crazy Lee pays witness to the great Selassie while raising a holler against racism and injustice. He also drops an impromptu melody about running in the mud and lets the camera sneak a peek of his legendary Black Ark Studio.
MC5 - American Ruse
Those Motor City upstarts kick-out a spirited lip-sync of “American Ruse” on an old TV Show called The Lively Spot.
808 State feat. Bjork - Ooops
While the 808 brainiacs were never video stars, the camera loves their co-star in this charming old collaboration with the princess sugarcube.
Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra - Some Velvet Morning
Take a waking dream into Lee Hazelwood’s seaside tale of love and Greek mythology. This tune would eventually be covered by Lydia Lunch, and later by Primal Scream. The wonderfully dated video looks like the cover to a romance novel. Nancy Sinatra floats like a flowery white Phaedra while Lee gallops down the beach in Zoro-esque loungewear.
Lou Reed, John Cale and Nico - Femme Fatale
The quality isn’t great, but the grainy footage and gritty recording seem somehow appropriate for this achingly beautiful classic.
Monday, January 8, 2007
LABRAT COMPUTER MONITOR MATINEE #1
MORPHO'S MOVIE MAGIC
His Name Is Alive - Can't Go Wrong Without You
Directed by the Brothers Quay. In high school my friends and I used to stay up all night hoping MTV would play this. I think they played it twice.
Felt - Stained-Glass Windows
Video footage of these guys was virtually impossible to find before Youtube came along. Not their best song ever, but it's nice.
The Move - I Can Hear the Grass Grow
One of my favorite psych bands. I think this video's a little out of sync, but the footage is in pretty good shape.
Thelonious Monk - Blue Monk
He was known for pounding the keys so hard he would break the piano strings. So good.
Shocking Blue - Never Marry a Railroad Man
Their singer, Mariska Veres, had such an incredibly Powerful, sexy voice.
Tommy Seebach - Apache
An absolutely ridiculous disco cover of that classic hip-hop
heartbeat, Apache. Maybe not worthy of dublab exposure. It's kind of terrible, but truly hilarious.
One more thing
Not a music video, but a funny clip of spaced-out Sly trying to land on Earth and have a chat with Dick Cavett.
FROSTY'S FRAMES
the Slits - Instant Hit
Ari Up and her posse of punky reggae ladies get raw in this early video for one of their hottest tunes.
Kraftwerk - We are the robots
What in the what in the what? This is music this is a music video this is it. MTV are you there? VH1 are you alive? Of course not. This kind of gem only arises when people have the power.
Parliament Funkadelic commercials 1980's
The craziest infommerical you've never seen. Actually it's funky, funny, exciting and unsettling all at once.
Os Mutantes - Panis Et Circenses
Pure pyschedelic bliss. This is Tropicalia as it happened. Youtube has fulfilled my dreams.
Brian Eno & David Byrne - Mea Culpa
Their collaborative album "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" influenced more music minded folks than I could guess even with a crystal ball. This video takes the creative Eno/Byrne power to an eerie electric level.
His Name Is Alive - Can't Go Wrong Without You
Directed by the Brothers Quay. In high school my friends and I used to stay up all night hoping MTV would play this. I think they played it twice.
Felt - Stained-Glass Windows
Video footage of these guys was virtually impossible to find before Youtube came along. Not their best song ever, but it's nice.
The Move - I Can Hear the Grass Grow
One of my favorite psych bands. I think this video's a little out of sync, but the footage is in pretty good shape.
Thelonious Monk - Blue Monk
He was known for pounding the keys so hard he would break the piano strings. So good.
Shocking Blue - Never Marry a Railroad Man
Their singer, Mariska Veres, had such an incredibly Powerful, sexy voice.
Tommy Seebach - Apache
An absolutely ridiculous disco cover of that classic hip-hop
heartbeat, Apache. Maybe not worthy of dublab exposure. It's kind of terrible, but truly hilarious.
One more thing
Not a music video, but a funny clip of spaced-out Sly trying to land on Earth and have a chat with Dick Cavett.
FROSTY'S FRAMES
the Slits - Instant Hit
Ari Up and her posse of punky reggae ladies get raw in this early video for one of their hottest tunes.
Kraftwerk - We are the robots
What in the what in the what? This is music this is a music video this is it. MTV are you there? VH1 are you alive? Of course not. This kind of gem only arises when people have the power.
Parliament Funkadelic commercials 1980's
The craziest infommerical you've never seen. Actually it's funky, funny, exciting and unsettling all at once.
Os Mutantes - Panis Et Circenses
Pure pyschedelic bliss. This is Tropicalia as it happened. Youtube has fulfilled my dreams.
Brian Eno & David Byrne - Mea Culpa
Their collaborative album "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" influenced more music minded folks than I could guess even with a crystal ball. This video takes the creative Eno/Byrne power to an eerie electric level.
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