NASHVILLE Americana troubadour Aaron Lee Tasjan, who’s been far from idle this year with the release of two digital-only EPs, the two-volume Found Songs, has dropped one final, finely sculpted kiss-off to the year, “Computer Of Love” and accompanying intergalactic visuals – have a peek for yourself.
Aaron, who’s collaborated with everyone from Sean Lennon to Ian McLagan of The Small Faces and Blondie’s Clem Burke in recent years, will release the triply self-referential set Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan! on February 5th, and “Computer Of Love” is the first single, turning in on an early-Seventies’ solo Lennon riff, some fine acoustic guitar and a melodic warning about where our age of hyperconnectivity is getting us: “Got wires crossed, it bothers me,” he sings.
The video, featuring flying space cars and robots, gives a little cosmic fun to soften that malaise of existing as a projected avatar, a refashioned social media being.
Aaron says: “’Computer Of Love’ explores disconnection in the social media age; it’s a surf anthem and I’m talking internet.
“[It explores] the ways in which social media and our phones put an emotional barrier between all of us, the search for sex and love in the age of the internet and the way each generation trolls the other generations’ musical choices.
Exploring further, he adds: “Social media is rich with irony these days. Melania Trump created an anti-online bullying initiative as First Lady. When you consider her husband’s Twitter account, it seems like something doesn’t quite add up.
“Social media platforms make stars out of people who go out of their way to never consider themselves or the consequences of their actions and it’s been great to see them start to address that in some way; but they, of course, need to do more – and fast.”
Expect more fine retro-psych-Americana songcraft on Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan! lyrically exploring self-acceptance, sexuality and mental health.
Aaron Lee Tasjan’s Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!, will be released on digital download, CD, and trad black vinyl by New West Records on February 5th; you can pr-order your copy from his Bandcamp page now or from New West direct; glamorous wax fans should note a strictly limited four-colour splatter pressing will also be available exclusively through indie retailers.
Follow Aaron at his website, on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
