James Ferraro – “Far Side Virtual”

Having amassed a broad, inclusivc and ever-expanding oeuvre that has led him to be regarded as one of the true auteurs in today’s subterranean music channels, James Ferraro now presents “Far Side Virtual”, his debut album for Hippos In Tanks.

A genuinely bold evolution from his previous work in terms of fidelity, texture and sonic scope, “Far Side Virtual” finds Ferraro painting a 21st century still life, and producing an essential piece for the modern global audience. A pristine soundworld far removed from his seminal work as part of Californian noise duo The Skaters, and even the late night B-movie worship to MTV simulacra he has been exploring of late under his own name.

“Far Side Virtual” takes us on a dance through some enigmatic modern metropolis, through the spaces of our consumerism , down a street that could be your 5th Avenue or your Regent Street or your Shibuya Square, to some anonymous globalized space in a common augmented Utopia. A cellular kingdom of fusion and virtual couture, a candy land of Utopias within a Utopia. iLand.

What we find here is a work of pure modernism. a new index of futurism that abandons paranoia and anxiety for new thoughts on the dynamics between technology and humans, introducing us to a world of iPads and Augmented Humanity. A gesture towards a world gracefully empty of humans but filled with pure impressionistic beauty experienced through newly acquired appendages of the digital nature.

With its swirly sound of new pop like concoctions and its zoo of modern chamber-like motifs, “Far Side Virtual” becomes a score to the saturation and decadence that has swept the face of post 2000 a.d. earth life.

Imagine modern French chamber music remixed by iPod commercials and Macbook sound effects: minimized and deconstructed into chat function sound clips, an email alert blip, a ring tone or Apple Store automated door bells.

“Far Side Virtual” is simply a symphony for our new click-of-a-button mode of consumption. A restrained type of minimal pop that spins full blast on Carrie Bradshaw's iPod. A must have on the MP3 player for those globalized citizens active in the world today.

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