music

New Radiohead clip is online sensation

Ségolène — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:23:15 +0200

The music video for Radiohead's latest single "House of Cards" was yesterday the most watched clip on the web. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but technologically mystifying too - it was filmed without a camera.

It's only been online since Monday (14 July), but the latest clip from Oxford's finest musicians has already received 1,277,013 hits. This, along with the fact that Radiohead is the biggest rock group in the world, is largely due to the fact that critics went into rapture over the new album, "In Rainbow". But equal praise is reserved for director James Frost, whose technical prowess, also having served the likes of Coldplay, Stereophonics and Norah Jones, reached new heights on the project.

The short film is made using an experimental animation technique that employs neither lights nor camera, but is shot in real time. The contours of singer Thom York's face are not reflections but the mathematical harnessing of his movements. Followed by 64 revolving lasers and scanned by a clever device made by Geometric Informatics, every move he makes is registered by the reaction speeds of laser beams.

And to boot, never missing the chance to get their fans involved, the group put a page on Google to let people try out the technique. Once finished, there's a group on YouTube waiting for your attempt.

Who makes the best music, Carla Bruni or Mrs Sarkozy?

Ségolène — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:11:47 +0200

Cover of her new album by J.B Mondino.

Bruni fans got to listen to the French first lady's third album for the first time on Wednesday when it was made available on her website. The velvet voice and romantic prattle is back, but can you really listen to her without thinking about... Sarko? Read more...

"Comme si de rien n'était" (As if nothing happened) is officially out as of today, but French bloggers and journalists have been talking about it for weeks. It's already landed Bruni in trouble with one of the songs "You're my drug", provoking criticism from Colombian diplomats who found offence in the metaphorical lyrics "You are my drug. More lethal than heroin from Afghanistan and more dangerous than Colombian white". Since Wednesday, however, curious critics have finally been able to turn their focus to its musical qualities. That is, of course, if they signed up to her site www.carlabruni.com. And then they only got two hours... before the connection was cut.

The world's dirtiest festival is in Russia

Sophie — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:45:59 +0200

Photo posted here.

"Nashestvie" is the biggest rock festival in Russia. And many say it's the worst organised.

Each year since its first in 1999, the rockfest, based near the Moscow region, has faced complications - ranging from poor transport to lack of toilets and security overdrive. Two years ago, 80,000 people were forced to share one single fresh water tap. The festival prohibited bottled water being brought onto the premises, and yet refused to sell it either. It has since changed its policy.

This year's event was held a month earlier than normal, from 4-6 July. It won't only be remembered for its great line-up, but also for quantities of mud that could only rival the UK's Glastonbury Festival. Heavy rain meant that not even vehicles could travel accross the sodden ground. Now back from the festival, attendees post their photos and videos online. One of our Observers for Russia, Ostap Karmodi, has compiled some of the muddiest.

The video clip filmed entirely by cctv cameras... or so we thought

Sophie — Sat, 17 May 2008 00:10:29 +0200

Desperately seeking fame in Europe's music capital, Britpop band The Get Out Clause decided to use their country's obsession with closed-circuit television to create a video that looked as though it was all filmed on surveillance cameras. However, despite the trick initially sending the unsigned group straight to fame for their apparent penny-saving ingenuity, they were soon slated when it was discovered that most of the footage was fake. Here, the band's guitarist responds the attacks.

Ultra violent video clip set in the Parisian suburbs

Julien — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:03:01 +0200

A video clip released by the French electro group Justice has caused controversy in the country for its aesthetic depiction of street violence. Attacking women, beating up old ladies and glassing bar-owners is all part of the glamorous storyline. If they were looking for attention – they got it.

The video clip for "Stress" was directed by Romain Gavras, son of the famous director with the same name. Artistically speaking there’s no dispute – it’s a success. The brutal and realistic atmosphere of the clip however leaves the viewer feeling perturbed. Do these images offer a candid view of the troubled Parisian suburbs, or merely add fuel to an already raging fire in the name of selling albums? The group’s record label, Ed Bangers Records, says that the artists, who are not products of the suburbs themselves and certainly not socially sympathetic, don’t want to explain their reasons behind the choice and claim to have no “communication strategy”. So we showed the clip to young people from the suburbs themselves. Here are their reactions.

Abraham Bojorquez, no bling-bling rapper

Julien — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0200

Far from the gold chains and bimbos of American video clips, Abraham Bojorquez raps to his American Indian fans at 4000 metres above sea level.

Material compiled with the help of our regional editor for South America, Johana Kunin.

The Tecktonik dance craze sweeps Morocco

Julien — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:08:00 +0100

For more than a year the French streets and metro stations have been invaded by ‘tecktonik’ dancers. Born out of a mix of electro and hip-hop moves in a suburban nightclub, the dance has now found its way onto the shores of Morocco. Young Moroccans haven’t only adopted the popping and locking dance-moves, they’ve also taken on the ‘Nu Rave’ style clothing and futuristic hair cuts to match. Not quite fitting with traditional Moroccan culture, the wave hasn’t gone down quite so well with older generations.

Post your questions to Larbi, our Observer for Morocco.

Most-played in Iraq

Julien — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:44:30 +0100

According to Baghdad blogger ‘Last of Iraqis’, this song has been downloaded on over 80% of mobiles and computers all over the country. The lyrics, written by Iraqi singer Husam Al-Rasam, are hostile, but not violent, towards the presence of America. 'Last of Iraqis' says that the song reflects the feelings of many of the people there. You can post your questions to him on his profile page.