#56: "the apocalypse is a tempting liberator"
Welcome to issue #56 of THIS NEWSLETTER CANNOT SAVE YOU. In case you were wondering:
Scottovision
- “En el festín” (2024) - Animator Abel Molina is responsible for a couple of my favorite music videos (“canción de muerte y salvación” by Zahara, and “_BCN626” by Zahara’s side project, _Juno). He’s really outdone himself on this video for the metal band León Benavente, creating a wild bacchanalian dinner party extravaganza, where the waiters have disco ball heads, a giant lobster is a locus of worship, the costumed revelers can’t be trusted, and our protagonists, the band members, are in more trouble than they realize. Apparently the surrealist film The Exterminating Angel, directed by Luis Buñuel, was a major influence; I haven’t seen it, but after seeing this video, I’m tracking it down.
- “Sublime Eternal Love” (2024) - Filmmaker David Lynch promoted Cellophane Memories, his new album with singer Chrystabell, via an episode of David Lynch Theater, and the pair has released a nicely weird music video as well (the track itself is also weird, of course). It’s a mesmerizing looped performance by Chrystabell (you may have seen her in Twin Peaks: The Return in the role of FBI Agent Tammy Preston), her face flickering like a chorus of ghosts peering past the screen and actually seeing you.
- “Chiroptera” (2024) - Former Daft Punk robot Thomas Bangalter scored this dance piece for 154 dancers, each of whom is a twirling, cape-wearing, synchronized pixel in a giant scaffolding hanging several stories tall from the side of the Paris Opera House. It’s a slow burn, taking its time to show off the full spectacle this canvas provides for artist JR and choreographer Damien Jalet.
- “Terra Incognita” (2021) - In this lushly animated, contemplative fairy tale, we’re given an introduction to the immortal beings who live on a secret island outside of time, nominally keeping watch over our reality, in actuality spending an eternity doing as little as they see fit. The outside world dares to intrude, labeling these ancients “the natives” and attempting to unlock their secrets. Yeah, good luck with that. Written & directed by Pernille Kjaer and Adrian Dexter.
- “Gary Screams For You” (2022) - Described on its Instagram profile as “a strange, sexy, funny short film about a very freaky man (Gary) & his scary addiction to screaming at strangers in the wee hours of the night." I believe this underplays the part where Gary inadvertently starts a cult of lost souls who rampage across town howling like chimpanzees. Written, directed by, and starring Cody McGlashan.
- “Sailed” (2024) - In the new music video from Kiasmos (the duo of Ólafur Arnalds and Janus Rasmussen), four explorers trek across an icy tundra and face strange perils on their way to an inexplicable artifact. The beautiful cinematography almost belies the danger of their expedition and its desire to confront the unknown head on. The track is from the forthcoming Kiasmos album II; the video was written & directed by Neels Castillon.
- “The Burden” (2022) - This award-winning animated short film zooms in close for a view of the bored workers in a commercial district, who cope with their frustration by erupting into musical numbers. Oh, and they’re all animals, so expect tap-dancing mice and singing fish. I love this line from the film’s official description: “The apocalypse is a tempting liberator.” Written & directed by Niki Lindroth Von Bahr.
- “Here With Me” (2024) - I too am nostalgic for the time when it seemed like a good idea to take MDMA and wander the streets of London. This guerilla 16mm film by director Marcus Kartal is evocative of the spontaneity of youth and the magic it sometimes provides, if also a touch sad that we’re sometimes left clinging to memories for dear life.
- “Creatures In Heaven (2024) - This recent video from Glass Animals is a surreal, soft focus, animated tour of a strange solar system full of fleeting wonders, accompanied by singer Dave Bayley reminiscing wistfully about a lost love - when they were together, they were creatures in heaven. Directed by Sherif Higazy.
- “NEUROFLEX 500” (2024) - The mad entity known as Yew Zyr has assembled this crazed “found footage” collage of a short film, delivering an important message for those seeking a competitive advantage by using steroids: you will become a savage vampire.
Exit Music
Sending you out this issue with a track I discovered on an obscure comp with the rather generic name Essential Lounge from 2005. One track in particular stood out: “I Still Feel (Thomas Eriksen Remix)” by former Tricky collaborator Martina Topley-Bird. It’s a sort of ode to being high, with all the metaphorical ups and downs that come with such states of mind. The original is from her solo album Anything; this remix gives it a nice punch-up.
Here's the YouTube playlist with this issue's recos. Please enjoy responsibly.
Until next time, I remain your friendly correspondent, thinking of you,
Scotto
Scotto Moore is the author of WILD MASSIVE, BATTLE OF THE LINGUIST MAGES, and YOUR FAVORITE BAND CANNOT SAVE YOU.
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