textual analysis of a music video & 30 second swede

Breezeblocks - Alt-J

Information about the Artist

Alt-J are an English indie rock band formed in 2007 in Leeds. The band's actual name is the triangle shaped symbol Δ (the capital Greek delta letter),  and they often make references to triangles in their music. In 2019, their song "Breezeblocks" was featured on the Netflix series Daybreak. Alt-J has been noted for their post-modern lyrics in their lyrics in their songs that highlight historical and pop-culture subjects.

By using colourful lighting, their aesthetic is bright  which completely contrasts their song lyrics and music videos, that usually have a darker meaning behind them. This may have been done a purpose to play with the usual codes and conventions of the artist "match" the genre of their music. As shown on Alt-J's website How the music video has the same vibes as the artist and website

Information about the Song

"Breezeblocks" is a song which was released in 2012 as the second single on Alt-J's album An Awesome Wave. The song contains multiple references to the children's book Where the Wild Things are by Maurice Sendak, when the lyrics go, "Do you know where the wild things go?" as well as the repeated refrain towards the end of the song, "Please do go, I'll eat you whole / I love you so.", which is a modified version of a portion of the book ("Oh, please don't go — we'll eat you up — we love you so!"). 

The music video was created to accompany its release and its the band's first official music video. The video features a violent fight in an apartment between a male and female character in reverse, in the beginning with the male killing the woman with a breeze block and as the fight progresses backwards it is revealed that the female character is the aggressor as his presumptive wife is found bound and gagged.

Analysis of "Breezeblocks" Music Video

The music video for "Breezeblocks" has an interesting concept as it is presented in reverse chronological order, meaning it rejects traditional codes and conventions for its time of release.  In terms of the narrative, the story pursues a man and a woman who are aggressively fighting and plays on the audiences morals. This is because its representations cause debate, as the audience through justification have a completely different viewpoint from the end of the music video than their initial presumptions. The use of low-key lighting and slow motion to fit the face of the song also builds towards the reveal. I think that the music video has a bigger impact the second time you watch it.

30 second swede of "Breezeblocks"

I then decided to make a 30 second swede as it was during lockdown, I wasn't able to get anyone to help me film, so chose parts without the second actor. However, if I was able to do it again I would have replicated the first thirty seconds of the music video only. I hope when I am able to create my own music video to film it and then reverse it with a big reveal at the end.