Video Killed the Radio Star

A couple of days off and with no plans other than a few administrative tasks to complete, I spent some time surfing t'internet and reading the paper and finding lots of new ways to piss away time.

First off is another Boards of Canada track on another car advert. This time Mercedes are following in the footsteps of Nissan and BMW who have both had ads directed by Chris Cunningham featuring BOC. The Merc ad is just as effects led (don't know who has directed), the car changing into different forms as it bombs along a winding road. Its not as good as the other ads though (IMHO) and the Merc looks decidedly 80's to me, a bit like one of them taxis in Tenerife with a body kit on it. Car manufacturers obviously like their music technically accomplished, stylish, with a human touch, just the way a quality motor should be marketed.

Can't find the Merc ad on the net yet, but there are loads of BOC fan vids on there, some of which are good, some of which I think miss the point completely. This is my fave below - animated short for Poppy Seed (BOC remix) by Slag Boom Van Loon.




Adam Buxton has a great take on a Nissan car ad on his site:



And to finish on a musical note, I'm off to the Wireless do tomorrow in Hyde Park, London town. There I shall be observing some of the newest and latest dance music acts - including LCD Soundsystem which is the real draw for me. Below is a vid from them. Later in the week I'm seeing The Stooges at the newly refurb'd Festival Hall, much to report on so I'll try to update again soon.

Football Focus

Footy season is pretty much over now, FA Cup tomorrow heralds the official arrival of summer, at least in my eyes.

I'll miss footy focus which is often a hotbed of musical surprise and inspiration. Just a couple of weeks ago I was lazing about reading the paper and taking in the opinions of Gary et al, and not paying very much attention to a somewhat earnest Tony Adams mulling the state of the England team, and clearly trying to position himself as much more of a thinker than viewers might have previously considered (they'd put him in a nice park and shot him from high angles), when rolling over the top came the dulcet tones of Sarah Cracknell.

Its always good to hear a bit of unexpected wistful pop, especially when provided by Saint Etienne. I believe it was Just a Little Overcome from Sound of Water. Adams' thoughtful contemplation of the state of the national side, accompanied with the dreamy synths really worked, and cheered me up no end. A few years ago when Electronica was in its heyday, they obviously had some spod down there doing the music for Football Focus, and 'last weeks goals' would be flying into the net soundtracked by Plaid and all manner of quality Warp tunes. Worth the licence fee alone, and certainly beats ITV's cliched and irritating use of the likes of U2 for their coverage.

The only other TV moment that has surpassed this in recent times was very special indeed. Vegging on the sofa one Friday eve, pondering the curry options during Hollyoaks, when what comes floating from the televisual device but the maudlin tones of Boards of Canada. Amazing. Such beauty, juxtaposed with such dross. Quite a combination. I think it was used as a backing track for OB walking out after a particularly bad argument with Max. I keep watching but no more BOC yet.