Seeing Sound, Michel Gondry, and 101 Music Videos
Techno/Electronic music is one of those genres that some people just don’t “get.” They hear the same noises, samples, and loops, over and over, without appreciating the subtler shifts and variations and choreography of sounds. In a way, it’s a lot like classical music, where listening with a careful ear can change the experience completely. Way back when, I was a wee little nerd and my musical tastes didn’t stray past orchestrated movie soundtracks until a fateful CD opened my eyes/ears. Cue the Lost in Space Soundtrack. Half orchestrated soundtrack, half techno. Thanks to Crystal Method and company, I came to appreciate a whole new world of music that rewarded the engaged listener (at least, when done well). Anyways, here’s two examples of physically visualizing the layering and interaction of elements that make techno so great (click the pictures for videos). Strangely enough, they’re both directed by Michel Gondry, a powerhouse director of music videos
Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar
On a train? In a box? With a fox?
Just in time for Halloween
**Bonus: Courtesy of the Lost in Space soundtrack, a strangely fitting/mildly disturbing claymation video set to “I’m Here(Another Planet)” by Juno Reactor and the Creatures ( the Creatures was a side project of Siouxsie (a la Siouxsie and the Banshees), Juno Reactor just sampled them.)
**Double Bonus: ville.2k presents the 101 best music videos of the decade. Plenty of audiovisual goodness. Also liking D.A.N.C.E. by Justice, for the groovy bass line and the creative video.
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Michel Gondry seems to have a prevalent influence (6 of the top 52), and for good reason. He was also responsible for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, a visually trippy movie in itself.
**Triple Bonus: Apparently Michel Gondry also directed “Too Many Dicks on the Dancefloor”, a la Flight of the Conchords. Not as technically impressive, but funny none-the-less.