Synopsis

In a barren desert landscape, masked travelers move through an otherworldly world of sand, rock, and scattered ruins. They search the ground for mysterious crystals, uncovering fragments of a strange civilization while moving with the slow, ritualistic purpose of explorers or scavengers. Their journey eventually leads them toward a towering pyramid and a surreal final revelation. The stark imagery, time-lapse passages, and ominous atmosphere give "A1" the feeling of a lost science-fiction film rather than a conventional performance video.

Factoids & Trivia

• "A1" was Darkside's first music video and arrived in May 2012, several months after the duo's self-titled EP was released through Clown & Sunset.

• The video was produced by Pomp&Clout and Pier Pictures, with Clown & Sunset Films listed as the label.

• Although the setting looks like a single alien world, the production was shot in both Arizona and California.

• The production credits list a dedicated time-lapse artist, Peter Corina, helping create the video's expansive, dreamlike sense of time.

• The pyramid used in the video was supplied by Santa Monica Plastics, a detail that reflects the production's blend of practical props and post-apocalyptic world-building.

• Contemporary coverage compared the video's imagery to a collision of desert adventure films, masked horror, fantasy cinema, and post-apocalyptic science fiction.

• The song itself began during an improvised hotel-room session in Berlin between Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington. Their setup reportedly included a laptop, small speakers, a guitar, and a compact audio interface.