New Noise Magazine is pleased to be bringing forth the sonic explosion of “Job” by Richard James Simpson. The tune ranges from all experiments of sound. There are thick distorted guitars, ear shrilling screams, and winding cleans. The music video takes this embrace and focuses on the eyes, distorted and in a panic. Different images flash through and between the eyes, giving the viewer an intense shake of the core. Take a listen and view below, and find “Job” off of the record, Deep Dream.
“The theme focuses on towering apathy that plagues our current age. Profound indifference will inevitably usher in a new age of dehumanization of Biblical proportions. This era will precede the impending Singularity, in which man merges with machine. During the video, an individual can be seen watching footage of our troubled world and its troubled future. It is antithetical to a scene from the film Soylent Green, in which police analyst Solomon Roth seeks assisted suicide at a government clinic rather than face life in a dystopian, cannibalistic world. As he lay dying, he is permitted to watch, on an immense screen, dazzling images of Earth’s former splendor.
Meanwhile, in the video for ‘Job,’ which sums up and represents the whole theme of the album, the protagonist faces a contrary predicament to that of Roth’s – he wants as much life as possible and wishes to salvage humanity. In shock, he watches the horrors of the world unfold instead of its serenity. We can relate to the central character’s consternation. As children, we arrive in an already aggressive environment, peppered with doubts, nightmares and confusion. Then, as adults, we face a far more hostile world that aims to replace humans with artificial intelligence. Concurrently, a tyrannical guild propagates a villainous agenda which involves increasing hatred and poverty; pursuing endless war; radiating the oceans while contaminating our food and water supply; murdering whistle blowers; and, most nefariously, telling never-ending lies, in order to facilitate a deadly, Orwellian state. This is not a tall tale, this is our advancing reality, and like our protagonist, we must either choose to see all of this with eyes wide open, or permanently keep them shut. It’s ultimately up to us. Silence will be considered consent in this new world.”
Richard James Simpson is the brother of the late Rock Halsey from the infamous L.A. punk band Rock Bottom and The Spys (which included Ygarr Ygarrist of Zolar X); and son of actress Renate Huy. Former member of alternative band Teardrain, Simpson released his debut solo album Sweet Birds of Youth in 2017, getting excellent feedback on international music press.
