blair neal

I wanted to write something about a very specific genre of music videos that seems to pop up every few years and has only continued to increase in popularity as special effects costs get lower and the techniques get more accessible. This music video type can be found in genres ranging from electronica to rock and beyond. The trope common to all the music videos I’m discussing is the use of the ethereal geometric volume 

An ethereal geometric volume is a plot device similar to something like Hitchcock’s MacGuffin where it can simply exist as a polygonal device to move the plot along without it really being explained what this volume really is.

These devices can be the main characters, a representation of an omnipotent force, a terror, an alien invasion. They can be Cubes, Pyramids, and Spheres or broken polygonal shapes. They can be shattered to bits and oh..good lord, they float and hover like nobody’s business.

Let’s start at n=4..the PYRAMID

Pyramid Example #1: M83 – “Wait” – 2012

Pyramid as Spaceship

M83 ‘Wait’ Official video from The Creators Project on Vimeo.

Pyramid Example #2: Frank Ocean – “Pyramids” – 2012

Pyramid as Structure and 2d John Mayer guitar solo background

frank ocean [pyramids] from christopher francis ocean on Vimeo.

Now let’s step forward into n=6…the CUBE

Cube example #1: Phantogram – Don’t Move – 2012

Cube as ethereal looming terror (with shatter!)

Phantogram ‘Don’t Move’ from 10lb Pictures on Vimeo.

Cube example #2: Battles – Atlas – 2007

Cube as floating spaceship stage (low-rez…anyone have an HD link for this vid?)

Cube example #3: Mew – Introducing Palace Players – 2009

Cubes as alien lifeforms

Cube Example #4: M83 – We Own the Sky – 2009

Cubes as alien life forms (with shatter!)

Cube Example #5: Kid606 – Sometimes – 2006

Cubes as alien life forms (also with shatter…)

And then finally n= infinity…the SPHERE

Sphere example #1: The Antlers – Bear – 2010

Sphere as relationship burden/unborn child

(Hemi)Sphere Example #2: Denali – Hold your breath – 2003

Sphere as strange alien invasion of a river jam session