Oakland experimental project ds|feco explores the ideology of would-be Jihadist recruit, brought on by recent events, on new track “Jihad du Jour”. David Fetcho, the man behind the project, recalls acts like Sparks, Swans, and Xiu Xiu in the unsettling, growing sound, with an injection of distortion around 01:30 and gradual building percussion adding to the ominous, haunting feel of the track. “What do you think you’ll feel when you pray before you kill?” his ghostly vocals ask during the track’s core.
On the approach and lyrics, Fetcho explains:
“In light of the recent spate of deadly attacks by lone wolf, “self-radicalized” extremists—Egypt, Sweden, London, Manchester, London again, Iran, etc., etc.—and all past attacks perpetrated by self-radicalized religious ideologues (the Orlando club attack being one of the worst), I started thinking about how to investigate and interrogate the psychic vulnerabilities of a would be jihadist recruit. As a response, I wrote and recorded this song.
At one level it is a song of rage against every sexually repressed, self-styled jihadist willing to kill and maim for a twisted ideology and in hope of a pleasure paradise of 72 virgins to rape at will. It expresses what all of us feel who are fed up with their perversion of religion. It is the only thing I’ve ever written, the tone of which I’d characterize as “vicious.” But this is in no way a derogation of Islam, nor its millions of devout followers. I can only hope that my expression of abhorrence toward violent extremism mirrors theirs.
Some might argue that any artistic response to international jihadism is like throwing feathers at dinosaurs. Maybe so. But it’s also the legitimate role of art to express our collective, pleading outrage toward those who’ve been infected by this ideology. It’s in that spirit that I’ve put out this song.
I want to thank Robert Vincs of Melbourne, Australia for taking time from his stunning work as a world-class saxophonist to do a beautiful mix on this song, and to Carl Saff for the great mastering work.”
