UNKLE: Burn My Shadow

Tipster Phillip A. points us to the latest from UK hipster tripsters lead by James Lavelle, UNKLE. The Cult singer Ian Astbury joins for the latest single, melding his trademark The Cult personae with driving rock percussion and frantic panicked energy. Aptly reflected by director Miguel Sapochnik in the video, actor Goran Visnjic turns into a ticking timebomb. From the forthcoming long player, War Stories, out July 2007. Watch the music video (qt).

UNKLE: Be There

Oldie but a rare goodie, Unkle's collaboration with the original monkey man Ian Brown still sounds relatively fresh considering the plundered trip hop sounds of the 90's. Naturally ominous and dark in mood, director Jake Scott captures the dreariness of London's afterhours tube system and the joy of portable cassette players. Watch the music video (qt).

UNKLE: Rabbit In Your Headlights

Brilliant track from the first Unkle project helmed by James Lavalle with beatmaster DJ Shadow and Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke. This moody track was released in the reigning era of trip hop, brought to life by the skillful eye of director Jonathan Glazer and subsequently banned by MTV for its violent imagery. Although Mr. Glazer has only a relatively few number of videos under his belt (including landmark clips for Massive Attack, Radiohead and Jamiroquai), they are all of high visual and narrative standard, impressive enough to warrant his own Directors Label compilation. Watch the video (qt).

UNKLE: Reign

James Lavalle commissions pretty great videos. The clip for Reign matches the moody, epic quality of this Ian Brown collaboration. Musically, the track crossed the electronic, indie and brit-pop sets with easy stride. Watch the video. (qt)