February 2007: The Datsuns, The Feelers, The Rabble, The Veils, Tourist, Voom

Smashing goldfish, codgers and saveloys, scribbly guys, city life, sadness, and a gloomy cellar.

The Datsuns “Waiting For Your Time To Come”

The last time we saw the Datsuns was back in 2000 with their “Super Gyration” video, just a couple of years before they were about to take the UK by storm. This is the other side – still gigging, still touring, but no longer the indie darlings of the early ’00s. The video was directed by Greg Page, who also did “Super Gyration”, but this time it’s an animated video in Page’s dark, hand-drawn style. This isn’t a video trying to sell a hot new band. Rather, it’s confident in the band’s songcraft, letting the music do its thing.

Director: Greg Page

The Feelers “Never Get Me Down”

The song’s called “Never Get Me Down” but lots of things are going down – lightbulbs, pot plants, wineglasses and frozen roses. They all dramatically shatter. (Oh, I wonder why Tupperware containers or throw cushions never seem to symbolise a relationship.) Falling at a slower rate is a TV set showing the Feelers, and a fish bowl with a fish in it. Will the fish ‘n’ TV smash? Will this video have a floppy fish-out-of-water moment, reminiscent of Faith No More’s “Epic” only not as good? You know the answer.

The Rabble “The Coast Song”

On a scale of bagpipes in popular music, where 0 is “Mull of Kintyre” and 10 is “You’re the Voice”, “The Coast Song” is a 4. The Scottish tinged punk song is an ode to life on the Hibiscus Coast. “There’s no stars and stripes but silver fern, the punks rasp, suggesting there’ll be no surprise where their tick is going in the flag referendum. They list the benefits of coast life: “Sunny beaches and palm trees/We got our ethnic diversity”. The video is shot at a local community hall, deliberately removed from the scungy punk club environment (though not as much fun as this community hall). Amongst the kids, codgers and saveloys, there’s room for all.

Director: Luke Hedley, Chris Nicholls
Nga Taonga Sound & Vision

The Veils “Calliope!”

The “Calliope!” video puts the band in a very European-looking cellar. As they perform the song, with slightly jerky movements, the picture is also illustrated by shadowy drawings of celestial themes. “Calliope!” is a really strong song, quality folk-pop. There’s not always a lot going on in the video, but the song just makes everything ok.

Director: Aaron Brownlee, Corran Brownlee
Nga Taonga Sound & Vision

Tourist “Suburban Skies”

For a band whose previous videos have all used self-consciously Wellington locations, Tourist seem to have finally broken free from their 04 shackles. The video boldly opens with the band arriving at an airport, but the their adventures don’t last for long. “Suburban Skies” is a massive pop-rock tune but disappointingly, the video can’t quite match its energy. The band are mostly seen in a studio performing the song with random clips of city life projected on them. That’s all good, but the way it’s edited together is undercutting the energy of the song.

Director: David Paul
Nga Taonga Sound & Vision

Voom “We’re So Lost”

Warning: this is the saddest, most dispiriting video ever. It’s about two guinea pigs who are kidnapped and taken to an evil lab for animal testing. I found it so upsetting that I don’t ever want to watch it again. Ever. But I can see that, ok, that’s the exact same vibe of the song so yay for that. If you need something rather less harrowing to watch, there’s the 2013 Princess Chelsea cover of the song, which imagines a dystopian world of 2022 and includes a cat riding a Roomba and everything is ok.

Director: Justin Hawkes
Nga Taonga Sound & Vision

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