Black eyes, alternate worlds and an Irish council estate appear in our picks of the most interesting videos about this week

It’s been a mixed up old week in the world of UK politics, so it’s nice to remind yourself that there’s a nice big universe out there that doesn’t contain the likes of Gove and May nibbling away at our country’s sanity. This week’s video roundup tries to do just that: China, Ireland, Venezuela and a distant alter-world are all represented. Big up anti-isolationism.

Rihanna - Sledgehammer

This video for Rihanna’s Sledgehammer strongly reminds me of those really bizarre photoshoots they set up for America’s Next Top Model when Tyra makes them dress up like fish or whatever she thinks will make her laugh that day. The theme of this shoot would be “Intergalactic Royalty” and, to be fair, Rih would definitely snag best photo.

As this tune is included on the Star Trek: Beyond soundtrack, the video is accompanied with another clip of Rih Rih bigging up Star Trek in the most profuse way possible. Serving suggestion: an enormous pinch of salt.

Aphex Twin - CIRKLON3 [ Колхозная mix ]

Directed by Ryan Wyer

We first got a glimpse of the 12-year-old behind Aphex Twin’s first new music video in 17 years when he uploaded a video of him and his mates on his Irish estate bopping around to some old Aphex in 2014. We approached him for interview. We were ignored.

Now, he’s the hotshot director, editor and creative powerhouse behind these long-awaited visuals. Doesn’t look like we’ll be able to pin him down any time soon.

Angel Olsen - Shut Up Kiss Me

Directed by Angel Olsen

Angel Olsen makes a triumphant return with this video for Shut Up Kiss Me, which imagines a world where only a pissed-off and silver-wigged Olsen exists, skating and posing into oblivion. We’d quite like to live there, please.

Jamie xx - Gosh

Directed by Romain Gavras

Jamie xx makes another snatch for “song of the summer” this year with an extra video for his 2015 tune, Gosh.

Directed by Romain Gavras, the new video sees an albino protagonist make his way through the magnificent Chinese city of Tianducheng, a derelict Chinese complex that was built to replicate Paris, right down to its faux-Eiffel Tower. A child army awaits.

Blood Orange - Augustine

Directed by Devonté Hynes

Blood Orange has ignited yet another top level return to form this week.

Augustine is a love-suffused ode to Hynes’ parents, religion, and those that hurt in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s death. Its multiplicity of theme is reflected in its visuals: there is dancing, live performance, and street scenes, but they all seem to add up to the same thing – hope.

Arca - Sin Rumbo

Directed by Jesse Kanda

A tight close-up of Arca’s beaten-up face as he howls a love song in Spanish and a healthy dose of electronic spit make the video for Sin Rumbo feel the most intimate we’ve got with the Venezuelan producer yet (which is odd as we’re pretty sure we’ve seen him naked).

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