They have been making great videos for decades, and arguably the greatest music video band of all time. No pressure then, for Rich Hall, to direct a worthy addition to the great canon of work for Depeche Mode. But he has risen to the challenge.For People Are Good, the latest single from the latest album Memento Mori, the Riff Raff Films-based director has faced down the weight of 40-plus years of Depeche Mode music video history, with a promo which nods to the visual style that has become their hallmark, while establishing its own heartfelt identity.Combining stylishness, brilliant film craft with a considered exposition of the theme of the song, Hall has created a series of intensely dramatic vignettes, shot in black and white by DoP Martin Ruhe, in a heightened cinematic, dreamlike reality.In each one we are confronted with a seeming act of wrongdoing or human frailty - expressed in the human pile-up of a riot, a woman digging a grave, a confrontation of macho gang bosses, and so on - each taking palce in front of a white wall. Then the true reality in each situation is gradually revealed. It's a counterpoint to Dave Gahan's somewhat ambivalent vocals for People Are Good. The video is evocative and bold, exploring the complex nature of human beings in a unique and distinctive way. And it really is a worthy addition to the pantheon - all the more impressive for the short amount of time that Rich Hall and his team had for pre-production and the shoot itself.“It’s equal parts an honour and daunting when making a video for Depeche Mode," says Hall. "Not only do they have music video royalty behind them, but even Riff Raff have churned out some outstanding videos themselves for the band in recent times (Personal Jesus, Wagging Tongue). Throw a world class DoP like Martin Ruhe into the mix, 8 days prep and 1 shoot day then you’ve got a real mind f***."I wanted to make an idea that changes multiple times during the video, as if unravelling with the song and our understanding of it. The song reminded me of the fragility of human relationships, how easy we forget, how easily we’re misled. So, I came up with the idea to somehow immortalize those every day, human interactions, in front of a white wall and heighten them to the extent that they feel like art (well, sort of)."It wouldn’t be possible without the unwavering support of Riff Raff, Black Kite, and the good people at Columbia US. Not to mention the amazing crew, especially the ones who were unloading dirt into a fake grave at midnight - you know who you are.”

Jo Garrity directs a thought-provoking promo for Hank May. In a liminal space where life seeks the light, a mental health support group reaches catharsis through kinetic release and a daring mantra.The video for Morgana is a complex yet beautiful meditation on mental health, and uses dynamic movement and ethereal cinematography to encapsulate the themes of the track. May's performance is suitably transcendent and central to the concept, and each character's performance helps bring a sense of realism to the dreamlike vision.Director Jo Garrity says: "With this concept, I challenged myself to bring humor, vulnerability, empowerment, and hope -- everything in Hank’s music -- to a sensitive and complicated subject, one I have experience with and needed to honor."We designed the production as a non-profit, in-kind effort for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, hoping to reduce stigma, foster connectedness, and spark meaningful conversations. We found supportive partners in Hyper RPG Studios, transporting our therapy group into a kinetic, otherworldly realm using an innovative virtual production environment and motion-control camera system. I’m thrilled to share our expression of joy and healing with the world."This work contains references to suicide. Suicide is complex and can be prevented. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals struggling, in crisis, or for those seeking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener 24/7, call or text 988. For more resources on suicide prevention awareness and action, visit BeThe1To.com."

Michael Upson directs a delightfully quirky promo for the indie band called Home Counties, for a song called Bethnal Green. The studio-based video for Bethnal Green opens with an elderly woman sitting in front of a textural backdrop, placing a pair of headphones on her head. From there, the music quite literally comes to life, as the band appears on the other side of the studio, performing in a series of dazzling vignettes - in which the impassive headphones-wearing lady also becomes involved Experimenting with playful camerawork and edit effects, the video feels as eccentric as the track (about gentrification in the dead trendy East End, of course) - packing in choreography, performance and even a mini disco into a short runtime. And it's bloody brilliant.

Marco Santi takes us on a quirky little journey to the sea, in his breezy promo for Mox.The video for Pampero follows a middle-aged couple who are stuck in a rut, before the husband decides that a holiday is in order - causing the wife to quite literally faint from her chair. What follows is an idiosyncratic journey to the beach, punctuated with funny, awkward moments and some very fine character acting indeed. The anachronistic styling and vague sense of place adds to the unusual vibe, and it feels like these holidaymakers could be from the 70's or the present day, giving it a universal, relatable appeal. This sense of awkward humour can be difficult to pull off - especially in music videos - yet Santi does so perfectly, using drawn-out shots of weird stares and locked-off shots to let the performances do the talking, and give context to the messy yet charming road trip.