Richardine Bartee
If you are a Björk fan or have an appreciation for music that sounds like hers, you’re going to get a kick out of this new Merely record featuring jj, a Swedish duo who contribute guitar and vocals. From her forthcoming sophomore album titled “Yang,” the production is similar to what you’d hear in a virtual reality setting like a video game or a sci-fi movie. Stream the record below and watch the “Uncanny Valley” via this link.
Merely on Uncanny Valley:
Roboticist Masahiro Mori states that when robots approach human behavior and appearance the general response is positive in an ascending scale until a point just before the robot looks completely human. At that moment, the scale makes a deep dive into a valley where many experience a feeling of disgust and discomfort. What happens if you get lost in this valley? That’s what happened to me.
Everything seems so fake. It’s almost not noticeable at times, but deep down inside, it feels wrong. In the mirror a strange creature looks back at you. You should trust yourself, trust your instincts. Then everything will be fine because you are honest. But what if your instinct tells you everything is made up? Shouldn’t you trust yourself then? Humans look like shadows, everything so empty. It feels off somehow, like in a nightmare when details of faces and environments look weird. Strange sounds leave my mouth. The more I think about it, the deeper the valley seems. How do I leave this place?
Merely debuted in 2014 with the album Nirvana, like a lightning bolt from a clear blue sky with her angelic choirs and techno beats. But something has changed. If Nirvana was a pop album from the future, then her upcoming album is a letter from the post apocalypse. Kristina Florell wanders among ruins and tells us what she sees.
