As mentioned, Melbourne quintet
Rat Vs Possum are on the cusp of releasing their second album,
Let Music and Bodies Unite. 'Fat Monk' is the chugging first single from the set, and now it comes with an awesomely head-scratching slice of clean visuals via Lucy McRrae. The directorial debut for the "body architect", the clip was a collab between students from Melbourne's RMIT University; students drawn from the architecture, fashion, media and interior design faculties. The resulting synopsis contains art-speak:
Lead vocalist Daphne Shum takes us on her journey through her two disparate worlds; whimsical dance choreographies that reference synchronised swimming and a high school science lab are some of the scenes in this fun, theatrical, orchestrated puppet show. These two realities are united by the metallic clad vocalist, Daphne driving these kaleidoscopic worlds. Acclaimed video artist Kit Webster re-projects looped footage back into these worlds to add a synth-pop undertone which perfectly befits the feel of this album.
What it does do very well is highlight the scientific, observational qualities of intimate but playful, bodily functions. So, much like the band's album cover (see below):
RAT Vs POSSUM 'FAT MONK' OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO from Lucy McRae on Vimeo.
Sexy?
--
Indian filmmaker Achyutanand Dwivedi won a competition on genero.tv to make the next video for The Panics. So he did. The direction given from The Panics as to what the result should be?
We are very open to seeing how a director interprets 'Endless Road' and the imagery it may evoke. The lyric is broad in its subject, the verses are in some ways claustrophobic and insular, with the reader expressing he’s stuck in a 'bad dream' and at some kind of turning point. There are many possibilities for the video.
As it turned out, the resulting possibility they liked is one man's seemingly never-ending quest on a bike. High on visuals, low on narrative.
--
Melbourne's New War have been solidifying their sound in the live arena for what seems like an age now. Which is just fine, when the result is something as considered, spooky and streamlined as 'Ghostwalking'. It's the first taste of the four-piece's debut album, which is due out in March 2012. Go see one of their hypnotic, tense live shows while they're still playing small venues ASAP.
The 'Ghostwalking' 12" will be available from Fast Weapons records on September 27th. You can also hear the entire 8:39 version here if you like:
New War - Ghostwalking by theQuietus
--
Sydney funk-cum-pop livewires Bluejuice have a new song out. Or, nearly. While the official video for 'Cheap Trix' — the first taste of their forthcoming LP Company, the follow up to 2009's major label debut Head of the Hawk — isn't technically out just yet, there is this teaser clip. Which features the whole song. So I guess it's a more of a tease that doesn't stress too much about the teasing part. I'm not exactly sure, but I did very much laugh at the band's appearance in the clip's YouTube comments:
Scissor Sisters meets Utah Saints? Not your best work, boys. - vdeferens (3 days ago)
@vdeferens - Utah Saints? Scissor Sisters? We LOVE those bands. Maybe you should go listen to some blues guitar, you backwards, boring, conservative motherfucker. x your pal Jake Stone jakestone31 (2 days ago)
--
There's a scene in Nathan Barley — that wonderful UK satire on hipsters and "the rise of the idiots" — which features a flashback to the elder head of an advertising agency's "rock star" days. Doug Rocket is seen out front of an electro band, dressed in necklaces and fluro garb, jumping around to electro-African music while playing drum pads and a keytar. It's delivered under the pretense of pompous futurism and faux-revolution, and gosh I like them, but Cut Copy's new clip makes me think of that very much.
Redefine think:
Follow @marcusTheVine