I’ve seen some truly heinous shit in my day but the panic that gripped me as this music video progressed was terrifying.
I think this has more than a little to do with the birth of my first child, an incredible experience that occurred just over a week ago. When she emerged slick and squirming from my wife’s birth canal I could feel the neurons in my brain twitching with a busy psychedelic electricity, their axons plumbing to new depths while fingers of delicate dendrites spread outwards to deposit a bumper crop of synapses into my grey matter. The initial effect was euphoria, unlike any I had ever felt; nothing can prepare you for it; there is no fitting analogy to aptly describe the wholesale expansion of conciousness that takes place when a new member of your family arrives.
Much ado is made of the love that floods through you in that moment – and let me assure you, it’s there in prodigious quantities – but the fear that slowly creeps up your spine when the medical equipment is wheeled out and you are left alone with your swaddled heir is rarely mentioned. In the apt words of Jerry Holkins, “they’re only using the word fear because they don’t know what else to call it, how to name that rising, primal ice one feels when faced with the hanging jowls of the unknowable.”
Oof.
You quickly realize that the world you have inhabited for the past few decades is not fit for human life, or rather (I should say), for this human life. She is too delicate, too pure; too beautiful, too sweet. I could not bear the thought that any harm might befall her and I wasn’t quite sure it would be wise to ever leave that hospital.
A few years back I finally refined enough mental rocket fuel to propel me free of my inherited belief system’s gravity. You know, the one where you can avoid an eternity of perpetual immolation by placing your trust in a two-millennia-old fully-God-and-fully-man jewish carpenter? To be clear, the after-death insurance policy isn’t what kept me there for so long but the idea of an always-there, infinitely wise best friend who had a ‘plan’ for my life. The entirety of my psyche was stuck in a mental holding pattern, waiting in vain for the God of the Universe to tell me what it was that ‘He’ wanted me to do. Many of my former fellow congregants spoke smiling and glassy-eyed about how there was ‘freedom in Christ’ but I honestly never understood what that meant. It just felt like torturous cognitive incarceration to me.
And again, when that warm, initial giddy wave that accompanied my new-found spiritual freedom receded back, a cold realization deposited itself like jagged, rusty flotsam on the shore of my mind: no one is minding the store. There is no ultimate authority on right and wrong, no final judgement on those who seek to harm, no all-powerful hand to ensure that love ultimately prevails…
...no perfect being to protect her.
So yeah, this video! It’s messy, and raw, and real. And watching the narrative unfold in reverse (as expertly directed by Ellis Bahl) grips me with terror: who is her father? Does he know where she is? Can he get there in time? Who will save her?
I know it’s just a music video but this all could have (and, in all likelihood, probably has) happened here, in the real world. And just as I have decided to shrug off the illusory restrictions of some distant, intensely-interested-in-my-future deity, I am also determined to not be held in captive fear by all the potential ultimately-out-of-my-control ways harm could materialize around my daughter. I guess what I’m trying to explicate here is that, in spite of all this, I still have a say in the matter; I am endowed with the freedom to contribute my efforts, no matter how small, to shaping this marvelous plane of existence, too.
A sometimes scary but blindingly beautiful world awaits your discovery, Maia; there is so much I want to show you.
[ ∆ | Breezeblocks ]
posted by respondcreate on Apr. 11, 2012 in Videos | tags: alt-j, ellis bahl, hd, horror, music video, reverse time, violence, ∆
The first thought that popped into my brain after watching the attached: I want to go to there. The second? 2veinte should develop this into a 30 minute show. No dialogue, no traditional story arcs; just weird, bursting-with-candy-color visuals backed with arcadey, reminiscent-of-a-Casio-keyboard-demo-mode tunes. WHOWOULDN’TWANTTOWATCHTHATAMIRITE??
2veinte is giving away free Psychic Land posters to fifty random fans of theirs on Facebook. They don’t seem like the constantly-spamming-your-newsfeed-type so if you want a chance to win some rad art for your wall you might want to head on over; the effort-expended-to-possible-reward ratio skews generously in your favor.
Oh, and be sure to check out Let’s Face Symmetry – also by 2veinte – which we posted back in August.
[ Psychic Land ]
posted by respondcreate on Apr. 08, 2012 in Videos | tags: 2veinte, alien, animation, bizarre, colorful, geometric, hd, lolwat, lucas totino tedesco, pablo gostanian, wat
“As an enthusiast for little things, I wanted to go deeper than the macro universe, so I found myself hanging on the eyepiece of a microscope. The real challenge was definitely the small depth of field in microscopy. It’s really fascinating how detailed this tiny world is, and unbelievable how much is going on in only one little water drop.”
Visuals by Clemens Wirth, sounds by Radium Audio. If you like this kind of stuff then be sure to check out Clemens’ Vimeo page, especially his excellent three-part macro kingdom series.
[ Micro Empire ]
posted by respondcreate on Apr. 06, 2012 in Videos | tags: alien, clemens wirth, colorful, hd, microscope, nature, radium audio
Yes please.
OK: headphones-on, lights-down, full-screen and volume way-the-fuck-up. Today’s heady dose of deep, dubby, synth-drenched, head-down tech-house goodness is generously provided by the always-right-on Simian Mobile Disco. It’s a tune from their upcoming album Unpatterns which, for me at least, will be an instant purchase when it’s released in a few weeks on April 15th. If you’d prefer a physical copy of your music – in spite of the fact that we’re firmly in the age of instantly-transmittable bits – you can pre-order it on vinyl or a CD right now via the Wichita Recordings website.
It’s not just the music that’s top-notch but the just-under seven minutes of tastefully restrained, simple, tight, geometric, sometimes-in-sync-and-sometimes-ambling visuals (as created by long-time Simian-collaborators Jack Featherstone and Will Samuel of London-based ISO), too.
We love shit like this, Jordan – thanks so much for sending it our way. Cheers!
[ Simian Mobile Disco - Cerulean ]
posted by respondcreate on Apr. 02, 2012 in Videos | tags: abstract, animation, colorful, electronic music, geometric, hd, iso, jack featherstone, music video, simian mobile disco, trippy, will samuel
File Under: LOLWAT
Visuals by Dead Walter (a.k.a. Cyrille Chauvin, Guillaume Dousse, Thibaud Petitpas and Pierre Rutz) with ‘choons from Dirty Deeds. Enjoy!
[ My Bloody Lad - Dead Walter - WIZZdesign ]
posted by respondcreate on Apr. 02, 2012 in Videos | tags: animation, bizarre, colorful, cyrille chauvin, dark, dead walter, french, gobelins, guillaume dousse, hd, horror, lolwat, pierre rutz, thibaud petitpas, wizz
“Archibald lived in harmony with the surrounding world. Sometimes, after lunch, he would stroll along with a herd of mushrooms…”
I have a distinct memory of watching The Red Balloon in kindergarten. My overall recollection of the event is warped and faded but certain moments are forever burned into my mind. Strangely enough, all of them have nothing to do with the film itself: watching the reel-to-reel projector as it was wheeled in, perched heavily atop a sturdy steel cart with squeaking castors, its bottom shelf empty save for a large metal disc of tightly wound 8mm; the flurry of satisfying clicks and snaps each part on the projector made as my teacher deftly manipulated them into place; the lazy way the bulb brightened and the gentle warmth it radiated, the steady hum of the cooling fan and the slotted shadows its vents cast on the ceiling.
I’ve found that the electricity of a memory varies greatly depending on how old you are and grade school, for me at least, was a time when any new experience would surge through my brain like alternating current.
I felt so calm; so fine-with-everything as it played. It was nice; I wanted to stay there forever. The attached film, by French graphic designer/filmmaker/musician Kadavre Exquis, evoked a similar reaction; the richly textured, meandering landscapes and simple innocence of the characters made me want to melt through the screen for an aimless stroll. It’s warm and peaceful and colorful and chill and, well, lots of things really. The story is nice but it’s over too soon; I watched it four times in quick succession in a failed attempt to prolong the experience. That being said, I was happy to discover that there’s an original soundtrack to Childhood of a Circle that is orders of magnitude longer. You can listen to the entire thing gratis on Kadavre’s website or get the bits to go for a very-reasonable ten bucks.
There’s lots of strange, enigmatic intangibles in his work that I’m drawn to and it’s been fun taking time to tumble down the rabbit hole in an attempt to unravel them. Needless to say, I’m excited to see what Monsieur Exquis will make next.
Oh yeah: full-screen and headphones for this one, y’all. Enjoy!
posted by respondcreate on Mar. 27, 2012 in Videos | tags: animation, chill, colorful, fantasy, french, hd, kadavre exquis, mellow, peaceful, texture, trippy, warm
“A surreal journey through a mysterious hospital that alters the perception of physical beauties.”
File under: LOLWAT
Today’s dose of bizarre is graciously provided by Beomsik Shimbe Shim, a South Korean-born filmmaker/animator currently working in Los Angeles. Enjoy the ride!
[ "The Wonder Hospital" (Full version - official) ]
posted by respondcreate on Mar. 20, 2012 in Videos | tags: animation, beomsik shimbe shim, bizarre, dark, hd, lolwat, mind bending, surreal
“What you will see is an entirely fictional and completely unendorsed representation. [Though we humbly suggest Hunter S Thompson might have liked it.] We are devoted fans paying homage. No disrespect is intended.”
We usually don’t post ads but, then again, most ads aren’t as Gonzo-fantastic as this. It was conceived by String Theory and expertly-executed at Buck for Good Books, a unique service with a great mission: “Every time anyone buys a book through the Good Books website, 100% of the retail profit from every sale goes to support communities in need through Oxfam projects. As a result, charitable donation is built into an everyday activity at no extra cost. No one at Good Books is paid and we have zero operating costs. All time, professional services and resources are donated.” The visuals are top-notch and the narration is spot-on…enjoy!
A big thanks is due to Dan Allen for sending this our way! Cheers!
[ Good Books - Metamorphosis ]
posted by respondcreate on Mar. 20, 2012 in Videos | tags: animation, antfood, bizarre, buck, gonzo, good books, hd, hunter s thompson, trippy
“Isle of Wight based artist Sue Paraskeva produces exquisite thrown porcelain installation work, altered one-offs, and sublime tableware.”
Supremely mellow and deliciously chill; this expertly shot/edited film by Jamie Isbell (with tunes by Chihei Hatakeyama) is a suitable incitation for some late-night reflection and meditation. Enjoy!
[ Sue Paraskeva // Artist profile ]
posted by respondcreate on Mar. 16, 2012 in Videos | tags: art, chihei hatakeyama, chill, hd, jamie isbell, mellow, monochromatic, porcelain, pottery, sue paraskeva
For the past few weeks I’ve been moving all my stuff from one place to another and, just days ago, finally procured internet in my new home. I still had access to the hive-mind via my phone but the lack of a physical keyboard and suitably sized screen during my leisure hours made keeping the site up-to-date a bit difficult. I’m kind of paranoid about not making all of you happy. I want to make you happy – no, I need to, desperately so. This is a fools errand I know, but there are forces at play beyond my control. The imperative to continually deliver fresh internets to you all is so ground into my psyche that any choice my consciousness might have had in the matter has long since desiccated into a dusty, shriveled husk that bares no resemblance to its former autonomy.
My obsession lies not in collecting hits, likes or followers but in generating a more difficult to quantify resource: genuine affection. I want you to like coming here. I want you to be pleased to see I have updated. I want you to come back. Why? I dunno. If I did the preceding paragraphs wouldn’t be descriptions of my damage but an excerpt from my manifesto and, since I don’t have one of those, it’s best if we press on.
Unless I’m missing something I think my motivations are, at their core, fairly simple: finding something that is awesome is, in fact, awesome. And sharing that awesome thing with others, sans any ulterior, self-serving motive is even awesomer. I like awesome. I crave it. I need that shit, man. Ergo, this website.
Wait, what the fuck are we talking about? Oh yeah.
So I come back from my little hiatus and see a whole bunch of great suggestions. It appears you guys like awesome shit, too! And you like the awesomer act of sharing it with others. This is nothing new to me but I like being reminded of it all the same. It just feels good. Genuinely good. You know, that super-warm feeling that inexplicably rises through your chest but evaporates the moment it’s consciously acknowledged? That.
It was brief and moving and authentic and great so thanks, bros and bro-ettes.
The suggestion bin was packed with it’s usual random succotash of trippy ephemera but there were seven suggestions for one video in particular and, as I’m sure you’ve guessed by now, it’s the one attached to the top of this post.
Holy shit, it’s so good. It’s like a narration-less David Attenborough style documentary that looks as if it was filmed on the same planet that Wanderlust is from.
In creating SOLIPSIST, Andrew Huang struck a near-perfect balance between two approaches that are often at-odds: the nearly-impossible-to-duplicate-otherwise tactility of shot footage with the absolute-control wacked-out-ness that computer generated imagery affords. I think you’d agree that he’s straddled this fickle, narrow fence with a deftness that must make other directors jealous. Or, in the parlance of today’s youth, Mr. Huang’s got his swag on.
The making-of for this one is can’t-miss-fascinating so, once you’re done watching the film, make sure you give it a watch.
Massive thanks are due to Cosmo, Sarah, Hess, Diego Martintereso, zak standel, Sam Lillard and Garrett for making sure I didn’t miss this one. Word.
If you’ve got anything you’d like me to see, fill out this little form and share the love.
One more thing! If you haven’t seen Wanderlust yet, I recommend you do that next. Cheers!
[ SOLIPSIST ]
posted by respondcreate on Mar. 12, 2012 in Videos | tags: andrew huang, bizarre, colorful, hd, mind bending, nature, psychedelic, spiritual, trippy
