Opening Jim James’ first solo album Regions of Light and Sound of God with soulfully dynamic space-funk, “State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.)” illustrates that technology blurs mankind’s relationship to reality as touchstones from old-school R&B or island folk or hip-hop flicker into focus and then disappear throughout the track.
Many elements are just as transient in the songs’ new video where a mysterious, technological stranger with a TV for a head wanders The City and interacts with its inhabitants.
The video came to fruition via video project site Genero.tv, a platform for up-and-coming filmmakers. Staci DeGagne, Alexander Fletcher and Joe Barham of San Francisco-based Production Company Clean White Lines created the video.
A remix contest for the song also recently selected a winner, for which the prize was an inclusion on a just-released remix EP titled A.E.I.O.U.R.E.M.I.X.E.S. that features contributions from The Decemberists’ Chris Funk and Thom Green of Alt-J. You can listen to it via Spotify HERE.
