If you haven’t checked out the music video for “western kids” yet, the new single from Minnesota four-piece Hippo Campus, you should spare three minutes of your time to watch this innovative release right away. Working with ex-Pixar Technical Director, Najeeb Tarazi, the band create their own virtual reality playground within the video, interacting with computer animation software and using 3D scanning technology. In other words, the band are transported inside a personalised video game, travelling through a labyrinth of geometric shapes, floating across the surface of planets, all before bizarrely creating an object with the power to transform building blocks into television sets and sofas.
Mixing catchy guitar riffs with distinct vocals, Hippo Campus create a sound reminiscent of that of Little Comets and Vampire Weekend. A summery tune full of intricate guitar parts, “western kids” is fun and carefree, and perfectly conveys the band’s trademark upbeat sound. You can catch the video below, and if you’re craving more, the band’s debut album, landmark, is out now.
You can catch Hippo Campus at the following venues this October:
09/10 – The Fleece, Bristol
10/10 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
12/10 – Koko, London
13/10 – Gorilla, Manchester
14/10 – Academy 2, Dublin
15/10 – G2, Glasgow
Words by Kate Eldridge.
