By the Zonagirante.com team @spinning zone
As we wrap up the year, we are fulfilling our commitment to highlight the projects that most excited us during these twelve months, in which, without a doubt, We were able to confirm that everything surrounding good music relieves ailments. and brings joy to every step we commit to.
2018 was also a year to celebrate the evolution of music videos among independent bands in Latin America. Behind the best musicians are filmmakers who, with limited resources, They create true visual gems worthy of being observed repeatedly and celebrated as valuable pieces that should be preserved in our memory. Among the videos we've selected to commemorate these 365 days, we're delighted to include eight examples of fantastic creativity and absolute respect for the audio they represent. Without strictly arranging them in an unnecessary ranking, we hope you enjoy our list of favorite clips of 2018 in whatever order you like.
Roller – Wandering bird:
An animation crafted with Renaissance flair, with admirable dedication that renews and reinvents, through thousands of colorful image fragments, the aesthetic we've always associated with traditional and contemporary folklore. Rulo, a Chilean musician and former member of Los Tetas, expands upon his romantic song amidst birds of varied plumage, moving mountains, bare-breasted women, and living statues that grow on screen as the viewer is captivated by so much beauty. Hundreds of hours of painstaking editing result in a beautiful work that will hopefully remain in our memories for a long time.
Le Butcherettes –Struggle
True rebellion, especially within a genre as prone to stagnant nostalgia as rock, lies in challenging the established order and reinventing it. Clearly, rock needs more female strength that refuses to be bound by traditional rules. That's why we're fascinated to see Teri Gender Bender dressed in a Chichimec warrior costume., amidst a staging that combines the classic and traditional with an irreverent reference to current high fashion, Ready to combat the obviousness that surrounds us. Brilliant video editing that increases the intensity with which we can perceive this theme.
Naomi – Fame of a Whore
It's a sign of the times. In the midst of a year that saw the largest mobilizations for women's rights across the continent, It is not surprising that we have such clear examples of shamelessness, outbursts and impropriety that so clearly call into question the established order. Provocation, especially when well done, works and highlights how what we once took for granted and considered unquestionable loses its validity when we demonstrate that it's based on a mountain of myths that quickly crumble. And if you add a catchy song that gets everyone dancing, even better. (One last detail: Don't miss the face of the woman who leans out onto the balcony and sees the whole spectacle Naomi and her friends are putting on.).
Oh'laville – Primitives
Honestly, knowing the members of this Bogotá-based group, we never would have imagined they'd treat us to an erotic video. Nor did we imagine that YouTube, with its conservative approach to content that "offends the audience, susceptible to suffering at the very core of their morals and religious beliefs," would continue to host this visual material as if nothing were amiss. It contains clear references to scenes shown in the Netflix series. Sense8, The clip transcends any attempt at scandal and convinces us that it is a beautiful piece of audiovisual art. which also manages to be compatible and favorable for an intense rock song. Perhaps these Colombians are lucky not to have been discovered by some representative of a garage rock cult ready to mercilessly whip sinners.
We said it in our original review of this video: It's a fine reinterpretation of the clip from Karma Police, Radiohead's film, unlike the English band's work, places the camera directly in front of the killer vehicle. This removes the viewer from their original confinement and transforms them into a suffering witness and companion of the victim, and we see, in a spectacular single take, the entire crime unfold before their eyes. The visual presentation perfectly sets the mood for a song that becomes paranoid as it develops. This magnificent work lasts four minutes and forty seconds, and as we repeat it, we discover more interesting details that make us fall in love with its content.
Vanthra – Song alone
Visually, it depicts a walk undertaken by beautiful albinos, holding large umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun and wind, as they make their way to meet Fernando Ruiz Diaz and his band, who are performing on a stage facing the sea. Anyone, inappropriately minimizing what is shown in the video, might say that it is nothing more. In reality, quite the contrary, It's about moving the viewer in a simple yet poetic way. It's contagious, filled with the song's energy, and features stunning 4K cinematography that moves you from the first second to the last. It's that simple.
Tsh Sudaca – Mecca
Since last year we've been talking about this Bogota artist, and we said that his album Equilateral It was one of the best of 2017. Well, as a follow-up to that work, we were able to see its promotional video in the first months of 2018. Mecca y We were able to confirm Tsh Sudaca's intelligent effort to make a difference in the often repetitive Latin American Hip Hop scene. He, like few others, is a unique artist, with a musical and visual aesthetic that defies clichés. He's forging his own fascinating path, as demonstrated by a music video with an inspiring script and captivating visuals.
Portugal – The Ancient Astronauts
Ten minutes and thirty-four seconds. Clearly, it's not your typical music video. It's more of a short film with a soundtrack of three songs from the highly acclaimed album by the Chilean band Portugal. Them! The Ancient Astronauts. While they are passing Pixel, Violent Times II y For Every New Song, We see the story of a futuristic being called "Oopart," who communicates across time with "Lucy-A," whom he guides on a mission to revive the human race. Yes, a science fiction tale set in the southern part of our continent., with a result worthy of being seen on any of the best genre channels on the planet, For its sensitive storytelling, stunning cinematography, and delicate editing. In a single sentence: Pure beauty.
