Martin de Thurah

For the past couple weeks I have been intensely interested with the work of Danish director Martin de Thurah. He might be more well know for his directing of music video's of artists Kanye West, "Flashing Lights," Will Young, "Changes," Fever Ray, "When I Grow Up," Carpark North, "Human," Mew's, "Repeaterbeater, Beach, & "Introducing Place Players," and Royksopp, "What Else Is There?" and others.

The way he intwines fantasy and reality is very forward but subtle in a way one does not question why but accept what they are perceiving as it is, much like the literary aesthetic style of Magical Realism like that used by author Garcia Marquez.

"[Magical realism is] what happens when a highly detailed, realistic setting is invaded by something too strange to believe." - Matthew Strecher

Other projects and video's he's worked on like commercials for Ikea & CPH:DOX*. The thing that blows me away with his work is how mixed the aesthetic is but in a wonderfully cohesive manner. When I first saw his commercial for CPH:DOX* "Hare" it made me so happy to see the use of handheld video juxtaposed with CG but in a way that I do not question what is happening but am only interested in what it is I am seeing...and wanting to believe it.

Two short films he has directed, Young Man Falling (2007) & We Who Stayed Behind (2008) both deal with adolescence & the pains of growing up. This theme of youth & innocence pitted up against violence & pain is something that accrues in his work a lot, there are dark undertones of the brutal aspects of reality but not without glimpses of hope of the little things in life...like the tenderness shared between children, or the first experiences of love. There is a way his work enables one to want to drift off into the land he has created without fearing what would happen, to let go, then reminded there are still consequences in that freedom.

If anyone can find access to We Who Stayed Behind please let me know. I have looked everywhere for it and cannot find it anywhere. If I'm not mistaken it was in 2008-9 when it was released in Denmark and doubt it has been released or shown in the U.S. yet....but I would love to be wrong and find it somewhere.

The short Young Man Falling can be viewed on YouTube not in the best quality but its nice to be able to view it none the less.

YOUNG MAN FALLING TRAILER from martin de thurah on Vimeo.

WE WHO STAYED BEHIND trailer from martin de thurah on Vimeo.

Tomorrow, In A Year: The Knife Collaberation

Periodically I get obsessive about finding art and artist in this case my search for musical performer Planningtorock brought me to find The Knife's new album "Tomorrow, In A Year," (2010) a two disk compilation in collaboration with (Planningtorock & Mt. Sims) commissioned by Danish Theater production company Hotel Pro Forma who asked them to create a conceptual album in reference to Charles Darwin research on Evolution. This is not just an artistic conceptual interpretation but an amazingly experimental electronic Oprah with the intentions to be performed to. When walking into the door of this album I warn you to leave your expectations from past Knife albums behind and instead embrace this new sound and collaboration. If anything this collaboration makes all the sense for a fourth album focusing a bit more on the performative & conceptual aspect of their work.





The Hotel Pro Forma company performs as they play and mix, with projections and stage drama. It is very exciting to think of these performances and see how this will change & strengthen there future live shows. There are no tour dates as of yet for the U.S. but I will for sure be keeping my eye out...did find that in 2006 they played at PS1 Contemporary Art in NYC goodness how I would have loved to have made that show!




The song "Colouring Pigeons" is a beautiful mix encapsulating so much of the intention of this album and still allowing the true nature of The Knife to shine through with their edgy beat mixing combined operatic vocals and traditional instruments, we also get to hear Karine's voice in this one sounding like a mix of her side album Fever Ray and the Knife's style. In the song "The Hight of Summer" there is more of an electronic feel that pumps through the blood of the Knife flowing with the voices of Planningtorock & Karin creating a nice percussion beat of which the electronic ticks and tones dance around like a fluttering insect looking for nectar. Hauntingly in Annie's Box Karin's voice echoes through the space of sound as she is accompanied by sting & wood instruments cry back to her.

There will for sure be a change in how the Knife will sound which is interesting with each new album (or experimental side project) they are collecting little bits and pieces along the way compiling these beautiful works that take us away to this mystical land of sound they create.