music video

Rip It Up, Issue 170, 1 September 1991, Page 30

music video

SONIC YOUTH Goo (Geffen) Here's a very kool thing — sexy, end of millenium videos to match the songs on Goo. Watch these videos and you'll discover that Sonic Youth have a thing for stuffed toys, maribdu trimmed waistcoats, silver hot pants, check shirts, teenagers, school playgrounds, '6os record players arid Raymond Pettibone, amongst other things. Their videos are calculatingly low tech and tacky, garish colour, hand held cameras, scratchy sound where necessary and that grainy video

technique where the images look like they've been filmed from TV (Challenger exploding), plus weird

visual feedback bleeps and test patterns and blank spots. Each video is a little work of art and a snatch of America, as seen through the windows of the Sonic Youth car en route to the burger bar. No band interviews or talking to camera but you do get to see Kim and Thurston kissing at the end, an appropriately sexy, end of millenium ending to this collection, essential, no question. \ DONNA YUZWALK ALBERTA HUNTER My Castle's Rockin' (Virgin) This video tells the amazing life story of Alberta Hunter and captures a great

club show shortly before her death. Alberta was a major jazz singer, recording artist and songwriter with decades of success in Chicago, New York, London and Paris but she chose to leave singing in 1957 and go nursing.

She told the hospital she was 50 years old (she was 62) and and nursed until she had to retire at 70 (she was in fact 82). So Alberta resumed her show-biz career in 1977, singing at a New York club. Columbia Records signed her and recorded some of her modern classics heard here — 'Downtown Strutter's Ball', 'Handy Man', 'l'm Havin' A Good Time' and Two-Fisted Double Jointed Rough & Ready Man'. Alberta died aged 1989 having rebuilt her former career to a new peak. This Storyville 57 minute film documents a remarkable life and a wonderful performance. MURRAY CAMMICK VIDEO SHEETMETAL (Warner Music Vision) These Video-zines are pretty big business in the States, being literally that: a magazine on video, ideal for this consumer age. So far the efforts I've seen have been pretty bad, but Video Sheetmetal certainly looks like reversing that trend.

The format isn't that different to any other, bands share their wit and wisdom with us, intercut with live snippets, but the approach is much better. This isn't geared at 14 year olds who want to know Bon Jovi's underwear secrets, it's for a more hard-edged and dare I say, intelligent audience. The band selection is interesting with the likes of Death Angel, Black Crowes, Trouble and the very under-rated Coffin Break all appearing, and that's just the beginning of it all. There's great moments with Sonic Youth and Soundgarden each proving that despite the hype, they really are brilliant, while Jane's Addiction front up with the uncut 'Mountain Song' clip. (The disputed bits seem to be some buck naked bazooms and the not remarkably attractive band members snogging each other— most disappointing). Best of all and indicitive of the thought that's gone into this item is a Survival Research Laboratories segment, where these personal heroes of mine do what they do best, which is blow things up and mumble about negative fascination. Not really heavy metal, but very cool all the same. There's still some annoying bits like dumb animation and camera work, but generally Video Sheetmetal is really worth the effort if you're a fan of this cutting edge stuff. KIRK GEE

VARIOUS Reggae Refreshers (Island Video) Long time coming, a bright collection of popular reggae artists on video. There are few surprises, most are established classics, including three Marley, Third World, Black Uhuru, and an early Toots with 'Reggae Got Soul'. All excellent, but standouts for me are the two Sly and Robbie videos, their all time greatest song in 'Boops (Here To Go)' and a showdown with Boogie Down Productions in 'Dancehall'. Also a look at Burning Spear, Iwi Kainoze, Benjamin Zephaniah and Aswad in lovers mode with 'Don't Turn Around'. A very pleasant 50 minutes of your time. KERRY BUCHANAN

ICET The Iceberg Video (Warner Music Vision) Although this is an album old and thus a bit out-dated, it's still pretty cool stuff. We're talking mainly live footage with some nifty 'dicking around with the Handycam'thrown in for good measure, and Ice being real tough in what I guess is the documentary bits. . Add to this the official videos, and it's all quite a nice little package. Nothing too groundbreaking, but certainly • better than having to watch television for real. ' KIRK GEE . / . ' • • .. THE WONDERSTUFF Eleven Appalling Promos (Polygram) 'UK . The title of this release tends to disguise the fact that the Wonderstuff are a good band writing fairly ' . memorable British guitar pop. : ' Swapping between numerous locations and one cramped Stourbridge livingroom, this video offers Miles and company an excellent excuse to go to the pub! The video catalogues the progression from noisy fuzzbox boys to the almost country and western flavour of their album Hup and it is plain to see that they excel in that latter vein, where big budgets and songwriting maturity lead to such

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heights as 'Don't Let Me Down Gently' and the witty 'Cartoon Boyfriend'.

This release features the now ' • departed Bass Thing, let us hope this does not stall the eight legged groove machine for too long. LUKE CASEY . NED'S ATOMIC DUSTBIN Nothing Is Cool ’ (Polygram) The Neds as they are known back home, are currently making quite a wave on the European indie circuit. This release documents their travels from Wolverhampton to Holland in a trusty Volkswagen camper van. Although most of the fodder (sic) here is live, the Ned's really get groovy when they jump in a swimming pool and film 'Until You Find Out' complete with plastic inflatable sharks. However, by the tenth number one may become a trifle bored by what seems to be the same song every time. I found myself enjoying the tales of life on the road and the scenic views of Holland more than the actual music, which was very annoying. I think Ned's have probably released this video a little bit early. They would have benefitted from more live experience and a more cohesive plan for the video itself. LUKE CASEY

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