Russia through the eyes of Basement Jaxx

"These two symbolize the crazy nineties. They did a lot to popularize British electronica and created several unsinkable hits. The clip struck me as very funny, though in a somewhat different way than the guys intended. Russian daily life in all its famous glory: with drinks, chicks, dancing and a heap of stylistic mismatches. So, for example, Ukrainians are partying in Siberia, and servicemen are riding through the forest in tanks in peacetime. The clip is utterly devoid of meaning (if you don't count all the well-known clichés about Russia as meaning), and therein, probably, lies the director's main idea. If you can look past all this deliberate silliness, the clip turns out fairly vivid, and in places even beautiful. This is clearly not a cheap video. It's just that the girl doesn't look Russian at all. Well, and she doesn't need to look Russian, you'll say. Maybe. It's just that our soldier would hardly have fancied one like that. In any case, you definitely wouldn't lean out of a tank with a girl like that. So, Take me back to your house, your house takes on a completely different meaning for me: Please take me back to that very house (meaning the musical genre) that I love so much and miss so badly...".

"I like what these guys do. Basement Jaxx have a very interesting sound, even somewhat revolutionary in a way. The bass especially struck me. In general this group has such a long history that it has already become a classic, there's no point discussing it. It's the same as discussing, say, Pink Floyd. Basement Jaxx make pop music with a unique and original sound. I haven't seen such a cool clip in a long time - the idea is good and the music fits, but on the whole I feel cool towards clips: these days 90% of clips are complete hackwork, they just make clips to spend budget money. Although I really like the Pussycat Dolls, the Chemical Brothers. In a clip the main thing is either the idea or beautiful pictures. By the way, electronic musicians' clips are, as a rule, more original than those of pop stars. And whether they're needed at all - let the artists themselves decide, and we'll watch".

"As a kid I was crazy about different music, so I know nothing about Basement Jaxx's work. I think it's the most genuine pop fluff. I didn't like the clip: I felt an urge to change both the picture and the sound. It's hard for me to judge this kind of music, because I don't understand it at all - in my view, it's an ordinary clip, there are a million like it. The video sequence is confusing: back where - home? Either it means Russia and Ukraine, or the Soviet Union altogether. Nonsense, pop entertainment for the masses. Speculation on mood-based stereotypes. Only the dancers are great - respect to them! I feel differently about clips by electronic artists; the problem is that few can do it "cool", and everything else isn't interesting".

"Basement Jaxx are artists whose tracks always go down a storm in clubs. Their compositions can evoke nothing but positive emotions. I first saw the video for the track Take me back to your house in London, when I was there on tour. I was pleasantly surprised that it uses a Russian theme with a Russian undercurrent. The composition itself is excellent, and the video sequence, I reckon, was made not without the involvement of Russian consultants. You can see the choreography was done by specialists in Russian culture. Everything is wonderful. I periodically use the composition itself in my sets, as a kind of "tongue-in-cheek" nod. People react very well. In general, video clips for the music of electronic artists are definitely needed. I believe that videos for music should be made not only by singers, but by disc jockeys too. After all, it's an additional chance to develop. From this point of view Basement Jaxx have succeeded!"