Daft Punk> "Technologic"

The helmets from "Robot Rock" are back, but this time they've brought along a creepy little TV-obsessive mechanical skeleton with false choppers. He might even be their King, but apart from the hundred miniature pyramids and a monitor that flashes words from endless loops, his kingdom looks a lot like red designer Hell or the set of Bergman's Cries and Whispers. While this second video from Human After All (the first, "Robot Rock", was self-directed) might not help counter the knock against Daft Punk that they've let their robotic selves take over at the dials, it has undeniable atmosphere and is saved by dynamic editing. [Record Label: Virgin] MR

Phoenix Foundation> "Hitchcock"

When contrasted with the plinky, space-age electropop of New Zealand's Phoenix Foundation, the choreographed driving sequences that dominate Reuben Sutherland's slickly-animated "Hitchcock" look more like the Grand Ballet than Grand Theft Auto. There's a loosely-outlined plot that involves gas-guzzling SUVs, environmental responsibility and an armada of electric cars belonging the Petrol Crimes Bureau, but the clip's main attraction is the mesmeric offroad sequences, in which the cars retain a weightless grace despite hurtling with a speed and fury that would make Steve McQueen proud. [Prodco: Joyrider Films], [Record Label: FMR] MP

Maximo Park> "Graffiti"

Despite being directed by CGI black belts Lynn Fox, this clip from England's Maximo Park has nary a rendered frame. Shot in a non-descript room full of wood tones and art deco lamps, this live-action video is a spirited performance clip that very subtly tugs at our sense of balance and proportion. As the guitars clang to a crescendo, the band quietly get their lean on; by the end, you're left wondering if there's a low-grade tornado in the room with them. Clever without overreaching, this is a lesson in how to make a solid performance video on a relatively small budget. [Prodco: Colonel Blimp], [Record Label: Warp] MP