Rob Masters

Late again, I know! Once again, we are faced with the question of who or what the monster in this is. Amazingly evocative, and very thought provoking - but I will not say too much because spoilers. Be intrigued by "Monster" by Starset, from 2016's Vessels.

Let's have a look at something that could well be a scene from The Quatermass Conclusion - post apocalyptic, and drained of population. Indeed, other than Jael, the singer, the only people we see are frozen figures spinning in the sky.  Here is Delerium's collaboration with Jael, from 2003's album Chimera  - "After All". 

We have visited the work of Canadian band Delerium before. With rich musical influences and samples from all over, they are one of the great EDM/EA groups. They also tend towards amazingly great genre videos. This is another of them. We've got an ice demon, a beautiful lady, and a brave warrior mage intent on releasing her. But is it all as it seems? Maybe, maybe not. One of the wonderful things about this video is the ambiguity that it contains. We are left with a fragment of a story that we arrived to late to see the start of, and have left too soon to see the end.  Enjoy the mystery of "Incantation" from the 1994 album Semantic Spaces, by Derlerium.

Running somewhat late this week, but here we are. Time for some more Lindsey Stirling, and a dramatic fairytale that  echoes back to an earlier video from one of her earlier albums.  Here is "Lost Girls" from the 2017 album "Artemis" by Lindsey Stirling. 

As one of the icons of the 80's it should come as no surprise that Thomas Dolby is showing up again. This time he's channelling his inner villain, and looking very suave doing it. So here is 1982's "Radio Silence" from the iconic album "The Golden Age of Wireless", by Thomas Dolby. As a bonus, I have previously featured "Europa and the Pirate Twins" back in Week 16.  Here we have Thomas' son, Harper with a very topical pastiche of that classic.

Welcome to the 3x3x3x3 installment! This week let's have a look at a Norwegian singer who released this track about the healing power of letting your emotions out at the ripe old age of 21. A powerful message about how does not make you weak to express yourself emotionally - in particular that it is OK to cry. An uplifting song that should be heard more in these especially trying times. As for the video ... well, she's got plants growing from her eyes. I'm choosing to interpret the whole thing as a coming-of-age tale for a dryad who does not know (or is rejecting) what she is. (I am certain that the actual intent is as that the growth of the plants are a metaphor for tears, and their cutting is the suppression of sadness. The releasing of the scissors and running being the acceptance of sorrow and the growth it brings.) So, here is 2019's "The River" by Aurora. 

You can always rely on Swedish House Mafia for solid dance/trance track with a sponsored music video. And you can rely on a certain vodka brand to throw lots of money at all sorts of videos. In this case we have a robotic avatar greyhound race, a bunch of escapees from Bladerunner, and a plot that really goes nowhere very fast. Much like the music, really. But, it does technically fall into my remit, so here is 2012's "Greyhound" by Swedish House Mafia. 

Back to Canberra to usher in the new year.  This time we have a horde of android dancers(1) under the control of the band. Who might also have designs on a couple of them. Maybe. Or maybe it is two of the androids who have designs on each other.  "We Think You're Dishy", from 2000, by B(if)tek. 1. Which always makes me think of this scene . 

Woo! 70 weeks in! A cautionary tale about dealing with psionic kids. Or, perhaps, a warning to the same about how you might get treated. And what is with moth-face near the end? I hope we find out soon! Apparently, this is the first part of a trilogy the artist is going to release. Maybe then we will learn more! Martin Baltser, from 2020 (and one of the few good things to come out of this dumpster fire of a year), with "Back Off You". 

I really don't know where to begin with this one! Let's see now. This is possibly one of the most 60's video the 2010's produced. Embracing the alternate meaning of the band's name, we enter a fantasy world of bright primary colours, and people just wanting to make friends, no matter the differences. And that's a fantasy I can really relate to.  Bright, fun, and utterly adorable, I hope you all enjoy the little bit of pure joy that is "No New Friends", by LSD (Labrinth, Sia, Diplo), from 2019. 

In amongst all the SFF music videos out there, there's always a group of videos that are not going to make the cut. They might have a genre sensibility, but are not actually genre themselves. Quite a few of these are thoroughly excellent videos in themselves, and so I'm going to share a few of them tonight. First up is Marian Call's "Good Morning Moon". I had to think long and hard about this one, but ultimately it is all about something real, not fiction. So here is her ode to the ISS. Next up we have one of Lindsay Stirling's many collaborations, this one with The Piano Guys. An homage to, and cover of Mission Impossible, it still does not quite transition across into SFF. But it is amazing to watch, and the music is wonderful! Moving on we get La Roux, and "In for the Kill", which despite a deep Bladerunner aesthetic never quite tips over the edge. Next is another one I had to think very hard about which side of the fence it was ...