Welcome to day one!
Why has it taken me this long to relive SXSW? Well, it hasn't really. I wrote this out a bit ago, but surprise, surprise - it's insanely long. Maybe embarrassingly long given there is documentation of four more days to follow. I couldn't tell. Whatever. I have now overcome my length inhibitions and am just posting it. Hopefully you survive! :D
I actually had a dream about Saam, the director of These New Puritans' latest video for their latest single "Elvis," last night. I think it's because I saw the email about their new video just before I hit the sack. The dream wasn't so much about Saam, as it was a round-table discussion/debate about his video output in general, his video budgets and the matter of Simian Mobile Disco eventually ditching his original "Hustler" effort for whatever reason and doing another video for "Hustler" with director Ace Norton.
Anyway, it was really interesting. My idea/opinion of him/his work shifted through-out the dream and maybe even a little after I returned to the real world from 6 hours of slumber, an influence which is kinda weird given it was simply a dream. I wish I could remember everyone who shared their opinion about his output. There were a lot more girls than guys chiming in and everyone to my recollection was a card-carrying member in the London scene.
Anyways, here is his video for These New Puritans' "Elvis":
It reminds me of a cross between promo photos for the play Equus crossed with the Horrors' video for "Sheena is a Parasite." It's a bit bizarre. At first there doesn't seem to be an actual narrative and I don't know if my brain is playing tricks on me, but by the time frontman Jack Barnett hits the " 0 800" part, I kinda saw the semblance of one. How much am I loving that symbol on his hand at the end? Reminds me a bit of Lost with the Dharma project and all. How bizarre was that polar bear collar in last week's episode?
Part of me wonders if they're gonna work with him on their next video and if it'll be tied to this and further develop a story-line or sort of act as the close of a to-be-continued much like the last couple of videos Saam did for Klaxons. I don't know. Something about this video isn't giving me the "stand alone" vibe.
What do we learn from video comments? Well, quite the sound-off rages on, currently to the tune of 177 comments.
Could this video be about chemtrails and its link to Morgellens disease as one commenter purports?
Are the band named after a Fall track?
How much does this video apparently remind everyone of Carpark's "Human" as seen below?
Which actually reminds me a bit of little kids doing their best re-envisioning of the Craft when the four girls are walking down the hall and reminds me even a little bit of Donnie Darko when the kid is holding the hose or whatever.
Moving on still, These New Puritans had a decidedly lower video budget when they originally filmed a promo for the original "Elvis."
Old Elvis:
And that video yields this comment left a week ago:
"I hope TNP won't become mainstream ..."
Will they? Angular and Domino are certainly making the effort.
"Elvis" These New Puritans MP3
Will Saam? Has he already? While Britney Houston has tackled Janet Jackson's Feedback with a budget I could only dream of if doing a parody, let it not go unmentioned that Saam helmed Janet's actual clip for the track. Janet freakin' Jackson! From the streets of London working with the arguably the best in the scene he is now but one degree away from the gloved one! Blows my mind! Holy Shit! His Soulwax documentary is soon to premiere this year...
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