The new EP "INVASIVE" -- More songs by Jimmy -- OUT NOW!

[Jimmy]

 

 

OUT NOW!

 

I'm back at it again, making music. This time round I'm releasing an EP of five tracks, covering various themes around invasion, such as: the global pandemic, drone warfare, street violence, colonisation, and at its most morbid, death.

 

This one is more metal-oriented than my previous album "Desync", but there's still plenty of my usual electronic influences at play.

 

If you're subscribed to my Patreon you can get an EARLY LOOK at the WIP tracks for the album.

 

Hope you enjoy!

 

PURCHASE/STREAM "INVASIVE" EP

LISTEN TO "INVASIVE" EP ON SPOTIFY

 

LISTEN TO "WATCHERS FROM ABOVE" SINGLE ON SPOTIFY

LISTEN TO "VULTURES" SINGLE ON SPOTIFY

 

MUSIC & LYRICS by @Jimmy

PRODUCED by @Velvetic

TYPOGRAPHY by @KeaganDunn

COVER ART by @dashiefrickintyan

 

 

TRACKLIST:

 

1. Ungrateful

2. Vultures

3. Citylife

4. Watchers From Above

5. Remains to be Seen

6. Ungrateful (Instrumental)

7. Vultures (Instrumental)

8. Citylife (Instrumental)

9. Watchers From Above (Instrumental)

10. Remains to be Seen (Instrumental)

 

 

 

Quote

This song explores our intention to spread our genetic code to other planets and to populate, colonise and terraform other worlds among the stars. Lyrically, there are scattered reflections on the Fermi Paradox – the discrepancy between the statistical likelihood of life being sustainable on other worlds (given the universe's seemingly infinite size), and the complete absence of hard evidence that it exists at all.

 

One wonders what our first instinct will be upon contact with intelligent alien life. Will we be peaceful and seek to collaborate, or warlike and seek to conquer? Are we presently looking upon distant worlds with intent to coexist and negotiate? Or to invade as soon as the option presents itself?

 

Is there any hope for humankind within this generation – or the hundreds still to come – that we will summon the technological fortitude to finally take us into the deeper reaches of the universe, and, of greater importance, keep us sustained there? Will we ever find a world as perfectly suited for life as Earth?

 

For all the vastness of the universe and the statistically infinite possibilities for life it can afford, so far we've found nothing in the way of proof that life can exist outside of the realm of our pale blue dot. Even the observable universe as a whole offers little hope for us in its cold, dark expanse. Once conscious of just how much *nothing* is out there, it is hard to shake the feeling of being stranded and alone on this perfect sphere, which, if certain patterns of behaviour on our part persist, may not be for very long in the greater scheme.

 

Perhaps we can break free of this cosmic solitude one day, but when that day comes will be beholden to our march of forward progress as a species.

 

 

 

 

Quote

Combat drones represent one example (of many) of humankind's constant vying for technological advancement reaching a surreal nadir. We seem to wish that anything can, or should, be automated, ever dissatisfied with the mere idea of manual labour – even when we engage with our most primal tendency: war.

 

How far we’ve come as a species – from swords and spears to silencing our enemies with remote control, technology now saving us from even having to lift a finger, or to think twice about our most grotesque and depraved actions in war. These incredibly advanced machines are designed, and perfected, purely to kill.

 

It begs the question - how far are we willing to take these technophilic tendencies? How much of our daily routines and how many of our institutions will see complete and total automation in the decades to come?

 

How many of us will be left?

 

Edited May 27, 2023 by Jimmy

[Jimmy]

PURCHASE/STREAM "INVASIVE" EP

LISTEN TO "INVASIVE" EP ON SPOTIFY

 

OUT NOW!

 

Many thanks to @Velvetic for his stomping production/mixing, and @KeaganDunn for his unwavering assistance with the lyric and music videos.

 

And as a special treat, check out the video for "Ungrateful". This video was sprung on me as a surprise, and features the musical performances of @Dragonfly and @Tristan who play drums and bass, respectively. Of course I had to feature my own singing in the video as well, and the end result is (imho) very pleasing indeed. I really hope you all enjoy!

 

Thank you so much again, guys! Means a lot to me that you'd get involved with all these crazy new musical adventures of mine. :D

 

 

Quote

The COVID-19 pandemic – a tragically mismanaged three years of irreversible chaos and grief.

 

Those in authority did their level best to ignore the signs that prompt action and precautions should be taken. They came across to us as cold and uncaring, dampening their language and muddying the waters of information. Public guidances were misleading, mistimed, and miscommunicated. Lockdown periods were needlessly elongated. Governments favoured their image in the public eye over communicating the correct messages, and despite repeat consultation with the scientific community, still caved to those who believed there was no urgent need for preventative action.

 

As the virus raged on without much inhibition, the world changed, slowly but irrevocably. What little trust we had in those in charge was all but eroded. We, the workforce, the backbone of society, were largely left to suffer, and at worst, perish.

 

Now we stand, countless thousands of deaths later, in a world that can barely function. Businesses understaffed, families shattered, economies ruined. Governments have been revealed to have been thoroughly corrupt, woefully inefficient and deeply insincere throughout the pandemic period.

 

Even now that COVID-19 has largely diminished in prevalence, the earth-shaking after-effects are still deeply felt by many. Workers still today are suffering through their employers’ insistence on low pay and overwork, not to mention automatic layoffs as they apparently can no longer afford to pay their workers. After risking life and limb, the thanks we get for working the frontlines is minimal-to-non-existent, and we as a people appear to be more divided than ever – even without a global pandemic to contend with.

 

Edited May 27, 2023 by Jimmy

[Dragonfly]

1 hour ago, Jimmy said:

Thank you so much again, guys! Means a lot to me that you'd get involved with all these crazy new musical adventures of mine. :D

 

 

T'was an honor ol' buddy ol' pal; I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

 

Congrats on the release, was a blast tuning in to the listening party and look forward to seeing what else you put out there 🤘

[esselfortium]

Great EP, congrats on the release!

[TheShep]

i tried hyping this album up a bit yesterday on my stream as i played Joy of Mapping 6. Congrats on the release!

[KeaganDunn]

T'was so much fun to be a part of, and I'll do it all over again for whatever comes next!

 

Though topping the videos we made here will be a challenge. lol

[Jimmy]

Thanks for your comments so far, everyone!

 

Have two more videos that came out when the EP dropped - for the songs "Citylife" and "Remains to be Seen".

 

 

Quote

A story told from the perspective of a corrupt and aged politician, whose constituency is uprising against him. Witnessing destruction far outside the scope of his ability to contain, he stays obstinately confined in his ivory tower in a vain attempt to ignore the danger he is in.

 

Cities can be a haven for deep-seated corruption. High-rise structures provide a sense of self-righteousness for the wealthy and powerful. Palaces, churches, and military headquarters are built to house the elite and self-righteous, and potentially protect them from outside harm. Monuments are constructed as effigies of man's hubris – we flaunt our own sense of self-importance with the construction of enormous structures that often-underpaid workers spend huge amounts of energy and time erecting, with some even dying in the process.

 

However, recent times, along with the destruction of the Twin Towers, have shaken people's faith in these structures. Skyscrapers are now generally perceived as easy targets for domestic attacks, and government buildings are among to first to be stormed and razed by a disenchanted populace.

 

It’s unclear whether this character's intentions have been earnest all this time. Does he actually care about protecting and sustaining his people, or is he concerned only with the safety of himself? Either way, he seems unwilling to put forth a shred of effort in the right places, and this ultimately leads to his downfall.

 

 

Quote

An outpouring of intrusive thoughts of death; or, more specifically, the idea of leaving behind an actual legacy or some other lasting impact on the world, rather than remaining but a fleeting iota of life in this wrathful universe. This song also expresses frustration with the idea that despite one's best efforts throughout life, one might in fact only be recognised fully once death embraces.

 

Leaving a legacy takes insurmountable fortitude – it can be a deeply troubling dichotomy wanting to leave a significant mark on the world while also remaining insular and painfully shy of the world around you. While it's obviously natural to want to surround yourself with trusted friends and good company, it is expanding your network into unseen and uncertain territories that is the only way to get your name well and truly recognised, and this can be utterly paralysing for someone who isn't the social type.

 

I know that I'm *known*, at the very least. But there's a strong impetus to continue growing the small but faithful audience I have to the point where it might become overnumerous or even unmanageable – just in order to stay relevant. Much of the world these days, including the music industry and online culture, is built on a model of "endless growth" – a model known to be unsustainable. The challenge of trying to adhere to it just to stay afloat in the world can seem dauntingly impossible.

 

We spill our guts and bare our souls, just to risk being drowned out by the incessant noise produced by the inscrutable algorithms of social media – which, in a cruel twist of irony, are the one option provided to us that seems powerful enough to viably reach mass audiences at all.

 

While I'm eternally grateful for the love and faithfulness of the community that I have fostered over the last 15 years around my music, I realise I'm still residing in a pretty niche corner of the world at large. The point at which I decide to break through the ceiling I've built above me, for fear of exposure to the world beyond, remains to be seen.

 

[KeaganDunn]

I was given permission to post this here. On top of the music videos, I have charted the entire EP for Clone Hero - not just for one instrument, but four! Lead Guitar, Bass, Keys, and Drums. Download is in the description.

 

Of course, a big thanks to Jimmy for the support and making this whole thing exist. All of these songs are absolute bangers and work pretty well as Full Band.

 

FC when

 

 

[Jimmy]

I've uploaded five short commentary videos on the lyrical and inspirational background behind each of the five tracks on this record.

 

Hope you guys enjoy!

 

See full playlist of track commentaries