EMVOMV

Bathetic Records week!

2012-03-09T22:01:00.001-08:00

video of the day #139

2012-03-09T21:15:00.000-08:00

this post marks the fifth Bathetic Records showcase of the week! celebration time! today's video is for the track Nocturne by Difference Clouds, the artist name for Zach Smith (Tumblr | Vimeo). check out the full song on his SoundCloud, as it clocks in at around 14 minutes long. the song itself is a sweeping, lofty mix of tumbling synthesizers in an ethereal, spiritual light. it's 14 minutes of pure, unadulterated heaven.

in the video these beautiful synth tones are matched with similarly airborn footage; specifically, footage of clouds and landscapes far below. the slow, steady movements of the clouds from an aerial perspective emphasize the tranquility and unity of our world, and of the earth's processes, as well as functioning to highlight the song's comparable sonic qualities.

around 2:40 the shots change entirely to something like a reversed first-person perspective of a man, specifically his feet and legs. the unknown character begins to walk at the camera, slowly building up the pace to a frantic sprint. I absolutely love when he grabs onto the mechanism the camera is riding on and begins to flail, releasing one of his shoes to fade away in the distance. it's a poignant movement because it pairs well with the previous scenes of moving clouds; they too will fade away in the distance. in this sense I feel as if the video is commenting on the transitivity of the human presence on the planet; everyone must fade at some point. nothing gold can stay.

but again, this is just my reading; there's many different ways you could read this video, especially when the spoken word is taken into account. these lyrics are not part of the original song, but they mesh well with the overall tone evoked by both video and audio. the speaker proclaims, "I don't want to know what I'm doing wrong, I just want to know what I'm not doing right...I already know what I'm doing wrong"; it's a strangely philosophical comment that could easily be part of an angsty teen's Facebook status update, but again, it works well within the context of the video and the insanely striking visuals.

as far as effects go, the video works with a minimal black and white palette. I enjoy black and white videos because they draws attention to the textures of each shot, which in the case of this video, are extremely important as landscapes pop in and out of focus. focus effects will always intrigue me, and to see them used so effectively is marvelous.

the week's not over yet! expect some more from Bathetic over the next few days. next week we'll be back to regular posting, I've got a lot of videos ready to share.
-Steven

video of the day #138

2012-03-08T21:49:00.001-08:00

another excellent video from Bathetic Records! I'm sure I've already said this in previous posts this week, but this video is definitely my favorite of the bunch so far.

I know very little about Villages because, honestly, it's one of the hardest artist names to Google (try it yourself--it's impossible), but what I do know comes from Bathetic's blog, after scrolling far down. his name is Ross Gentry, and aside from a Discogs page and a defunct MySpace page, there's no other possible links to his work or himself. he hails from North Carolina, Bathetic's home base, so there's that connection, but other than that, Gentry remains an enigma.

this sort of enigmatic personality is also evident in the video for Beach Pneumatic Transit. it's basically the overlapping of two basic, long shots on a city street. though it sounds simple enough, in practice it's very complex, as the shots are overlapped at different time intervals, coupled with amazing transitions.

the transitions themselves are most evident in the brickwork to the right of the frame; it reminds me a lot of an earlier video I posted entitled Amalgamation, in that the switch from one shot to the next is done through a steady morphing of the brickwork to form the composition of the next shot. I'm not sure what programs are used to accomplish this eye-popping effect, but it's simply incredible. it gives the entire video a transformative, almost chilling aspect that encourages personal reflection.

the main stage of the frame is occupied by the ghostly, slow-motion movements of unidentifiable heads. it's insanely creepy and insanely startling, as a non-moving head is eclipsed by another still in motion. again, these are simple effects in practice, but the implementation is exemplary.

around 4:20, the shot dramatically changes to a sideways-titled scene that reveals the location, an urban street in front of a brightly lit business. it's remarkable to me that so little was given away in previous shots due to the manipulation and amplification of overlapping video. in this part of the music video, a strobe effect is used that is really amazing; I haven't figured out whether it is a post-production effect or part of the actual shoot, but no matter the means, the product is marvelous. slow-motion movements are used, again, but with a full body exposed to the viewer.

this is a video that is truthfully very hard to put in words, as it contains an internal rhythm and magic that defies explanation. though I have listed some intriguing parts of the video, in reality there's much more that I can't necessarily explain; I highly recommend watching the video yourself and coming to your own, personal conclusions.

more from Bathetic tomorrow! finals week is approaching so I'm very busy, but this has become a part of my daily routine and consequently much easier for me to achieve on a regular basis. cheers to that!
until next time
-Steven

wednesday short #20

2012-03-07T21:12:00.002-08:00

today's video is for the song Run Slow by Cough Cool (Tumblr | Bandcamp | SoundCloud | Twitter | Facebook). this artist is, once again, signed to Bathetic Records, so this week's theme is still going strong! it also functions for my usual wednesday posts because it clocks in at just over two minutes, putting it at a much shorter length than my normal fare.

this music video is the most simplistic yet of the week; it features just a few shots of Cough Cool members skating around a parking lot, with various filters applied over each shot. there's a lot of play with focus, which anyone who's followed this website long enough knows is one of my favorite effects, so of course I approve. the focus effects are varied and constantly changing, giving life to the video that could potentially be boring otherwise.

the video could have been made in FinalCut Pro X; I recognize the "3D" effect of the blue and red contours around the skaters as one in FCPX called "prism". though I can't be sure, it really makes no difference, as the video is truly brilliant no matter the video editing software.

I have two favorite shots from the video; the first is actually the first scene, as the camera focuses in on the blue sky above for a prolonged moment. it's something of a cathartic, nostalgic, timeless moment, and well used in the video. my second favorite shot happens around 1:47, as the main skater finally comes into focus enough to recognize facial features. as he approaches the camera, I almost tensed up, not sure whether the editing would allow me to identify nose, mouth, eyes, and chin. it's a very dramatic moment, yet played so simply through common blur effects.

another effect layered into the video is the stuttering frame rate: this also contributes to the overall nostalgic feel of the video. the viewer doesn't have to be a skater to get the emotion behind the shots, of living young and free and creatively. it's a great feeling that the video captures very effectively.

check out Cough Cool's latest release Lately on Bathetic; it's sold out, but there's some clips and another music video posted from a few months ago for the release.
expect more Bathetic tomorrow!
-Steven

video of the day #137

2012-03-06T16:33:00.004-08:00

going on with this week's Bathetic Records theme is Slow Spell Pt. 1 by Merryl (Website | Facebook). it's off a soon-to-be-released cassette on the label and is sure to be a crowdpleaser (for drone fans, that is). today's video is very minimalistic and brooding; it is a pensive meditation that meshes well with the synthesized chords of the track.

the viewer is immediately confronted with the gaze of a gaping fish, as it stares from its tank. it's an image at once frightening and isolating, as the fish looks out from it's transparent prison. I may be reading too much into this, but in a video with so very few scenes, there's definitely an emphasis on the composition and rhythm of each shot above other conventional analysis.

I'm most intrigued by the "curtain" effect that intercedes the footage of water reflections; I have no idea how such fluid imagery was originally made, as it seems a mix of organic movement and computer generated colors and fill. whatever its origin, it's a very hypnotic motion as the "curtain" covers and uncovers the water reflection.

around 3:40, the scene changes to more reflective imagery, but in neon color palette. there's an almost phallic object protruding from, and reflecting in, the water's surface. once again, this object becomes an almost hypnotic entity, as it is taken in and out of focus in repetitive motions.

overall, the key word for this video is motion: the tiniest movements convey the most meaning. I think another important theme throughout the video is reflection, as a majority of the shots feature reflection of some sort; I read this motif as a means to induce personal, inner reflection, especially considering the discomforting gaze of the fish into one's very soul.

this post was a little more pompous than I usually aim for, but the video really highlights intelligent thinking. I may be completely wrong in my claims, but the video itself propels one to think more deeply about its meaning, due to its minimalist presentation.

more Bathetic coming tomorrow! stay tuned
-Steven

video of the day #136

2012-03-05T18:26:00.001-08:00

the start of a new week! everything's so fresh and clean-smelling! like I promised in an earlier post, this week is going to be themed -- and the theme is Bathetic Records.

today's video is for the song Cloud Mines by Zac Nelson (Website | Bandcamp), off one of his newer releases Sound A Sleep Sound on Bathetic. the video itself is a strange, irregular, lopsided amalgamation of nature footage, as Nelson explores the wilderness and stains clothing with pomegranate juice (I kid you not). I like the video, and it really does a great job characterizing what Nelson is all about; he's an all-around artistic type, with an overwhelming amount of skill, passion, and creativity (he hand-screenprints shirts for sale on his website) , as well as some self-aware hipster irony. I scratched my head a few times at this video, but the song itself makes it well worth the time.

the song is a intoxicating mix of synth notes that almost resemble the chirps of birds. they're extremely organic, but also artificial; it's a strange sort of agreement between the two opposed forces. I highly recommend this release because this clip from the record offers only a snapshot of the brilliance of the work. I own the vinyl myself, and may be posting some photos later this week, if that piques your interest.

look forward to more videosonic landscapes this week as I post more insane releases from Bathetic Records.
until next time
-Steven

video of the day #135

2012-03-04T00:15:00.000-08:00

today's video was recommended by a viewer! I love viewer recommendations, but I don't get enough of them; if you think you've got the stuff to be on this website, definitely send me a message! it's all free game, just hit me up and it's sure to work out! :)

today's video is for the track Bare Faith Pious by Humble Pious on the record Nam Kyo. I don't know much about this artist (or label), but I respect them for getting the word out and contacting me for a mention. the video they have produced is phenomenal; it's a collection of strobe-esque shots and some stop animation, both of which require a lot of attention and care to be implemented effectively.

this video is obviously not of professionally-neutered caliber; it's a video that emphasizes the indie aspect of hip hop, and therefore is of great interest to this website as in indicator of the undergound hip hop scene. though I have had some exposure through Low End Theory, I definitely am fairly new to this burgeoning genre and am definitely willing to learn more from small-scale artists with a lot of talent and not a lot of mainstream coverage.

enjoy this video, and expect a theme for next week's videos that will proceed throughout the entire week!
until next video
-Steven

video of the day #134

2012-03-03T15:00:00.000-08:00

today's video is for Polaroyced by Mouse on Mars (Website | Facebook), and I couldn't be happier to share this amazingly dorky, entertaining dance epic. the track comes from Mouse on Mars' newest album Parastrophics, out on Modeselektor's record label Monkeytown. I've featured stuff from Monkeytown before, so rest assured this is a high quality selection despite the overall quirkiness of the video above.

this music video starts out very innocently; I was almost disappointed at the beginning, expecting this one to fall flat and be a simply shot video of a strange man dancing in various styles in a random alley. however, the video has a natural progression into strange computer generated effects that were surprising, to say the least. there must have been a ton of work put into this video, despite its humble beginning; I respect that the director had the guts to give the video a homespun feel even if it could potentially drive away viewers who couldn't wait for the real magic to happen.

the color palette is really fun; there's a ton of gold by the end of the video. I really appreciate the flying gilded dog sculptures that float through the air like runaway parade balloons. it's a really odd, but really great effect that is sure to incite laughter in everyone who sees the video.

I'm going to be featuring a video tomorrow that was sent in by a fan! if you want to be featured for one of your videos, or just have a video you think would be great on the website, send me an email! my email is stevensteven327@gmail.com if it's not somehow linked to the website (though I think it is, somewhere).

happy viewing!
-Steven

video of the day #133

2012-03-02T19:47:00.001-08:00

I was going to post a different video today but this one is brand new and going to hit all the major blogs ASAP. if you've followed this website for a while, you know about my absolute LOVE for Grimes (Facebook | Website | Twitter), aka Claire Boucher of Arbutus Records. she really is an amazing person, extremely genuine and endearing. I wrote about meeting her in an earlier post, I've featured her in my 2011 Top Ten videos (as well as the ten runner-ups), and I've also made a crazy mega-video post a long time ago in honor of her talent.

this video, for the track Oblivion off her new album Visions, is superb. it really illustrates everything I've been trying to relate about this fabulous individual in one, easy, 4-minute video. Claire comes across as a fun-loving, quirky, bad-ass woman as she sings in multiple locations, like a football stadium and motocross tournament.

each location is so disjointed from the next, and so undeniably odd for a music video shoot, that the entire experience comes off as a guerilla art project, or an exploitation of middle-class suburban life. I have a strong feeling this video was shot on the road while Claire was touring, so the fact that it came together so greatly attests for her amazingness.

each scene brings a new sense of joy as Grimes walks up to seemingly random strangers and starts lip-syncing her song, along with oversized headphones and a retro boombox. you really get a sense of who Claire is from her style; her hair is dyed in shades that probably are put together very often, and her clothes are bizarre and marvelous simultaneously. my favorite part of the video is her dancing, however, as it really comes across as heartfelt and genuine. Claire is awkward and cute and her dancing brings the same kind of intense energy that are a part of her personality. yes, I'm extrapolating a bit from the two conversations I've had with her, but really it's obvious she's a cool person with a truly unique point of view.

there are so many moments that made me smile in this video and I'm sure they'll make you smile as well. I love when a motocross racer awkwardly cuts across the screen in one of the earlier shots. I love when Grimes sings alongside a screaming, shirtless fan, and is partially obscured by his rapid arm movements. I love that all these great moments that would usually be cut to make a video more "professional" are kept intact in the video. it's an honest take on the artform and I'm hoping you appreciate it as much as I do.

new video tomorrow! stay tuned
-Steven

video of the day #128 update!

2012-03-02T16:25:00.002-08:00

music update! Pitchfork just released their review of Julia Holter's newest album Ekstasis; they gave it a 8.6 out of 10, and Best New Music! though I'm wary of some Pitchfork reviews, it's always great to agree with them on a positive one. I recently posted a music video featuring a track from this new album, so check that out if you haven't already.

expect a new video later today, cheers!
-Steven

videos of the day #130, #131, #132

2012-03-01T22:56:00.003-08:00

this has been one of the most difficult posts ever to compile. honestly, when I set out to create this one I didn't expect it to take hours upon hours to compile -- you're welcome! this day's post is a focus on an artist I've featured more than once. he goes by Ssaliva (Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter | Tumblr), and also by Cupp Cave (Facebook | Soundcloud), and a host of other names that I literally had no idea about until I created this post. don't even ask me to list them all, just check out these posts if you want to know more, it's almost beyond comprehension how prolific Francois Boulanger really is. it's incredible, to say the least.

what's even crazier is that all three videos above are very new; they aren't even a month old, any of them. and all of them are from different releases as well!

the first video is for his Ssaliva project, for the track Night Landing off his release, RZA, on Vlek Records. from what I can tell this is his home record label and the most intimate record label he produces for; they have a lot of respect for him and have more information about this enigmatic artist than any other website. this first video features VHS pixelated footage of what appears to be a video/computer game. I haven't played video games in a long time (too long!) so it could be The Sims or it could be Grand Theft Auto, I'm not sure. what I am sure of, though, is that it takes this seemingly innocuous track and creates a dirtier, sexier intonation than what I first imagined when I heard the vinyl. altogether it's an interesting interpretation, and sets the basis for the rest of the videos, which offer similar hazy footage in eclectic color schemes.

the second video is also for Ssaliva, but for the soon-to-be-released Sextape Hiss on Surf Kill. currently, their website is down so I can't offer details on this release except that it's expected in 2012. this video happens to be my favorite of the three; it has the best color palette. and though nothing is ever as defined in this video as the other two, it's still a captivating range of static-y motions and rhythms in hypnotizing repetition.

the third, and final, video is for Boulanger's Cupp Cave project. this happens to be my favorite of his various projects because some of his Cupp Cave stuff distinctly reminds me of Low End Theory, and the burgeoning beat scene here in LA (but of course with a distinct Belgian/European influence). this video is yet another hazy sketch, a combination of colors that evoke emotion more than any distinct shape or object. this song, White Out, is to be released on Ramp Recordings (Facebook | Website), yet another record label for this crazy artist. Ramp is home to another artist I like, Stay+, who has great releases as well, if you're not already overwhelmed by all the links in this post thus far.

Boulanger's alias Cupp Cave also has releases on Thin Consolation/Unrezt (Website | Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter), so that's some more to check out if you don't have vertigo yet.

alright, that's all for now. I'm only going to get 5 hours of sleep at this point, so I better get on that.
until next time
-Steven

**edit: I just was searching up Cupp Cave stuff and found a post on Altered Zones, the now-dead offshoot blog of Pitchfork that has so much in common with my post it's crazy. check it out if you dying to have even more info about Francois Boulanger.

personal video #1

2012-02-29T00:46:00.000-08:00

hey everyone. I've decided to set up a new line of videos for days when I don't have time to post, but still want to offer something substantial for your viewing pleasure. there's nothing really all that special about this new feature, except that all of the music videos are my own creations.

I've been making videos since high school, where I had firsthand experience with video-editing software. since then, obviously a lot has changed, and currently I don't have access to top notch editing software like I used to (I still do what I can though). basically the point I'm trying to make is that these videos are my own personal creations, so most of them I hold close to my heart. some of them took ages to make, some of them were appeals to the emotion a song would give me, but the common thread between them all is they are intimately connected to who I am.

all of the above exposition wasn't really necessary, but it serves to illustrate why I haven't featured any of my own stuff on this blog so far; I felt it was best to keep them separate because my place was more as a music video curator, than as an artist looking for recognition. even my personal blog rarely has my own stuff.

anyways, on to the video: I made this video for the fabulous song Hours by Tycho, off his newest album Dive. for me, the song instantly recalled wave imagery, the perpetual and natural pull of ocean currents, and the salty taste of seawater. I tried to convey this through tons of compiled surfing imagery, while also attempting to portray the sense of peace and earthly connection cultivated through surfing, and through coexisting with tidal energy.

I grew up in a beach town in Southern California, so the music video is a lot more in tune with my own experiences than a bunch of the other videos I've made. I feel like that came across in the video as well. I tried to give emphasis to the rise and fall within the song, such as by using slow motion footage for the main synthline around the 3:00 mark, as well as by displaying bubble shots during a very short melody segue around 3:55. I hope all this came across successfully in the video, but obviously as the creator things jump out at me much differently than if I had no involvement in the video editing process.

I decided to post this video first in this series because not only is it my first music video posted to YouTube, but also it is my most viewed video of all time. I'm not sure why so many people like it (the resolution isn't the sharpest and there's the black "letterbox" columns on both sides of the frame due to sizing errors), but I'm always happy to see a new comment of encouragement and praise. I always smile when I get email about new comments on the video.

I used Sony Vegas for this video. the video editing process was really very simple, as it was my first time using this program, so basically I just assembled the footage with little to no editing on my part. I slowed down some footage for the slow motion section of the video, and I reversed the clips at the last segment of the video as well. I also overlapped footage for the beginning sequence, and I cropped most of the footage so that it only showed the part of the original footage that I wanted (sometimes there were other people or surfers). I don't remember color-correcting or anything, so the longest part of the process was definitely compiling all the footage into something cohesive and interesting (somewhat) to watch.

my favorite thing about this music video overall is that only a month or two after creating and posting it, I attended a Tycho concert at the Echoplex in LA, where all of their background footage was of surfing and wave footage. I had no idea they had the same vision for the songs they created, so I loved that somehow I had figured it out just from listening to the album itself.

expect another of these videos the next time I get busy!
until then
-Steven

video of the day #129

2012-02-27T10:35:00.000-08:00

another week, another great video from Bathetic Records. this week's music video is for the song Adrift by Caroline Park. I know basically nothing about this artist as there's no website, no artist profile on Bathetic's website, nothing to help me discover who she is and what she represents. though I find it interesting to know about a musician's history, it's also sort of refreshing to be free from this knowledge of personal history; it gives one a chance to focus solely on the music, on the visuals, and create an opinion that is unbiased and unfiltered.

last week I featured a video for Composition by Difference Clouds, and Park's video follows in the same vein of ambient, yet startling, electronic soundscapes with abstract, intriguing visual accompaniments. I absolutely love the song; it recalls another musician named Eleh for me (whose vinyl can go for as much as $150.00!), in that there's an emphasis on soundwaves, and the actual, physical production and reception of sound. as Bathetic Records puts it, "Frequency is key". the appeal to such a simple, yet defining quality like frequency gives the song an almost meditative feel; however, it's still full of life and vivacity, and is almost unsettling in its visceral departure from normal song forms. one of my favorite moments of the track is around 3:38, when the synthesizers take an an entirely new turn and redefine the progress of the last three minutes.

regarding the video: it's a great visual counterpart that, again, is meditative yet unsettling in its presentation. the simplicity of the oscillating black squares directly correlates with the audio, and there's a nifty editing part around 2:15 that syncs the change of the song with an enlargement of the black squares beyond anything yet accomplished in the video.

overall, this is another great example of homegrown DIY synthscapes, and I highly recommend it (along with all other Bathetic releases). visit Bathetic's Vimeo page for more great videos and songs. if you want to buy this cassette, visit this page; the above video only represents a segment of one side of the cassette, so expect a lot more incredible transformative sounds if you do purchase this release. act fast though; there's only 100 copies produced, and it's definitely a cassette-only release, so don't expect a digital download to be available, ever.

until next time
-Steven

video of the day #128

2012-02-25T23:51:00.000-08:00

Julia Holter is a local LA artist who has been around for a while. she's released on Leaving Records, a legendary LA record label by none other than Matthewdavid. he's an inspiring musician for me personally; my first visit to Low End Theory (a huge weekly event for the LA underground beat scene) happened to be guest DJ'd by this amazing personality, and it was a defining moment in my life. Leaving Records has released tons of material from many spectacular local artists, such as Jonwayne, Ryan York, Ras G, and Matthewdavid himself. obviously, this is a big name in my music library, and it should be in yours as well.

Julia Holter has been gaining popularity for her dreamy sound creations recently, and though I'm not the biggest fan of her music, I can understand it's appeal and definitely appreciate what she has accomplished and created. this video is an interesting, captivating collage of footage, shot across a variety of cinematic mediums (Super 8 film!) and is a delicate, artistic creation perfectly paired with Holter's ethereal vocals.

I love the flower imagery; though it can easily come across as cliched, this video uses these shots sparingly and carefully. the footage itself is also intriguing, as the flower spreads its petals in an almost visceral display of earthly nature.

look out for Julia Holter, as she will most definitely be a star in the coming year; if you want links, here's her Facebook, Twitter, and Soundcloud. and check out Leaving Records for enough new music to fill your next few months with supreme listening pleasure. I just bought the label's newest cassette by EMV, and my all-time favorite release on the label is by Ssaliva, so at the very least scope his album.

lots of links in this post. I hope that makes up (somewhat) for the lack of posting the last few days. expect a new video tomorrow.

until then, happy listening (and viewing!)
-Steven

custom domain!

2012-02-23T18:25:00.001-08:00

you may have noticed (or probably not), but I finally took the plunge and bought/registered a custom domain name. now it's even easier to access the blog, just point your browser to emvomv.com and you're good to go

going upwards and onwards!
your humble music video curator
-Steven

video of the day #127

2012-02-23T16:10:00.000-08:00

great visuals today for the track The Courts by Jam City, off the 12" vinyl in anticipation of his debut album. i'm familiar with Jam City from his earlier EP's Magic Drops and Waterworx, which are both excellent and feature tons of great bass music bangers, if you're into that kind of thing (chances are, you are if you like The Courts). Jam City is signed to Night Slugs, a huge UK label with so much good music and so many good artists it's nearly impossible to name them all. what I can advise is to check out the Night Slugs Allstars compilation for a varied scope of the mutant, addictive, and dancefloor-ready tracks customary to this amazing label.

the music video is an interesting combination of footage, some of which consists of beautifully shot, black-and-white basketball scenes, while the rest is a strange amalgamation of computer generated 3D images. there's no real pattern or meaning to the rotating 3D objects, but there does seem to be a common theme of modern technology and athletic equipment, which is still strange in and of itself. the video functions well for the track because there is a certain 3D element to the music of Jam City (and the rest of the Night Slugs roster), and his prior releases all feature album art with 3D effects or schematics, so ultimately the objects in the video emphasize the best qualities of the track.

the editing of the video is also very nice, and as many of you probably know I'm a sucker for some good editing tricks. Daniel Swan, who created the video, synced the appearance of the random objects perfectly with the song, cutting to black when the audio features the squeak of basketball shoes. this effect, which happens in less then a second, is a display of precise, tight editing, and I truly appreciate all the hard work that it must have taken to accomplish this effect so seamlessly.

enjoy the video, and expect a new one tomorrow! have a lovely day
-Steven

wednesday short #19

2012-02-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

a short teaser for you from Mo Kolours. this video features his newest song Temi from his soon-to-be-released EP2: Banana Wine on One-Handed Music. I loved Mo Kolours' first ep so if you're at all into this kind of sound (something like electronic-raggae-weed music) definitely check his earlier stuff out.

the video isn't in a sense a music video (gasp! what is it doing here then??) but it's a great little teaser video with a ton of interesting focus effects and super rhythmic cinematography. you get a real sense for the kinetic motion of Mo Kolours' sound, yet still understand the laidback vibe associated with his music as well.

happy wednesday to all my viewers, enjoy this video! and pick up the vinyl if you can!
-Steven

video of the day #126

2012-02-21T18:01:00.000-08:00

today's video is really special because it's such a complete, cultured, complex synthesis of a ton of filmmaking techniques. I'm actually not really sure where to begin, but I suppose the best place to start is the video's use of projections and projection screens.

a bunch of the scenes within the video feature projections, mostly comprised of geometric patterns projected onto the back of a pianist, as well as the piano itself. projections have become very popular, and though I'm usually one to discourage trends, this is one I'm definitely, totally on board with. the number of effects that can be created using projections is limitless; this video just explores a few of them to maximum effect. the second use of projection within the video is the actual frame itself; the entire video is shot onto a projection screen, which is only revealed near the end of the video. until that point I had been wondering how the borders of the overlapping shots were twisting and warping so effortlessly, without blips and jumps that would be symptoms of using video editing software, rather than simple, analog, projection screens.

besides the use of projections, the video has a multitude of varied shots, some of which are obviously self-shot, while others (like scenes of undersea ruins) are obviously found footage. there's even some focus effects (which I love!) scattered throughout the video, and the framing of the shots with the tidal sea at the top and bottom of the frame is supremely kinesthetic.

overall, a fantastic video for a fantastic artist. Tiger Stripe is the alias for Ashish Sharma, a local Los Angeles artist that I'm going to see very soon and am extremely excited for. check out their facebook, soundcloud, bandcamp, and tumblr if you like what you hear and see.

look forward to a new wednesday short tomorrow! until next time
-Steven

video of the day #125

2012-02-18T13:31:00.000-08:00

trying to keep the momentum going, posting a new video every day! this one is for the track Composition by Difference Clouds. his real name is Zach Smith, and I know hardly anything about this spectacular man except that his work is really mindblowing; it recalls Oneohtrix Point Never immediately for me, which is striking considering he's made a video for my favorite OPN song, and favorite song of all time, Physical Memory.

the video itself starts out sort of slow, but very quickly you realize this isn't just another video of mindless static; there's a process to the production and a careful, editing eye. focus effects are turned up to 11 in a pattern of shots alternating between trees and raindrops. the whole video is quite striking and comes (of course) highly recommended.

Smith's tumblr reveals he has all-around good taste, so check that out as well. also, I originally found him through Bathetic Records, which release tons of great stuff and other videos in a similar electronic/drone vein, so if this appeals to you definitely check them out!

until next time
-Steven

bonus video #1

2012-02-17T16:56:00.000-08:00

you might be asking yourself, "What makes this video any different from the regular videos?" the difference is that though this is a great video, it's somewhat different from my usual fare because it's more a compilation of professionally shot live footage than an actual music video (though I'm sure you could argue endlessly about what makes a music video a music video).

anyways, this video features the song Reykjavik by Sykur, which translates to Sugar from Icelandic. I found this adorable electro-pop band through a revolutionary music website with a humanitarian focus called Gogoyoko; it features lots of interesting, foreign indie music if you're into that kind of thing.

the song definitely straddles the line between catchy and cheesy, but it's a fun, upbeat track with rapping in a different language! who doesn't love that? the editing is really tight, the energy abundant, and the color blinding, so it's overall a fun experience. check out their tumblr and facebook if you like the song, all their stuff is really catchy and really addicting!

video of the day #124

2012-02-17T13:47:00.000-08:00

I really like this video because there's a tangibility to the song that miraculously crosses over almost exactly to the music video. this video features Sayso by Evy Jane, and is one of my favorites in a long time because the textures inherent to both audio and visual are accurately and effortlessly portrayed in perfect harmony.

I don't know much about Evy Jane except that they're a duo from Canada (more great Canadian artists!) and are releasing their self-titled debut album soon. everything else is kind of up in the air, but if you want to learn more about the record or see their tumblr, have a look.

the video itself is a dense mass of many shots, with great focus effects and an emphasis on the tones and textures of natural landscapes. there's also something dreamy about the entire presentation, with overlapping footage, smooth editing, and erotically charged, surreal sequences that seem to focus on the body's ability to touch and be touched.

enjoy the video; there will definitely be a bonus video later today, I promise this time.
have a great weekend!
-Steven

video of the day #123

2012-02-16T10:51:00.000-08:00

midterms are finally OVER! now that those are out of the way, expect much more regular posting (at least until finals come around).

today I'm honored to present my viewers with this fantastic, brilliant video and song. the track is Circumambient, and it's by Grimes, off her newest album Visions set to come out next week. it's definitely one of my biggest priorities right now; I'm sure it will be one of my favorite vinyls and definitely one of my favorite records of the year.

if you don't know Grimes (which you should if you're a longtime viewer of this blog! check the Grimes tag), her name is Claire Boucher and she's a fabulous Canadian artist with basically no classical training, yet an overwhelming amount of natural talent and ability. she paints the covers of her albums and directed one of her videos (among other things) and makes the most ethereal soundscapes despite not being able to read sheet music, and playing piano in the most basic way (this video reveals that Genesis, another cut from Visions, features a melody only using the black keys on the piano). Grimes is signed to her home label Arbutus, a fabulous Canadian label that has many other great releases, as well as the much bigger 4AD for widescale release of her newer stuff. if you haven't realized yet, I'm a huge fan of Grimes, and I've seen her live and can attest that Claire Boucher is an entirely genuine, awkward person. she brings as much to her live performance as she does to her records.

the video itself is a masterpiece in and of itself as well; it's an "unofficial" video by David Dean Burkhart, who has made a ton of other videos for the likes of Chairlift, Class Actress, and Purity Ring just to name a few (check the David Dean Burkhart tag for other videos of his i've featured on the blog). one of the most incredible things about the video is that it features footage only from one vintage movie; one! the amount of scenes and angles is staggering, and it's obvious a ton of work went in to making this video as entertaining as it is.

hope you've been having a great week. I may be posting an extra video later today to make up for my absence, but until then, cheers! and look up Grimes, her older works Halfaxa and Geidi Primes are free on Arbutus!
-Steven

video of the day #122

2012-02-14T22:28:00.000-08:00

another sweet video from an amazing artist! today's video is for Savaan by Ssaliva, off his new RZA EP on Vlek Records. this great homespun artist also goes by the name Cupp Cave, and everything he touches is gold (literally for RZA, the vinyl is gold!) I really like this guy's creations because they touch on a sort of psychedelia only hinted at with more traditional guitar-based selections. Ssaliva is unique because his creations are masterpieces of sound, independent of any one instrument or style. he is also self-taught and brings a lot of creativity and natural talent in place of conventional schooling.

the video itself is a lo-fi collection of who-knows-what clips from dated VHS samples. it perfectly matches the washed out sound of the track and compliments its stuttering quality nicely.

Ssaliva happens to be a prolific artist, both in video and other media (he created this video himself), so I'm going to be posting another of his videos later on this week from the same RZA EP. in the meantime, check out his Soundcloud and his Tumblr if you're one of those people that likes to know everything about the musicians you listen to (I'm defintely one of these people!).

happy Valentine's Day from me to you! hope you had a great one.
-Steven

video of the day #121

2012-02-13T23:37:00.000-08:00

sorry for lack of posts the last few days! I got a new video though, bright, shiny and new for you to enjoy! this one is for the song Run Before You Wake by Mike Gao, off of his new compilation with Daisuke Tanabe on Project Mooncircle in collaboration with Finest Ego. theses are two great labels based in Northern Europe that you really should get to know... Project Mooncircle are celebrating their 10th anniversary with a legendary label compilation (I've already pre-ordered the deluxe package!) so check that out if you want a good feel for this fantastic label!

the video functions as a compositional exploit rather than a traditional storytelling video. as many of you probably know, I'm a big fan of these kinds of videos because they focus on what makes the art of video so engaging: the shots, the colors, the focus, and other technical aspects that often are overshadowed by subject matter in pop videos. this video is definitely about focusing techniques above all else, as our mysterious figure traipses around many settings, culminating in his journey into the forest.

the song itself has a lot in common with the video in that it is compositionally thrilling rather than simple gratification. Mike Gao is a Stanford music technology graduate, which sheds light on the reasons for his truly unique sound.

enjoy the video, and expect a lot more once my midterms are over!
-Steven

Questions to my readers!

2012-02-08T17:25:00.000-08:00

Hey all! I know most of my viewers enjoy the videos I post, but I'd love to know if there's something I'm missing, or something you'd like to see added. for instance, usually I don't post that many links because it's time-consuming, but if there's enough of a response and enough interest in posting links, I'd definitely be willing to take the time :). I've compiled a small survey, totally optional; all the questions are multiple choice or checkbox so it shouldn't take any time at all. please help me out by filling out the survey; it'll improve the experience for you and for me!

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