Progressive Rock
Riverside mastermind Mariusz Duda returns with his fourth solo album, «AFR AI D», out 17 November through Kscope.
Mariusz Duda has always been fascinated by telling a story, an idea or a concept.
While on his previous album, «Lockdown Trilogy», Mariusz Duda wanted to capture a snapshot of life during the pandemic from the famous prog mastermind’s own perspective, this time he explores the concept of AI as a disruptor. His new solo record examines the growing commodification of AI, and specifically the way artificial intelligence is entering the mainstream.
Using the notion of ChatGPT and Midjourney, and the growing use of deepfakes as a springboard, «AFR AI D» explores these compelling, forward-looking ideas both musically and conceptually.
Introducing «AFR AI D» is the first single, «Embracing The Unknown»; the song is the longest composition on the album and a fitting ambassador for it. The shifting mood and musical pace are characteristic not just of the new album, but of all the music Mariusz Duda has released under his own name.
«I’m glad I can continue this journey into instrumental electronic music,» says Duda. «I love these evocative sounds. Contrary to what the album title suggests, I’m not afraid of new technologies. I think AI is just another tool that, over time, we’ll learn to use better, and that it will speed up work in many fields. Despite a slight subconscious fear of the unknown, I’m ready to embrace the future :)»
Watch: the first single.
The album opens with the ominous sounds of the aptly titled «Taming Nightmares», acting as the musical signal for this new dawn of machine learning. It’s followed by the interstellar settling of «Fake Me Deep, Murf» and, later, the TRON-like «Mid Journey To Freedom».
On the flip side of «Bots’ Party» we move into the emotional arpeggios of «I Love To Chat With You», which drops you straight into the mind of Theodore Twombly falling in love with an operating system. The album then closes with the cold, unfeeling introspection of «Embracing The Unknown».
In a world where truth is often camouflaged by deception, the electronic pulse of «AFR AI D» can never lie. Or can it?
German artist and illustrator Hajo Müller (Steven Wilson) once again lends his artwork, as the two have collaborated throughout Mariusz’s solo career. Mariusz also plays every instrument on the album except the guitar solos, performed by Mateusz Owczarek.
«AFR AI D» was recorded in May and June 2023 at Serakos Studio in Warsaw, engineered by Magda and Robert Srzedniccy and mastered by Robert Szydło.
«AFR AI D» tracklist: 1. Taming Nightmares [07:20] — 2. Good Morning Fearmongering [05:14] — 3. Fake Me Deep, Murf [04:48] — 4. Bots’ Party [05:00] — 5. I Love To Chat With You [03:43] — 6. Why So Serious, Cassandra? [04:56] — 7. Mid Journey To Freedom [03:08] — 8. Embracing The Unknown [08:00].