Radiohead: In (Geometric Informatics and Velodyne Lidar Technology) Rainbows

The quartet release new video for 'House of Cards' using pioneering technology
Feature by Jess Travis.
Published 14 July 2008

With a career marked by unconventionality, Radiohead continue to keep both fans and critics on their musical toes with a new technological treat: the camera-free music video. 'House of Cards' combines Geometric Informatics and Velodyne Lidar technologies to create the camera-free effect. While the Geometric Informatics uses light to capture 3D images up close, Velodyne Lidar technology employs lasers to achieve the same effect but for larger environments. The final product was sewn together meticulously by James Frost of Zoo films into what is sure to be a music video prodigy.

In typical Thom Yorke fashion, Radiohead’s explanation for the rationale behind the release is nothing short of poetic: "I always like the idea of using technology in a way that it wasn't meant to be used, the struggle to get your head round what you can do with it. I liked the idea of making a video of human beings and real life and time without using any cameras, just lasers, so there are just mathematical points--and how strangely emotional it ended up being." Released today, only time will tell whether or not Radiohead’s “mathematical” and “strangely emotional” video leaves them high and dry.

Yes, I said it. I totally went there. Oh you want to make something of it? You and whose army?

See the video here.

Comments (1)

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  • "no cameras or lights were used, just data"
    is the blurb on their website.
    well, bravo, radiohead has gone digital. as have hundreds of other bands before them. but we're clapping extra hard because it's Thom Yorke, right?

    Posted by Anonymous | Tuesday August 2008 @ 16:52

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