SBTRKT ‘Trials of the Past’ (NSFW)

Here at Tipping Point HQ, we’re not just about unearthing the best new bands, producers and artists. Every now and then an amazing music video director comes across our paths, this time through our own Transmission project. With such a stunning video, we thought we’d share the pure talent of Ross Anderson  who has directed a new video for SBTRKT’s ‘Trials of the Past’.

Directed by Ross Anderson (Dustfarm) the video stars Caitlin Lumley as a troubled girl running from her past in a post-industrial dystopia. Her hands are blooded, her eyes red from crying and she clutches her bag like it contains the most valuable thing in her life.

As she enters a little dusty barber shop she is greeted by the strangest little man – a little man who knows what she wants. The girl sits and pensively stares at her own reflection in his mirror, barely able to contain her grief as the barber proceeds to cut her head open with a circular saw. The girl is not human, she is something different entirely.

Generator and Northern Film & Media teamed with Young Turks and XL Recordings for ‘Transmission’, an innovative music video project that offered a rare opportunity to make a music video for the pioneering electronic artist and producer SBTRKT.

Filmmaker Ross Anderson fought off stiff competition to work closely with SBTRKT and became only the third person to direct a music video for the London-based artist/producer who released his debut album last year to critical acclaim and has remixed acts such as M.I.A, Modeselektor, Radiohead & Basement Jaxx. The video coincides with the release of SBTRKT’s new live album.

Through the haunting sounds of ‘Trials of the Past’ and marrying the cinematic styles of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s nightmarish Delicatessen and Ridley Scott’s classic neo-noir Blade Runner, the music video explores themes of past and future, superstition and technology, along with anonymity and personas.

James Baxter, MD of J6 Films (who signed Ross after seeing the resulting video) says:

“We were totally blown away by Ross’ SBTRKT video at a screening and knew immediately that his distinctive, boundary-pushing style would complement J6’s existing roster. Thankfully, our move was successful and we are excited at the prospect of collaborating with Ross on future projects.”

For more information on ‘Transmission’ and similar cross-media projects, see Generator’s Videos Site.