From abstract one shots to the experimental and avant-garde, 2016 has seen a vast selection of obscure music videos surfacing, spanning a multitude of different artists and genres. Some of these will likely haunt your dreams, whilst others may leave you dumbfounded wondering what on earth you have just witnessed – and why. Crazy effects, thought provoking concepts and just downright bizarre choreography plague many features of this lineup. So, without further ado, we present to you our top picks for the wonderfully weird visuals 2016 has blessed us with.
Serpentwithfeet – ‘Four Ethers’
In this video, Serpentwithfeet dons flowing garments which trail and stream like city lights, captured in a long exposure. The blinding black backdrop splashes across the forefront of the visuals in this hypnotising video. The dramatic, blurry choreography is enhanced by the climatic orchestral elements and vocal work make this video both beautifully expressive and visually stunning.
Aphex Twin – ‘CIRKLON3 [ Колхозная mix ]’
With many of his previous videos directed by Chris Cunningham, aka Aphex Twin, is renowned for delivering strange and abstract visuals. Although this year’s ‘CIRKLON3’ video was not directed by Cunningham, providing less of a monstrous feel, it is still equally peculiar in its own light. His first new video in 17 years revolves around Irish 12-year-old fan Ryan Wyer who Richard D James gave permission to direct. The video boasts shots of the young fan dancing around in different areas, donning an Aphex face mask. Filled to the brim with stock effects, this video promotes a nostalgic feel and is filled with mesmerising ambience.
ANOHNI – Marrow
The recently released video for ANOHNI’s ‘Marrow’ is both unsettling yet beautiful. The video holds host to an aged woman lip-syncing the thought provoking lyrics to ANOHNI’s album’s finale. The imagery of the Earth’s abused and torn surface are personified beautifully through the eyes of a deteriorating elderly woman. This touching monologue-esque one shot echoes the haunting lyrics easily provoking a stir in emotion -“Suck the, suck the oil out of her face – Burn her, burn her hair, boil her skin”. You can check out our piece on the video here.
Valentino Khan – Deep Down Low
Singing fish, chattering teeth and facial features sliding around like they’re on ice make for a music video that’s trippy as hell. ‘Deep Down Low’s’ catchy lyrics get the narration treatment by the visitors and staff of a Tokyo restaurant. Jarring choreography and tentacles protruding out of eye sockets only add to the sheer weirdness of Valentino Khan’s video making it one of the most bizarre contenders of the year.
Arca – Sin Rumbo
Where would any-weirdest-anything list be without an appearance from Arca? Esteemed for his and Jesse Kanda’s musical/visual projects the producer and Bjork affiliate Alejandro Ghersi, better known by his stage name Arca, concludes our list with his overexposed video for ‘Sin Rumbo’. The video, much like the visuals from ANOHNI, presents a bruised up and disoriented Arca sporting a grill whilst he serenades the audience like a bloodied boxer fresh from the final round. Differing from much of Ghersi and Kanda’s other content, from dancing animated babies to contorting and mutating temples of gore, Sin Rumbo is very in your face – and his. The video stars Arca himself as he executes his strangely hypnotising operatic performance of Sin Rumbo.
