Watch Flasher Dismantle the Internet in New “Material” Video

D.C. trio Flasher have shared a new video for “Material,” taken from their debut album, Constant Image, out now via Domino Records. They recently topped our list of 15 Washington, D.C., bands to know in 2018.

The track is one of the album’s most infectious, vibrant cuts as Flasher’s ping-ponging, overlapping pop vocals make for possibly the most satisfying vocal tradeoff you’ll hear all year. Bassist Danny Saperstein’s snotty, playful lyrical delivery circles around Emma Baker’s snappy drums as guitarist Taylor Mulitz (formerly of Priests) joins Baker for an unparalleled, ethereal shoegaze-esque vocal rapture (“Construct / Interrupt / Material”).

The video is a post-modern, late-capitalist deconstruction of Internet culture, and its surreal humor sheds a light on just how pervasive and crazy that culture has become. Twenty seconds in, they purposely freeze the video—spinning onscreen circle, cursor, groans and all—before clicking onto a fake lyric video of the song and resuming the tune. What follows is a series of absurd Internet parodies of the band performing the track—an a cappella version, an instructional dance video, a cringeworthy karaoke version and a behind-the-scenes clip. They even make a satirical advertisement for socks so high they can’t fall down and a fake conspiracy theory video that accuses the band of having Illuminati ties. The video closes with the band being devoured by a devil-like creature—perhaps a reference to the real-life, often ignored ramifications of constant entertainment, connection and sensory overload.

Following support dates with The Breeders, Flasher are on tour this December with Brooklyn’s Public Practice and Beijing duo Gong Gong Gong. These three bands will also be selling a limited-edition, tour-only 7” flexidisc, featuring previously unreleased tracks.

Watch their new video for “Material” below and check out Flasher’s upcoming tour dates further down.

Flasher Tour Dates:

November
01 – Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique Witloofbar
02 – Rotterdam, Netherlands @ V11
04 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
06 – Cardiff, U.K. @ Clwb Ifor Bach
07 – Sheffield, U.K. @ Picture House Social Club
08 – Leeds, U.K. @ Brudenell Social Club
09 – Glasgow, U.K. @ The Glad Cafe
10 – Manchester, U.K. @ YES
11 – Brighton, U.K. @ The Hope & Ruin
12 – London, U.K. @ Roundhouse w/ Parquet Courts
13 – London, U.K. @ The Lexington
14 – Paris, France @ L’Olympic Cafe
16 – Madrid, Spain @ Teatro Barcelo
17 – Barcelona, Spain @ Sala Apolo
30 – Washington, D.C. @ The Black Cat *

December
03 – Cleveland, Ohio @ Beachland Tavern *
04 – Chicago, Ill. @ The Hideout *
05 – Columbus, Ohio @ Ace of Cups *
07 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Saint Vitus *

(* w/ Public Practice & Gong Gong Gong)