Struggle is a natural part of the creative process for many artists. For Shikhee, the one-woman army behind industrial act Android Lust, struggle became downright essential to the production of the fourth Android Lust album, The Human Animal. Not by choice, of course: Nearly a decade after debuting as the first one-woman industrial act, the Bangladeshi-born New Yorker found herself burnt out from balancing a music career with what some might call “real life.”
The process of making 2006’s Devour, Rise and Take Flight ws “a very trying period,” says Shikhee. “I was coming home from my job around 9 or 10, and then mixing till 2 or 3, only to get back up and get to work at 9 again. I was barely sleeping and losing weight.” Problems with her record label compounded her frustration; the heavy touring season that followed, prolonged it.
When the album cycle finally wrapped, Shikhee returned home to face some familiar fears. “It’s always a bit scary. I start to doubt myself, reacquaint myself with my studio . . . and wonder if I can still do it,” she says. “It took until late 2007 to get back to writing.”
The Human Animal is undeniable proof that she can, indeed, still “do it.” After two albums on preeminent electronic-music label Projekt Records, Shikhee released Animal in August 2010 on her own Synthellec Music. In production for more than two years, this is the work of an artist reinvigorated by the creative process, adding a new set of colors to her signature sonic palette. “It just happened one day after we came back from our tour,” Shikhee recalls. “Songs just started flooding.”
The flood was triggered in part by Shikhee’s decision to work with her live band in the studio for the first time. “In the past I played all the guitars and some bass [in addition to electronic instruments], but now I had access to these really talented musicians and I wanted to bring that touch in the studio. So I wrote parts for them, parts that were beyond my playing ability.”
The mix of live instruments and processed sounds isn’t new for an Android Lust recording—2003’s breakthrough The Dividing featured live drums, string and wind instrument—but never have those sounds figured so prominently as they do on The Human Animal. The slippery undertones of “A New Heaven” are revealed to be an upright bass; pockets of classical guitar propel “Into the Sun”; the overdriven guitars on “Saint Over” surge forth with the spark of vintage Nine Inch Nails. It’s the most organic-sounding Android Lust record while losing none of the unrelenting sonic edge of prior releases.
It’s not just the live instrumentation that brings the album uncharacteristic warmth. Shikhee took to the streets of New York City with a portable recorder, collecting noises that would be used to form rhythms and ambiance throughout the record. The sounds of a screeching subway, a crowded restaurant, geese, pigeons, and a Barnes & Noble escalator all found their way into the mix.
And Shikhee has never sounded better, her whisper-to-a-scream vocals on a par with Polly Jean Harvey (“It’s On You”) and Ruby’s Leslie Rankine (“God in the Hole”).
For an artist whose overarching aesthetic has sought to blur the line between human and machine, Shikhee here sets her sights on the battle between the physical and the spiritual. Much of The Human Animal is about tapping into the deeper well of universal energy within to find true meaning, freeing oneself (the human) from the imprisonment of ego (the animal). “A New Heaven” sums up the central query: “Are we the ones we are seeking under this sun?”
But despite the sometimes reflective tone this is not music for meditation. The Human Animal’s 10 songs, plus a Jerome Dillon remix of “God in the Hole” to close the disc, pulse and pound, posing both an invitation and a challenge to the listener. Welcome to the age of enlightenment for Android Lust.
- by John Brodeur
Heathen
Android Lust Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stored in abundance
Such a waste
I have had visions of bodies split open
Exposing the thread of their secretive nature
Increasing demands of the ones that surround me
Have weakened me further beyond recognition
Mind as mist body crumbles to touch
Carelessly passing through pieces of future
Stored in abundance
What a waste
I have opened myself to this notion
Absorbing the filth of all that fall in my way
Carelessly passing through maze this dementia
Has built around a thousand thoughts
Of the one who seduced to reveal my intentions
The one who has weakened me broken me down
The lyrics of Android Lust's "Heathen" tell a story of a person who is navigating through life in a careless manner. They seem to have no regard for the potential outcomes of their actions, as they effortlessly pass through pieces of the future that have been stored for them. The opening line suggests a sense of abundance, yet it is a waste. This alludes to the idea that this person may be taking their opportunities for granted.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become darker and more ominous. The singer reveals that they have had visions of bodies being split open and exposing their secretive nature. This implies that the person has some sort of psychic gift, or perhaps sees beyond the surface of those around them. However, this knowledge seems to burden the person as they are then faced with increasing demands from those around them. Though noted for their strength and kindness of heart, they are weakened beyond recognition. Their mind crumbles to the touch, indicating that they are succumbing to the pressure around them.
The chorus repeats the opening lines, emphasizing the idea of carelessly passing through the future stored in abundance. The second verse delves deeper into the burden the person carries, revealing that they have absorbed the filth of all that falls in their way. They feel trapped in a maze of dementia, and have been broken down by someone who seduced them into revealing their intentions.
Overall, the lyrics of "Heathen" present a complex picture of a person who is struggling to navigate through life. They seem to have a lot of potential, but are weighed down by their own psychic abilities as well as the expectations of those around them. The song is a powerful exploration of the human psyche and the ways in which we can become our own worst enemies.
Line by Line Meaning
Carelessly passing through pieces of future
Moving thoughtlessly through potential outcomes and events to come
Stored in abundance
There are many possible futures available
Such a waste
Not taking advantage of all the opportunities available is a shame
I have had visions of bodies split open
I have seen people's true selves exposed
Exposing the thread of their secretive nature
Revealing the underlying motivations and secrets of others
Increasing demands of the ones that surround me
The people around me are asking more of me
Noted for strength and kindness of heart
Known for being strong and compassionate
Have weakened me further beyond recognition
These demands have drained me so much that I can't recognize myself anymore
Mind as mist body crumbles to touch
My mind feels disconnected from my body, and I feel fragile
I have opened myself to this notion
I have accepted the idea
Absorbing the filth of all that fall in my way
Taking on the negative energy of those who cross my path
Carelessly passing through maze this dementia
Navigating through confusion and mental deterioration in a careless manner
Has built around a thousand thoughts
My mind is full of overwhelming and confusing thoughts
Of the one who seduced to reveal my intentions
The person who lured me into revealing my true thoughts and feelings
The one who has weakened me broken me down
This person has caused me harm and left me vulnerable
Contributed by Emma J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Eesha
I remember listening to this way back when... I think it was a demo on a compilation CD to get bands noticed.
Tamara Clifton
I LOVE the industrial sound on this song!
Solomon Kane
I want more of this
jā carter
Best fuggin track...
this sick shit taught me how to Dance
gods their synth lines make a slave of me...
Mcelyea Eileen
OMG! This is awesome!
Draco Meteors
Bad movie
Great Gore
But most important brought me to some Real Music.
Sweatshop now definitly has some place in my heart and collection.
120b0t
I feal like the inquisition is going to break down my door at any moment :)
Catastrophucked
If you look at the image for long enough, it looks like it's moving.
cheyennedogsoldiers
Incredible...
Rhys Frasier
awesome shit really