#59: "in typical exuberant style"
Welcome to issue #59 of THIS NEWSLETTER CANNOT SAVE YOU, the newsletter that’s not afraid to ask the hard-hitting questions, such as:
Perhaps the answers to that and other pivotal philosophical conundrums of the day will be found in today’s slate of recommendations.
Scottovision
“Mindtravel” (2000) - J-pop singer bird recently commemorated twenty-five years since her debut by launching her inaugural YouTube channel and presenting an assortment of restored music videos from throughout her career. This one looks and sounds like it came out yesterday, depicting an unwanted surprise party set to an acid jazzy soundtrack that veers into a strange and stylish dance number before it’s all over. Co-written by Shinichi Osawa aka Mondo Grosso.
“RITUAL (palace)” (2024) - Electronic musician Jon Hopkins continues his musical exploration of inner space topography on his new album, RITUAL, and the video for this track goes deep as well. It’s directed by UON Visuals, whose typical exuberant style is steered here into a 2001: A Space Odyssey-style voyage—or as the creator describes it (in typical exuberant style), an “AUDIOVISUAL EXPERIENCE SO BEAUTIFUL YOUR JAW WILL DROP TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH WHILE YOUR MIND GETS BLOWN AT LEAST A DOZEN MULTIVERSES AWAY.” I think that’s setting expectations a little high, but the video is definitely pretty.
“Jellyket” (2024) - Meanwhile, let’s enjoy the performance delivered by dancer/choreographer Rosie Terry Toogood in this music video for a bouncy track by dogshow. Toogood’s movement style in this piece borders on preposterous (one commenter compared it to the Ministry of Silly Walks from Monty Python), and her unfailing commitment to performing this routine in the midst of an unsuspecting shopping district is both unsettling and endearing. Directed by Jack Whiteley, who’s delivered stellar videos for Elton John (“Bennie and the Jets”) and Little Dragon (“Lover Chanting”) among others.
“Radio” (2021) - Conner O’Malley voices a “radio DJ” who totally has “an audience” and is definitely not “a conspiracy lunatic” in this animated short comedy. It’s directed by animator Joe Bennett, who co-created Scavengers Reign, and the two of them are credited together as co-writers on this absurd and somewhat sad little piece. BONUS TANGENTIALLY RELATED SHORT FILM: “More Rock, Less Talk” by the comedy duo Charles.
“Wisdom Teeth” (2009) - Renowned animator Don Hertzfeldt recently uploaded this demented short film, describing it as “unknown cartoon discovered in 2009 locked inside a crate at the bottom of the sea. Recently remastered. Do not aim directly at eyes or face.” Once you get past the hilarious but deeply uncomfortable setup, then you dig right into the hilarious but deeply uncomfortable rest of it. I mean, it’s a cartoon about wisdom teeth, what could go wrong? BONUS ANIMATED SHORT FILM BY DON HERTZFELDT: “The Meaning of Life,” also recently remastered.
“Hado” (2024) - Japanese tribal bass duo WaqWaq Kingdom released this captivating video starring Riko Sugama, a traditional Ryūkyū dancer originally from Okinawa, in observance of the anniversary of the end of WWII. Their official description notes, “The concept of ‘HADO’ explores the power of women, the force of water, and the power of the dragon myth, symbolizing balance and the essence of the universe. This aligns with the spirit of Ryukyu dance, which embodies harmony, peace, and a deep connection to nature.” The band members are Kiki Hitomi from Ninja Tune act King Midas Sound, and Shigeru Ishihara aka DJ Scotch Egg aka played bass in Seefeel, and the track itself is tight; the mysterious visuals unfold and flower as you reach the back half. Directed by Hiroo Tanaka.
“Jerry Paper Teaches Funk Music” (2020) - Indie musician Jerry Paper and director Dan Streit team up to deliver this extremely awkward and terribly misguided exploration of funk music, which results in music so jarring that it causes the video to glitch on occasion. Both these artists have a track record of excellence, and this episode—featured on the absurdist streaming service Eternal Family—continued their streak, but you’re either a fan of awkward comedy with jagged surrealist edges or you’re not, I do understand that. BONUS JERRY PAPER MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTED BY DAN STREIT: “Scenic Route,” which just recently dropped and proves Jerry actually does know how to make music.
“Above The Clouds” (2022) - A woman finds herself falling in love again, but before she can take the plunge, she must adventure through the cavernous memories of her previous love to find out if she’s ready, in this strange and lovely animated short film written, directed, and designed by Vivien Hárshegyi. At the onset, I was led to expect flowery metaphors and cute little grace notes, but the film has much more in store as it pushes metaphors to their wildly exaggerated, seemingly hand-scrawled limits and beyond.
“Verdict 30001 The Cookies” (2022) - Conflicting executive functions in a man’s overactive subconscious come to blows over whether or not to buy a package of cookies (in this case, the incredibly tempting Cookies Taste Happy! brand, with its catchy slogan, “More added happiness for best happiness!”). We’re told at the outset that a person makes around 35,000 decisions a day (huge if true), but poor Simo may not make it through decision 30001. Written & directed by Henna Välkky & Samuel Häkkinen.
“Hypnerotomachia” (1992) - This starkly animated short film by Andrei Svislotski is loosely based on one of the earliest printed works, The Dream of Poliphilus, published in 1499. The film depicts a man’s desperate search for a woman he loves across a dreamland they seem to share, an angular, semi-hostile environment where wolves reign and towers crumble. Svislotski was nominated twice for Daytime Emmys, for his work on Aaahh!!! Real Monsters and Curious George. If this kind of film is what he did in his spare time, he was more metal than he let on at the office. [Via The Daily Psychedelic Video.]
Exit Music
Sending you out this issue with a track from the new concept album Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay, which I’ve had in heavy rotation since its release. The track is “That’s My Floor,” a dense electropop or artpop or progpop or whateverpop standout on an album that’s actually full of standouts. Plus the music video is a charmingly batty greenscreen extravaganza.
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
NO FIGHT (via Jer)