#67: "for enjoy!"
Welcome to issue #67 of THIS NEWSLETTER CANNOT SAVE YOU, where we explore such topical questions as “Huh?”, “What?” and “Seriously?” We’re not screwing around here. I mean, we’re screwing around a little, but not so’s you’d notice. Well, not so’s that’s the only thing you’d notice, other attributes are perhaps just as if not more noticeable. But I mean, sure, the screwing around is prominent, but not oppressively so. It’s not like, I mean, certainly it’s a little demanding, the screwing around I mean, but you can always just not, or rather, even though you can’t avoid the screwing around, it’s at least positive, in the sense that it is not actively soul-destroying. Which I think is a quality we can all appreciate, especially in times like these.
Let’s get to it, then. This is serious business.
Scottovision
A selection of short video treats for the inquisitive mind:
“The Owl” (2020) - A weird stunt by a colleague in a teacher’s lounge goes awry for those who witness it in this crisp and dark short film written and directed by Simon Pontén & Joakim Behrman. Its brief eight-minute running time is just enough to build to a fever pitch.
“Pentatarmex Rabitular” (2024) - A woman accepts a strange side gig to try ritually summoning who knows what out of a mysterious hole in the ground. Not just some random hole, mind you; it’s been engineered, and not just some random rituals, either; they’re precisely catalogued and ordered by a menacing voice on the phone. It’s a weird set-up and somehow it works; it’s not exactly a horror film, but it’s not not a horror film, either. Written and directed by Casey Friedman.
“Sabi” (2025) - Neo-classical electronic artist Odalie has an excellent new single out on Max Cooper’s Mesh label, a compelling preview from her upcoming release Optimistic Nihilism. Sebastien Veyan provides the literally otherworldly music video, taking us on an all too brief visit to an unnamed planet where mystic mountains hover in the atmosphere and life is seeded via fiery vortex. Both the soundtrack and the visuals are lush and intricate.
“Childlike Things” (2025) - The newest music video to come from FKA twigs in support of her Eusexua album features a great turn by Kevin Smith playing a record label executive who is tasked with evaluating a music video proposal from twigs. The vid alternates between her audition and the music video in her head, managing to insert a few sharp barbs along the way about how the music industry promotes (or doesn’t, as the case may be) its artists. And as always with twigs, the dancing is excellent.
“Everybody Does It” (2025) - A simple one-night stand becomes suddenly and amusingly complicated in this clever short film written and directed by Craig Ainsley. I’ve perhaps already said too much.
“Follow The Sun!” (2012) - Time for a quick intermission. Let’s all go to the lobby. For enjoy! Courtesy of the design squad at MK12.
“Psilocybae (Millennial Love)” (2025) - Ah yes, here we see the classic old trope of “young couple takes mushrooms, goes walking in the park, hallucinates wildly” as depicted in the form of a demented, frequently hilarious, and generally excellent low-fi music video for a track by Donald Glover’s hip-hop alias, Childish Gambino. What began as a fan effort by comedian Casey Frey ultimately received Glover’s seal of approval for release as an official video, even earning a cameo by Glover (lip-syncing rapper 21 Savage’s verse in the black and white sequence). Frey overdelivers in the charisma department; he’s eminently watchable throughout his character’s wild and weird psychological adventures.
“Nepotism, Baby!” (2024) - When nepotism fails to deliver fame and fortune to a young actress, she resorts to a devious scheme to get the validation - and the career - she desperately seeks in this absurd short film from Tij D'oyen. It’s nice to see the child of a famous movie star take matters into her own hands, really. The kid’s got moxie.
“Positive Reinforcement” (2024) - A musician with an unrequited crush on his neighbor attempts to find his courage - and not get killed by the guy who keeps randomly attacking him for no apparent reason. (He’s not the only one getting randomly attacked. It’s a strange city.) The premise of this short film is discomfiting, the acting is excellent, and the conclusion squeaks its way into being satisfying. Written by Gustavo T. Astudillo and Morgan Nalley, directed by Astudillo.
“The Waiting” (2023) - In this beautifully animated documentary short, a researcher investigates the mystery of why the frogs she studied in Costa Rica vanished completely from one summer to the next. The visual style is reminiscent of a gorgeous series of colored sketches moving fluidly between the animal kingdom and abstract representations, evoking the heartbreak of steadily unfolding realization as the mystery is eventually unraveled. Directed by Volker Schlecht.
Exit Music
Sending you out this issue with a recent mix from Fred Deakin, half of the venerated 2000s-era electronic act Lemon Jelly. Deakin stays busy as a DJ (among many other things, including releasing a solo sci-fi concept album you might enjoy). This eclectic mix is called “This Is Pedagogical Pop,” and I can confirm that it’s “full of bangers, head-nodders, strummers, noodlers and Peter Skellern. Plus some nineties divas in disguise.” You can download it or check it out on Mixcloud.
Here's the YouTube playlist with (most of) 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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