The Lost Angeles-based experimental electronic music collective HEALTH has released a new song that may be of interest to readers of this blog. The band, known for their collaborations with a variety of other artists, is about to release their next LP DISCO4 :: PART I. The LP compiles several of the collaborations they’ve done over the last couple of years into a full-length release. “Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0” is the newest song from this release.
The band released an accompanying music video alongside the new song, which contains some interesting commentary to say the least.
As you can see, the subject matter of the song and video does not discuss the state of the world in some distant-future. Or even near-future for that matter. Despite the title being a riff on the upcoming game Cyberpunk 2077, it is clear that what they are discussing here is our present-day situation.
Throughout the video we see an abundant use of very realistic-looking facial-recognition technology that generates profiles on each person it scans. It’s eerily similar to that which has been in active use in various authoritarian countries, including the United States.
Throughout the video the user of this technology is being asked questions and given various options on how to proceed. This appears to show the spying process being gamified in some way, also something that has happened in real life.
Musically the song contains HEALTH’s signature sound and atmosphere. Their sound can range anywhere from moody, subdued anger to absolute enraged ferocity. But something about this song sounds a lot more melancholy to me than much of their other material. Considering the subject matter, it’s no wonder.
At the very least this further emphasizes that the cyberpunk genre is in an interesting place because reality has more or less caught up to it.
I’ve been a fan of HEALTH for years now. “Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0” is probably my favorite track thus far from them. DISCO 4 will be released on October 16th. But you can go ahead and pre-ordered it right now.
[via: YouTube]
