The Artist
alt-J (also known as
∆) is an English indie rock band formed in 2007 in Leeds, by Gwil Sainsbury
(guitar/bass), Joe Newman (guitar/lead vocals), Gus Unger-Hamilton
(keyboards/vocals) and Thom Green (drums). The band's debut album An Awesome
Wave was released in May 2012 in Europe and September 2012 in the United
States, and won the 2012 British Mercury Prize. Gwil Sainsbury amicably
departed the band in early 2014. Their second album, ‘This Is All Yours’, was
released in September 2014 and went straight to UK number one.
The Record Label
Infectious Records is a record label whose bands have included Alt-J, Drenge, The Paradise Motel and The Subways. Infectious was established by Korda Marshall after leaving RCA, and became part of Marshall's Mushroom Records UK (now A&E Records) operation in the mid-1990s. Korda was also responsible for signing Muse.
Infectious Records is a record label whose bands have included Alt-J, Drenge, The Paradise Motel and The Subways. Infectious was established by Korda Marshall after leaving RCA, and became part of Marshall's Mushroom Records UK (now A&E Records) operation in the mid-1990s. Korda was also responsible for signing Muse.
The Director
Ellis Bahl is originally from Upstate New York, Ellis attended film school at Emerson College in Boston, MA where he obtained a B.A. in Media Studies. It was his love of improv comedy and music, however, that brought him to NYC where he studied with the Upright Citizens Brigade and formed the folk rock band Stamp Collectors. His connections within the indie folk/rock scene led Ellis to start directing music videos.
Ellis Bahl is originally from Upstate New York, Ellis attended film school at Emerson College in Boston, MA where he obtained a B.A. in Media Studies. It was his love of improv comedy and music, however, that brought him to NYC where he studied with the Upright Citizens Brigade and formed the folk rock band Stamp Collectors. His connections within the indie folk/rock scene led Ellis to start directing music videos.
Narrative
The whole music video is in reverse and in slow motion as it reveals an extreme argument between a quite possessive man and a, what we find out at the end of the video, to be a hostage. The video ends (or begins in the video) with the death of the woman who was held hostage by the man. The video follows them as they fight, throwing glasses, physically fighting until she is drowned in the bath by the man eventually. We do not find out what relation this married man has to the woman until the end of the video, when the woman has duct tape put over her mouth and is shut in the cupboard by the man. It is not clear that she is married to him, however it can be interpreted that she was in fact married to him, but not in a healthy relationship. Equally this could be a woman who he had an affair with.
The whole music video is in reverse and in slow motion as it reveals an extreme argument between a quite possessive man and a, what we find out at the end of the video, to be a hostage. The video ends (or begins in the video) with the death of the woman who was held hostage by the man. The video follows them as they fight, throwing glasses, physically fighting until she is drowned in the bath by the man eventually. We do not find out what relation this married man has to the woman until the end of the video, when the woman has duct tape put over her mouth and is shut in the cupboard by the man. It is not clear that she is married to him, however it can be interpreted that she was in fact married to him, but not in a healthy relationship. Equally this could be a woman who he had an affair with.
Mise en scene
Settings and locations
Throughout the music video it is set within a small flat,
the fact that there is only one location could emphasise the isolation of the
woman being trapped in such a place. The repletion of the lyric ‘Please don’t
go’, also is reflected in this way as it shows how the man perhaps cares for
her, in a possessive way, and therefore doesn’t want her to go. Thus, the use
of one location of a small flat with a bathroom and kitchen imitates their
relationship.
Costume and Make-up
The two character’s wear casual clothing. The man wears
jeans with a navy jumper with fairly smart shoes. In this way, the fact that the man wears perhaps more expensive clothing is suggestive of him returning from work and therefore taking advantage of the young woman who has been trapped in the flat.
Lighting and Colour
The whole video is particularly dark with quite a lot of blue which matches the ‘dark’ tone of the music and the narrative. The blue in the video has connotations of sadness and therefore reflects how the woman is in a problematic relationship and is isolated in the small flat. The basic colour palette could also signify how the woman has not seen 'the light of day' in a while, since she had been trapped by the man, the fact that there is also very little colour could also be suggestive of how her isolation has quite literally sucked the colour from her life.
Camera Work & Editing
The whole video is in slow-motions which helps the viewer to understand what is happening and to identify with the narrative. Since it is a purely narrative music video it is essential that the camera work is clear in conveying meaning. The majority of the shots are mid-shot and in thus, this presents information clearly. The camera is always moving which helps with the flow of the music video and it is also clear that there was perhaps no tripod used, just a stabilizer which adds to the feeling of the young woman's prolonged isolation.
The overall pace of the video is quite slow and in this way, there is perhaps less straight cuts in comparison to 'typical' music videos. However, when the pace of the video does pick up, the visuals match up and straight cuts are used more frequently as the bass etc. increases in volume and tempo.
Lighting and Colour
The whole video is particularly dark with quite a lot of blue which matches the ‘dark’ tone of the music and the narrative. The blue in the video has connotations of sadness and therefore reflects how the woman is in a problematic relationship and is isolated in the small flat. The basic colour palette could also signify how the woman has not seen 'the light of day' in a while, since she had been trapped by the man, the fact that there is also very little colour could also be suggestive of how her isolation has quite literally sucked the colour from her life.
Camera Work & Editing
The whole video is in slow-motions which helps the viewer to understand what is happening and to identify with the narrative. Since it is a purely narrative music video it is essential that the camera work is clear in conveying meaning. The majority of the shots are mid-shot and in thus, this presents information clearly. The camera is always moving which helps with the flow of the music video and it is also clear that there was perhaps no tripod used, just a stabilizer which adds to the feeling of the young woman's prolonged isolation.
The overall pace of the video is quite slow and in this way, there is perhaps less straight cuts in comparison to 'typical' music videos. However, when the pace of the video does pick up, the visuals match up and straight cuts are used more frequently as the bass etc. increases in volume and tempo.
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