Barbara Panther – Empire

Isn’t it lovely to be emerging from the world of 2010, where every other artist seemed to be a mild-mannered suburban boy making beats in his bedroom? It seems like we might be realising that part of the joy of music is finding characters; individuals who are fascinating in themselves, not just individuals who make fascinating music.

Barbara Panther manages to be both fascinating, and make fascinating music. The video for ‘Empire’ was directed by Mogwai and Four Tet-collaborator Woof Wan-Bau, and it is a perfect antidote to the washed-out, found-footage montages that seem to be everywhere, still.