Aphex Twin: Windowlicker

I am not kidding. This is the best video ever made. Nothing comes close. It is indescribable. You have never seen anything like this. I am sure you can buy a copy online, and if you do you will not be disappointed. I believe that `Being John Malkovich' borrowed a technique that Chris Cunningham uses in this video and his other video masterpiece `Come to Daddy.' I wish Cunningham would hurry up and make something else, because it's obvious to me that he is one of the most talented directors around today.

...and I've seen "Baby Geniuses".

What starts off as a parody of numbingly retarded rap music videos soon degenerates (some would say "improves") into some sort of surreal, in-your-face nightmare that straight males won't soon forget. If you thought bearded ladies were scary before, prepare to have your mind royally screwed over. Putting aside how revoltingly twisted the video is, it's also pretty funny, as well as expertly shot and edited. Chris Cunningham gets the glossy visuals of rap videos down to a T and the freaky shots work perfectly to Aphex Twin's captivating electronic song. This is genius.

Richard D. James, Aphex Twin himself, plays a big part in the video (apart from providing the titular song, of course) as his characteristic shark grin, as in "Come to Daddy", serves a big part in terrifying the poor viewer. Few musical artists have the screen presence of this guy.

Many will argue that Cunningham's greatest freak-out was his debut video, "Come to daddy", but as stunning as that video is it can't compete with the sheer, basic, and harrowing horror of "Windowlicker". Whether you're a fan of Aphex Twin or not, this video deserves to be seen as it towers miles above most videos of its kind.

This video is everything and should be a must see for music video directors. You can't take your eyes off these gorgeous beauties! An astonishing blend of horror and parody it's just mind bogglingly good! Not to mention the fact that the track itself is pure perfection and one of Richard James's absolute best pieces. God we should be so grateful that this delicious abomination exists!!!

the sophomore effort between aphex twin and chris cunningham continues the proud tradition of putting a face on a once-said-to-be faceless music; richard james'. this is what happens when you take a bloody brilliant director (cunningham) and NME magazine's composer of the 90s (james) and infuse them with spite for the music industry. their last video, come to daddy, seemed to take on the thrasy rock element of popularity spawned by nine inch nails, prodigy's "firestarter", and other clones of such. this time around, they focus on satiring the presence of the half naked woman's place in music video.

the song itself features an amalgamation of chopped up bits of chorus singers, resulting in more of a moaning type melody as opposed to traditional lyrics, on top of typical post-porno-music aphex twin beats. the music is timed up with the transformation of a couple street whores into aphex twin-faced street whores, who are being chased down by two would-be customers. from there, you get to see the visage of richard james making out with himself, then of course, the gratuitious dance and champagne scenes.

it's a pity that richard tends to be more bored with making music than most people, but that's part of the reason why he's special. who's the biggest name in mainstream electronic music these days? fatboy slim? moby? after watching this, come to daddy, and donkey rhubarb and listening to some of his music, it's pretty obvious that aphex twin could have probably been the biggest name in electronic pop music if he put his mind to it, but fortunately for the hardcore fans out there, i don't think it has ever crossed his mind.

Clocking in at around 10 and a half minutes, one would think they couldn't handle a video this long. There are also the problems with subject matter and music. If your not a fan of tech-no you may not like it, but don't make your decision to fast. And if your not a fan of Bizarre Anatomy curdling images, than this might not be for you, but once again don't make your decision to fast.

I've shown this video to over 50 people at this point. some love it to a insurmountable degree like me, and some tell me to turn it off within the first minute of the music start. many of my friends did not like the video initially because of the images, but I had them see it a couple more times and soon they fell in love with it. When you watch this video, your brought into the bizarre and visceral world of Chris Cunningham. The music plays second fiddle to the video or images for that matter. if your not a fan of tech-no you'll realize very soon while watching its not about music. You get lost in what your watching, whether it be for good or for bad. And if the subject matter doesn't appeal to you realize(or try to realize) what a wonderful satire it really is.

Cunningham takes a wonderful stab at the hip hop dynasty. At first you see 2 black men strolling down the road, very interested in picking up some girls. they pull up along side of the road to two black girls. They start expressing their interest in them, very explicitly. The girls are not fond of this at all and want them to leave. Right when you think your not actually watching a music video Cunningham pulls the rug right from under your feet and a giant white limo crashes into the two black man and sends them down the road. Finally out of the limo comes Aphex Twin himself. Being a white man it seems quite out of place, epically when he starts dancing like Michael Jackson to lighting fast beats.

Its at this point the audience will fall love with Cunningham's sick mind, or want to throw the TV out the window. The two women in awe of their new friend actually become so turned on by him their faces morph into his. So ladies and gentleman... you get 2 women with mens faces. Then it cuts to inside a limo and Aphex twin has all these women with his face all over his body, hands rubbing against his chest and theirs legs protruding in every direction possible.

The video carries on with the two original men who were going to pick them up, chasing them around down town Los Angeles. They eventually put on some kind of dance number for them and bathe themselves in champagne a la Aphex Twin. But this is not before they make a startling discovery of their own...

Cunningham employs his talent of synchronizing image and sound amazing, which he proved he could do with his other "Twin" video "Come to daddy". he uses lense flares and puts images out of focus so organically you don't even notice, and it just becomes part of the mood. his cinematography does not really get lost in his first rate editing, every shot is expertly composed and matches superbly to his Busby Berkly like choreography(as sick as a take off it might be).

At the end of this video I felt very weird the first time I saw it. But now, after the 100th or so time I just can't help but get lost with the characters and their environment. There is an obvious lost art of movie editing these days, with it's random cutting and over the top slickness. But Chris Cunningham uses micro editing and every other fast paced technique and yet you still know exactly what your looking at and the tone it generates. He brakes it down to such a science and flow that there's nothing really left at the end of the video, except a feel. and it's this feel you either love or hate. I personally love it. And if you like this video, than there's no stopping you. you'll explore all of Cunningham's Oeuvre within weeks.

A must see for all music video fans and anyone interested in going into the editing or technical side of the entertainment industry.

This video can be found on Chris Cunningham's Directors label DVD from Palm pictures.