Now 28, he has spent more than a decade at dance music's cutting edge. A rough diamond in the Warp label's glittering crown, Jackson made serious waves when he released his debut album, 'Smash', in 2005 and toured the world with his first live show. Described by its composer as "a style orgy, a psychedelic celebration of conflict", 'Smash' soon became a word-of-mouth classic. Its follow-up is shaping up handsomely, too. Many know Jackson as the producer behind 'Utopia', the shimmering six-minute après-rave odyssey that was used to great effect in an O2 commercial in the UK.
Jackson is also in great demand as a DJ. His rugged, romantic approach to crowd-pleasing guarantees surprises. A techno tease and a new-wave futurist, anything goes in Jackson's sets – and frequently does. As a remixer, Jackson receives many requests from acts keen to hear his unique take on their sound. Most recently, Justice personally asked Jackson for a remix. He delivered the astonishing 'Do The JAHCB', a 12-minute megamix of Justice's debut album which set the blogs ablaze and rather flattered his Parisian playmates. A few years earlier, Jackson's breathtaking rework of M83's 'Run Into Flowers', later the stand-out tune on Michael Mayer's 'Fabric 13' DJ mix, introduced him to a whole new audience. Jackson has also remixed Femi Kuti, Air, Vanessa Paradis, Freeform Five and Jean Jacques Perrey & Luke Vibert's Moog Acid project.
His restlessly inventive style of Dada disco has been cited as an influence by the likes of Justice, Simian Mobile Disco and Sebastian. But Jackson's music is constantly evolving. By the time others have caught up with him, he's way ahead, designing the future somewhere else entirely.
Jackson began making music aged 15, intrigued by the musicians and equipment surrounding his mother, Paula Moore, a folk and blues singer. After his acid house debut on Pumpking records in 1996, Sound Of Barclay released the 'Sense Juice' and 'Gourmet' EPs under the name Jackson & His Computer Band. Even then, these thumping filtered house cuts sounded weirdly different to the prevailing "French Touch" style of Daft Punk and Cassius, leading to articles in NME, I-D, Jockey Slut and the like.
Warp picked up on these early records, released on French imprint Sound Of Barclay. Instantly recognising Jackson as a genuine innovator with his own distinctive sound and personality – rare qualities in modern electronics – they signed him.
Since then, Jackson has been declared "the great hope of dance music" by The Wire magazine and has dazzed ravers in Tokyo, Montreal, New York and across Europe with his extraordinary freestyle show. In his hands, the future sounds deliciously unpredictable, which is just the way it should be.
Praise for 'Smash':
"'Smash' explodes like a symphony for the devil" DJ
"Tremendous debut from French magpie electronicist" The Observer
"A beautiful, soulful, fucked up masterpiece" Vice
Vista
Jackson and His Computer Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walking through the silence
Listening to the walls of
Walking through the silence
I have been in love
In love beyond the...
Listening to the walls out
Listening to the walls out
Walking through the storm
I have been in love
In love beyond the...
Listening to the walls out
Walking through the storm
Listening to the walls out
Walking through the storm
The lyrics to "Vista" by Jackson and His Computer Band are introspective and poetic. The first lines, "Listening to the walls of / Walking through the silence," suggest a sense of isolation and contemplation. The repetition of "Listening to the walls" represents a search for meaning and connection within oneself, as if the emptiness of the walls is a metaphor for the emptiness within. The second verse, "I have been in love / In love beyond the...," could be interpreted as a reference to a past relationship or a past version of oneself that they are trying to reconnect with. The storm mentioned in the chorus may represent a struggle or obstacle, and the act of walking through it could represent perseverance or overcoming.
Overall, the lyrics of "Vista" seem to explore themes of isolation, self-discovery, and perseverance in the face of hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
Listening to the walls of
Focusing on the sounds that are resonating from the walls around me
Walking through the silence
Moving through a space surrounded by no audible sound or noise
I have been in love
I have experienced deep and emotional connections with others before
In love beyond the...
Emotionally invested in someone or something beyond what can be quantified or explained
Walking through the storm
Moving through a difficult period or situation that is causing stress, strife or danger
Listening to the walls out
Attentive to the noises or vibrations that are being produced on the outside of the walls in my surroundings
Contributed by Matthew R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@SimondeRoubaix
It mixes different genres, it's unclassifiable.
@Sektion9
This track alone justifies my pre-order.
@eliascelldoor
It took him years but he is doing it again.
@nicolepertusati3393
RESPECT Jackson And His Computerband & Warp Records. Amitiés. NiVek-K 🎹🎹🎹
@spacejockey666
Jackson = FUTURE
@BaxterD
Agree, this song is so clean. Great piece. The more interesting electronic music the better, reminds me of old school Warp days.
@worldwearyposer
never have i seen such a perfect mix of a track and album cover.
@BassNoizeElectronica
The IDM music is not for your body dance, its for your brain dance ;)
@castel_komodo
The term IDM music is totally pretentious.
@namesshmames
whats in a name?