Bouba et Sokona Sacko

Screenshots from a video from the early 1990s by Malian guitar/ngoni legend Bouba Sacko. Although there is a better quality video of the same recording, I prefer this version with its acrid, flat blocks of saturated colours and unpredictable hues due to harsh studio lighting. I discovered this song (and it has since been on repeat all morning) after reading about Bouba on World Service. Lemon yellows, Cornflower blues (which shimmer into electric blues and white simultaneously) and vivid reds/pinks on the back-up singers. I like the way each of the band members smile so earnestly whenever they realise a camera is doing a close-up on them. Find myself equally enthralled and mesmerized by the combination of this track and its video.

The City of Samba 2011

Made by Keith Loutit and Jarbas Agnelli, captured during Rio de Janeiro Carnaval of 2011. Music by Jarbas Agnelli.

With the constant shift in perceptible scale, from tiny model-city to large cityscape, -which is largely due to the combination of the stop motion and the 'tilt shift' filter- I was pondering whether perhaps I was actually watching an improbable, fabulous and fantastic Carnival put on by insects...or perhaps it's actually an amazingly elaborate plastic model which someone has somehow managed to convincingly animate. Generally I can't abide use of the despicable 'tilt shift' filter/effect (I'm well aware that I'm probably alone in this camp) however, I'm forced into rethinking this standpoint as it has been so cleverly employed here. I've always been fascinated with the surreal spectacle that is Carnival and the acrid, over-vivacious saturation and stop-motion effects in this clip, heighten this captivating display, moreover, the frenzied, ant's-nest / bee-hive-like energy of Carnival is definitely present.

The City of Samba from Jarbas Agnelli on Vimeo.

p.s. wish I could choose a different still for the video embed, don't let the somewhat crass title-sequence put you off.