Ava Rabiat — Szał Wirtualnych Cia

Exploring the relationship between humans and machines, Polish/German artist Ava Rabiat's second album, Szał Wirtualnych Ciał (Frenzy of Virtual Bodies), utilises organic sources mixed with computer-generated and other synthetic-based elements to expound upon our interwoven existence. Ava's breadth of work in many artistic fields gives her album myriad points of reference and pathways to present her message, lifting it above a standard sound art piece into an auditory expedition into the hybridization of mankind. This duality turned singularity is well represented on Szał Wirtualnych Ciał, and the listener may have trouble differentiating which parts they're more connected with.

Haunting and crisp, Szał Wirtualnych Ciał plays like an interesting duet, spoken word and hushed singing over varied but restrained electronics, the two parts at play clearly evident. From the first track, "Akt Numer Dwa," this fusion of sounds feels very natural, giving a futuristic, cyberpunk feeling, the hybridization of man and machine. Years ago, this would have felt very alien, but with our daily move forward and further cohabitation with computers and machines, Szał Wirtualnych Ciał feels very natural. After all, the machines are made and programmed by man, so their output should be familiar, just different, almost like "uncanny valley." Ava's vocal delivery, too, is spot on, timed in such a way that is almost robotic and wouldn't surprise anyone if it turned out to be computer-generated. This becomes the main focus on "Data Ważności," with the vocals slowly degrading digitally, going from human to machine. The subtle but effective synth and audio processing layers are interesting but in a very workaday way, like a machine going through its flops, detailed but still grey, white, and black, with Ava's vocals spoken to the listener like a journal. Szał Wirtualnych Ciał feels like listening to a woman succumb to her hybridization with the machine, whether real or imagined, adding depth and horror to this kafkaesque transformation.

Szał Wirtualnych Ciał examines a very intriguing subject that is as timely as it is fascinating. We are moving toward man/machine integration faster than one would have expected, whether through cybernetic implants, AI assistants and chatbots, and people with their faces shoved into their devices like Videodrome. While it may have always been inevitable, its speed is alarming, which should cause us to take a step back and reexamine our current trajectory. Ava Rabiat's work here is played like a personal experience, shared with the listener as a warning, and done with care and grace to evoke emotion as well as enjoyment.