In one of the least expected match-ups of the year, girlgroup legends Sugababes go gothic, lured into a nighttime funeral by Thomas James, music video's reigning Prince of Darkness.James brings his unmistakeable aesthetic to the Sugababes' video for Ghost, placing the trio in a funeral procession, setting off to the graveyard in the dead of night. Decidedly darker and more surreal than the groups' past videography - with the notable exception of their vamp-horror classic for Freak Like Me - James creates a rousing atmosphere that perfectly matches the direction of the track.It's a real double-take of a commission, but it turns out that the 'Babes and Thomas James is a match made in Heaven. Or elsewhere...

Salomon Ligthelm reunites with Little Simz on the conceptual and visually powerful music video for her new track Flood.This is Ligthelm's first music video since directing Simz's video for Introvert in 2021. That was a huge statement heralding the next chapter in Simz's musical progress. Now nearly four years later, the video for Flood promises to perform a similar role, prompting a buzz of anticipation for her next album. Featuring Obongjayar and Moonchild Sanelly, the video for Flood is a hyper-stylised meditation on materialism and its role in shaping culture. Evoking the fine art-inspiration of his photography work, Ligthelm's eye for framing and composition is on full display here, with shifting textures created in a studio shoot and a fittingly quickfire edit, brilliantly achieved by Elise Butt, who also cut the Introvert video. The rousing, cinematic vignettes build with palpable energy, matching the chant-like rhythm of the track, and the fearless performances from all three artists are arresting throughout.Above all, Little Simz once again shows that she is a fearless presence on camera, even while sharing screentime with her guest vocalists and a mesmerizing group of dancers. And with this triumphant return Salomon Ligthelm proves that he brings something special out of her.

Ben Galster directs a sensual and, well, irrepressible depiction of queer life and love for The Irrepressibles. And it's proved to be too hot for YouTube... The video for Ecstasy Homosexuality is a celebration of queer liberation, featuring a stirring narrative between former and current lovers, who get away together in a house in the country for a summer break. Blending queer culture, performance and art into something absolutely captivating, the video makes use of mixed media (live action, paintings and vintage photography) to give a universal, anachronistic feel to the concept. The central narrative between the main characters is also hugely engaging, teetering on the edge of something explosive and visceral, even in moments of silence. Jumping between naturalistic, raw setups and hyper-stylised vignettes, Galster's direction feels elevated and inspired throughout, capturing unique sides of the LGBT+ experience with flair. It's stunning work, and although it has been taken down from YouTube, it's still available in its full glory on Vimeo...