This is about my long-standing love of music videos. Not about every music video, only those that are made with respect for the art. To me it does not have to be associated with the music I buy, but instead it should take you out of the now and directly into the artist’s vision for 5 minutes. You should come away emotionally changed.

This brings me to a video that comes from 1996. Directed by Nic Goffey and Dominic Hawley who together shaped a stylistic trend that continues today. I have to be blunt though and state that I feel that the majority of music videos, now more than ever, are watered down commercial drivel. This is harsh but was bound to happen as music became freely available on the Internet. Also it has to be iterated that throwing large quantities of cash at a music video does not mean you will come out the other side with ‘Thriller’ if the director and artist are 20 steps down from pure talent.

Dom & Nic managed to come out with a video that still takes me on a journey each and every time I watch the joyous little adventure. ‘Setting Sun’ by The Chemical Brothers was part of a musical movement I never took part in. Dance music has never been my bag yet some of the video experiences it produced are glorious. Fat Boy Slim with ‘Weapon of Choice’ is one that springs to mind instantly. I don’t even like Oasis, not one bit, yet ‘Setting Sun’ combines two (for me) incompatible elements and spins them into an underground journey. The dancing Policemen are a sprinkle of fun while all the time the viewer is swept up by the psychological confusion and, when played at volume as all great music video should be, when finished makes you feel slightly reassured you were not actually really part of the madness. This video takes you on a trip from the perspective of, what I feel is, a first time raver. Giving you a mixture of real and 'induced' fantasy.

There are other gems out there and more stories of music video fun that I will keep coming back to; 90’s videos from Pulp and Supergrass. The epic videos from Guns and Roses that are more to my actual music taste. Great films have incredible scores and you cannot fail to notice how some more modern films feel like extended music videos.

For me that 5 minute video is what its about.

Dom & Nic’s website can be found here but in the meantime sit back, turn the music up loud, and open your mind to the video below!