We’ve spent decades building robots to replace the parts of existence we think are inconvenient or unfulfilling, but if history should have taught us anything, it’s that the things we humans think are replaceable are in fact invaluable. We’ve fucked with the earth and found out that it results in natural disasters. We fucked with brains and icepicks and found out it causes brain damage (duh). We’re fucking with AI art and music and writing, and we’re gonna find out how much lamer those things get because of it. What future are we striving for, one where we’ve completely lost sight of the beauty of putting effort into our survival and expression? Where we hand over thought to the droids?
Maybe I’m catastrophizing, but this is my brain on STAHV‘s new record Sentiens Eklektikos. It’s part Bowie and part Star Wars, and it’s wrapping me up in cosmic synths and pulsing beats and indie riffs and electronic fuzz. STAHV asked, “What would happen if an android dropped acid?” and if they did, they’d get a glimpse of what it’s like to be human, and maybe the future wouldn’t be so grim after all… actually, the more I listen to this album, the more optimistic I feel. Sentiens Eklektikos is out today via AKO-Lite Records — get it here — and right now you can listen to it in full here. STAHV as live dates in the PNW coming up, check those out below…
My father worked in AI Robotics for Stanford Research Institute in the ’80s. I remember visiting him at work one day and seeing a robot named Flakey wandering around offering people bagels. It had a synthesized voice and emphasized words in a very charming way—it couldn’t quite pronounce the ‘g’ in bagel.
– STAHV
11.23.24 w/ David Phantom (Evelyn’s Casket) at The Church (Tacoma)
12.7.24 w/ Xeno & Oaklander The Cobalt (Vancouver, BC)
12.7.24 w/ Venetian Veil The Charleston (Bremerton)
