A robot boyband take the world by storm in Maxim Kelly's alternative history of computing and artificial intelligence for Hot Chip - in which music video takes an even more important role...  

For Broken, taken from the band's recently released eighth album Freakout/Release, we follow the engaging story of Jerry Fairchild, creator of the Fairchild 7000, and its role in turning computer nerds into music video directors (including one named Jon Glazer). That is the introduction to the 'proper' video that features anonymous, frequently multiplying android pop stars, busting moves in a familiar white-syc studio. 

As in some of his previous work - perhaps most notably the video for shame's Nigel Hitter - Kelly reworks obscure vintage corporate film footage to create the foundations for his concept.

Then he has created his robot boyband by adding cool robot mask prosthetics to a trio of denim-clad dancers presenting them in a pop video, rooted in the classic form. And that is hugely effective for a song that is at the catchy pop-end of Hot Chip's musical spectrum.

“I’m intrigued by AI machines doing artwork," says Kelly. "In the future, robots and computers might make music videos too - and this is what I imagine the first will look like.

"I referenced the boyband videos I grew up watching on MTV - overly sentimental with emotional and gut-wrenching performances. In this video, soulless androids run through all the motions and cliches of these videos with deadpan robotic precision. It’s a pop video with all the entertaining and watchable bits taken out.”