Vitalic> Poney (Part 1)
First off, let's clear up the confusion: although titled "Birds" on Pleix's official website (pleix.net), this is in fact the official promo for Vitalic's "Poney (Part 1)". Anyone familiar with this brain-melting bit of electro might expect its video to have a similarly cold, ruthless quality, but rather than follow the script, Pleix go the other way and furnish the soundtrack exclusively with - wait for it - slo-mo shots of puppies hurtling through the air. And guess what: whether thanks to the soundtrack or the psychological headfuck of seeing a dog smile at such a high framerate, the net result is much more sinister than you'd expect. So great. [Prodco: Colonel Blimp; Label: Pias]

The Arctic Monkeys> When The Sun Goes Down
Directed by the suspiciously-monikered Fraser Schrimshaw (which Google suggests is the working pseudonym of directorial duo Paul Fraser and Shane Meadows), this new clip from Sheffield indie-heroes-in-waiting The Arctic Monkeys is, depending on your point of view, either a dreary, nihilistic slog or a gutsy bit of filmmaking. Set in a washed out, grey/blue version of lower-class Britain, "When The Sun Goes Down" traces the life of a homeless prostitute struggling to get out from under the thumb of a ruthless pimp. With tight editing and strong performances, this is certainly well-crafted, but it's the ambiguous plot details that intrigue. [Prodco: Warp Films; Label: Domino]

Stephen Malkmus> Baby C'mon
On the heels of Daniel Levi's winning stop-motion piece for UK rapper Plan B (see Playlist, Boards Dec/Jan) comes yet another stellar video that looks like it took about seven months and 37 gallons of coffee to complete. Directed by upstarts Lana Kim and Andy Bruntel, "Baby C'mon" packs so many ideas and themes into its slight 2:45 frame that you can't help but admire (and possibly even fear) the sheer bloodyminded tenacity involved. Fun fact, industry folks: Kim is also the current music video rep at California's The Director's Bureau. [Label: Matador Records]