WHERE IS CLIPTIP?

Very busy at the moment. More to coming hopefully this long weekend... Cheers!

CLIPTIP presents: DUELING DEEJAYS #007

Ummmm... considering that yesterday's post was kind of stupid a prank, (y'all got RICKROLLED) it was really a sad attempt to be part of the internet zeitgeist. Whatever. Perhaps if record labels were suck bitches about getting fresh new videos on the internets, perhaps we internetizens would have more productive things to link to rather than sad ole Rick Astley. Well, more pranks and high voltage tunage are in order but with another edition of Dueling Deejays in Toronto. This time twin asian menaces Calvin and Phil square off to kung-fu the shit out of each other. Drop by if you can, there's no cover at all. And if you give em the secret word (RICKROLLED) perhaps one of them will play your request...

RADIOHEAD: Jessica Treacherous

I had no idea there was new material on the way so soon, but I found this video in my inbox from an anonymous tipster and am more that please to bring it to you. Considering I'm rushing out to a yoga class (yeah, I know I'm a douche), its a bit of a spazz post, but there is no director identified and given the aesthetics, I'd bet it was Mark Romanek who envisioned the slick vision for this new track. It great to see him return as he's been a very absent for the past while. A droney return to rock with the signature blips and blobs, this signals new amazing works by both Radiohead and Mark Romanek. Watch the music video (yt).

TIMBALAND: The Way I Are

Another music video from the mega producer. This one was prompted by my recent attending of the Justin Timberlake concert in Montreal (who would turn down free tickets?) where Timbo made a guest appearance. In fact he played a set of mashed up singles he produced including Nelly Furtado, Aaliyah and Missy Elliott. He also played a reworked version of this video with vocals by D.O.E. and Keri Hilson and featuring eighties hyperdelic kaleidoscope effects and coochie aerobic wear. I actually prefer that tongue-in-cheek version than this official one, which falls very much into the glamourized slick hip hop music video realm. No disrespect to director Shane Drake, who does a great job in creating a polished blinger of a video. I just found the concert version to be more in line with both the lyrics and the early zeitgeist of colourful rap stylee when guns and ice grills were less the obsession. Watch the music video (qt).

BEIRUT: Postcards From Italy

Santa Fe native come Brooklynite Zach Condon has an interesting take on indie rock. Inspired by a uncredited photo of what appears to be an Eastern European setting, Beirut take on Balkan-esque instrumentation crafted with warm indie rock cardiganisms. This was one of my favourite records of last year when I have recently uncovered a trove of music videos to post. Directed by Alma Har'el, the sepia tones capture the period piece of faded memories of exotic lands abroad. Watch the music video (qt).

AMY WINEHOUSE: Rehab

Seriously, someone please send this woman to rehab. That crazy beehive hairdo she's been sporting is looking mighty nappy these days, like she's been rolling around in the gutters of East London sucking the remnant droplets from discarded bottles of lager. And even when she's slumming around town in a dressed-down wife-beater, she is always on with that liquid liner Cleopatra eyes business. It's really really important that we help her get back to sober because she's gotta be in top form for her appearance at the Toronto Island Virgin Music Festival gig. The sixties swing soul production of this Mark Ronson produced single is nicely complimented by the video direction of Phil Griffin. By the way, her first album, entitled Frank, is now officially available in the USA these days, unless you already picked in up on import. Good stuff, but it ain't Mr. Ronson's magic touch. Watch the music video (qt).

DRAGONETTE: I Get Around

Toronto / London based Dragonette have a strange pedigree. Singer Martina Sorbara, who also sang on a recent Basement Jaxx single, is the daughter of Ontario Finance Minister, Greg Sorbara. Instrumentalist Dan Kurtz is a member for the funk electronic soul jam, Raw The New Deal. They make unabashed pop music with touches of electro edge. And they kinda sass it up. Wendy Morgan helms the video showcasing their consumably playful sexy lesbo breedo pop confection. Watch the music video (qt).

BUSDRIVER: Sun Showers

My first introduction to Busdriver was not a pleasant one. I was at what was supposed to be the triple bill of CSS, Datarock, and Bonde Do Role @ La Tulipe in Montreal. Bonde Do Role was apparently unable to make it, and Busdriver was kind enough to fill in the bill. Unfortunately, I was not having any of that. No matter what the electro rapper from Los Angeles tried, my soul crushing disappointment in the nights turn of events was inconsolable. So perhaps, my douchey clouded judgement (or lack of judgement) prevented my from enjoying what could have been an interesting introduction to a novel act. Here's a indie lo-fi video, directed by Fluorescent Hill. See what you think. Watch the music video (qt).

KATERINE: Excuse Moi

Brilliant kitsch french electro from the the man called Katerine. With an album cheekily riffing off the Daft Punk album, Robot Apres Tout, who can resist this androgynous android. The video is beautifully done my artist Petra Mrzyk and Jean-Francois Moriceau. Boogie a little, bop a lot. Download the music video (qt).

THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS: The Salmon Dance

Rapping pirahna? Beatboxing blowfish? Bloody brilliant. Consistent to the aesthetics of London's Chemical Brothers is their love of electronic broken beats and psychedelic drug induced visuals. With raps by Fatlip and music video sculpting by Dom & Nic, its yet another triumphant visual feast to have your acid flashbacks to. The second single off their sixth studio album, We Are The Night. Watch the music video (qt).

M.I.A.: Jimmy

Easily one of the best tracks of the year, M.I.A. turns her ruffneck grime style to the camp disco of Bollywood. A genius, tongue-in-cheek remake of "Jimmy Jimmy Aija" of the Hindi film Disco Dancer, the swirling synths and psychedelic strings leave the average listener puzzled at initial hearing. When fully experienced with gold lamé multi-armed demigoddess choreography, bitmapped wallpaper FXs, and shapely shadow dancing, you fall in love with it all over again. The video is gloriously directed by Nezar Khamal. Watch the music video (qt).

THE HORRORS: Count In Fives

Brit shock gothers The Horrors have somewhat quieted down after their massively overwhelming buzz band hype. Their calling card, however, remains their electrifying live show, which I would advise you to check out. For this video, they enlist director Tim Mattia to stitch together vignettes from their live show with Misshapes-esque footage of their live fans. Who's scarier? Watch the music video (qt).

TIMBALAND: Throw It On Me

The Virginian hip hop producer enlists the power punk pop of Sweden's The Hives for his latest single. Happily, the lyrics are no longer in the tradition of the Timbaland vs Scott Storch shit flinging dis fest. For the video, lensman Justin Francis pays tribute to Frank Miller's Sin City, casting World Wrestling Entertainment vixens Ashley Massaro, Kelly Kelly, Brooke, Torrie Wilson, Layla El, and Maryse as the Girls of Old Town. Watch the music video (qt).

ERICK MORILLO: Break Down The Doors

Unearthed from the underground clubs of 2005, comes this tech house gem from superstar deejay Erick Morillo. Simple, clean and throbbing, Erick teamed up with UK rapping electronic outfit Audiobullys to add their unmistakeable dispassionate British drawl to booty shaking effect. The shiny chic sexy veneer of director Phil Griffin keeps the video looking fashionably fresh, despite its original release date. Oh, and that is supermodel Naomi Campbell. And those may or may not be her ex-assistants' heads mounted on the wall. Watch the music video (qt).