Here's our pick of some of the best new ones, as well as a few classic oldies:
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FRESH OFF THE PRESSES:
aKING (ft. INGE BECKMAN)
"Safe As Houses"
Dutch Courage (2008)
Bellville brooders aKING's new video is more about the concept than the execution. It's about building castles and being forced to watch them fall, as you fight desperately, and futilely, to hold everything together in the storm. Beautiful in its simplicity. Inge Beckman is suspicious (and foolish) in her absence.
Directed by Flyonthewall.co.za
aKING.co.za
MAX NORMAL.TV (ft. DUPPIE)
"Total Fuck Up"
Good Morning South Africa (2008)
There's nothing normal about Max. Over the years he's just got weirder and weirder. Crazier and more outspoken. At first, I was skeptical of the new dot TV band – surely nothing could be as good as the old Max Normal, full band sound? But you just have to check him out. Listen to the music. See him live. Read his book. Order the toys. Or watch a video. And you'll soon realise the complexity, the all-encompassing nature, and the humour of what he's up to these days. Classic video.
Written, produced and directed by Max Normal and Yo-landi Visser (Love or Dork Films).
Max Normal.TV
DESMOND AND THE TUTUS
"Pictures"
Single (2008)
Silly, light-hearted and fun. Desmond and the Tutus are the little Pretoria punk kwela band that could – judging by their recent nationwide car advert. This latest video is another prozac dose of their trademark mixture of indie rock, African kwela rhythms, and the delicious way that they never take themselves too seriously.
Directed by Greg Rom (who directed Lark's "Moonlight").
Desmond and the Tutus Kids
STRAATLIGKINDERS
"Avontuur van 'n Hartbreek"
Bloeisels (2007)
Potchefstroom-based emo kids Straatligkinders (Streetlightchildren) have really gone all out on this one. Half shot on a X-ray machine, it's one of the most impressive local videos I've ever seen. Sure, it's a little generic. And they're only chasing safety. But they've found it. And X-rayed flesh tunnels look fucking cool!
Directed by Morgan Dingle.
Straatligkinders on MySpace
OLD CLASSICS:
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LARK
"Moonlight"
Mouth of Me (re-issued 2007)
When I first saw it, this video reminded me of Bjork's "Army of Me". Seriously ahead of its time, the video is still impressive by today's raised standards. Lark disbanded in 2007.
Directed by Greg Rom.
Lark on MySpace
FOKOFPOLISIEKAR
"Ek Skyn (Heilig)"
Swanesang (2006)
This is still one of my favourite local music videos. Fokofpolisiekar really raised the bar for local bands when they exploded all over the local music scene, complete with world class music videos and an unfamiliar attitude that you've actually got to spend money to make money. Basically, it's a collection of moving photos, shot by photographer and honourable sixth band member Liam Lynch, on the band's tour to the UK. Last year, the video won an MK Award for Best Music Video.
Directed by Liam Lynch.
Fokofpolisiekar.co.za
TONIGHT WE DIE
UNKNOWN
This one, by Cape Town's Tonight We Die, really blew me away when it first came out. Come on. There's an animated robot in it! It does look and sound a little-dated today. But back then, wow.
Directed by Ben
TonightWeDie on MySpace
AND THE ONE THAT STARTED IT ALL (for me anyway):
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Hog Hoggidy Hog
"John and Phillip Song"
Driving Over Miss Davie (2001)
"Oh, oh-oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh-ohh, ohhhh-oh-oh." There's something pretty special in this video's simple honesty, even today. It's fresh, funny, and a little piece of modern South African punk rock history (if you're into that kind of thing).
I don't know if the director is still alive, or sane. If you're out there. Let us know?
Hog Hoggidy Hog on MySpace
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