Trans, this is a prefix (and sometimes a word on its own) that I like to talk about. This website is of course, The Age of Transitions. I chose this title for a reason, and that is to point out the implication of this term. The following is a brief excerpt from my book Revolve, in which I explain trans,
"Transmutation is a powerful word. Transhumanism shares the same prefix, trans, which implies movement. Going from one state to another is inherent in all words containing this prefix. Transport, transition, and transcend are all examples of this. Movement from one point to another or a panorama of some type is inherent in words with the trans prefix. To transmute is to transform, to change from one chemical state to the next. The metaphorical chemistry of alchemy can be used to symbolize a great many things. The transmutation of the mind itself enables intelligent transformation of the physical world. There is a reason as to why the term transhumanism was adopted by people who want to see a transformation of the human race through the use of technology. The three-fold transformation proposed by transhumanists is this: 1. Human; 2. Transhuman; 3. Posthuman."
Transitions are changes, and all things trans are about change. This simple understanding takes us a long way toward explaining just what was going through Neil Young's head in 1982. This was when he released his album, Trans. Some folks thought that he was slacking, and he even got sued by his label Geffen as they alleged he deliberately made an album that his fans would not want to buy. Whatever the intricacies of Young's motivations, one thing is clear, and that is that Trans is an incredible piece of conceptual art.
The cover clearly depicts the collective transition of humanity from old to new. A man is walking out of the woods who appears to be looking for a ride from a 1950's classic car. The old car is driving into the sunset, which is symbolic of death/finality. As the old dies, the new comes forward. A futuristic car shines its headlights our way, and we see another man standing on the sidewalk. This man and his counterpart are actually one in the same. They both represent the collective Man, and his death and rebirth that occurs in time. In our day we can see that changes are happening quicker than ever before. It doesn't take long for the world to change dramatically. This is the implication of The Age of Transitions, as well as that of the album Trans.
The first song entitled Little Thing Called Love is incredibly trite and hackneyed to the point that one seriously has to consider the possibility that Young was playing a big joke on Geffen and his audience. One thing is for sure, Neil Young knows how to write good songs, and a song so blatantly formulaic has to make you wonder. What we see in this track is the presentation of a formula. Little Thing Called Love represents every rock/pop love song that you have ever heard in your life. It is also incredibly silly and disposable, and here we can see the real message. Trans is symbolizing the death/dissolution/abandonment of everything old in favor of new high tech replacements. This is exactly what the transhumanist movement is all about, and it seems clear that Neil Young saw it coming in 1982. He goes on to detail the disturbing aspects of a digital age.
The second track is Computer Age. This is when Neil breaks out the vocoder to begin singing as a robot. This effect is used ad nauseum in today's popular music. This is appropriate, as the real Computer Age is now in full swing. "Day by day the horizon's getting clearer," this line points to the writing on the wall. Confronted with the power of computers and digitization, the average person instinctively feels the pressure of what is soon to come.
We R In Control is a song about the sort of totalitarian government that could be enabled by high technology. The singing machine details its many automated systems such as traffic lights. It also tells us that it controls think tanks, and the FBI. In addition to this, the voice seems to be mentioning CCTV, although this is hard to tell. Many online lyric sheets say that it is actually CCTB, but who knows if they are accurate. Either way, CCTV makes a lot of sense. This song represents the logical declaration of power by the Machine as it legitimates its control over society.
In Transformer Man we begin to see the transhuman merge of man and machine. In a digital world, the organic human can't avoid being seduced by his own synthetic creations. As Little Thing Called Love was the quintessential love song of the old age Transformer Man presents a new love song for the new age. It is a song about the love between Man and his own creation. Man and machine serenade each other, and in the process they create a whole new kind of child. The act of using a remote control, pushing a button to achieve instant gratification and a sense of increased power is what seduces the organic man. We can see that the machine is playing the role of the female here, and this is very appropriate. All material creations from the hand of man have always been labeled female. This is an ancient symbolic motif. The material world or Mater, is the mother. Mater, matter, maternity. In the esoteric Mystery School it is believed that the role of Man is to lord over the material, the feminine principle itself, and make his spiritual will manifest through her. Through the power of his mind he reshapes mater until she takes on an all new form. Eventually this completely changes the sacred act of creation itself. This is actually about destroying the organic female in favor of a completely synthetic "perfected" creation.
"Transformer man, transformer man Unlock the secrets Let us throw off the chains that Hold you down."
Unlocking secrets, this sounds familiar. Bill Clinton mentioned this in his Y2K New Year's Eve speech. The secrets of Life itself, of creation, these are to be unlocked by Man so that he may fulfill the mystic goal of becoming. That is to say, becoming god. This is the occult goal that influences so many of the seemingly senseless acts of destruction that we see in our world today. They are all part of destroying the old system in favor of an all new upgraded version. Was Neil Young referencing this in his Trans album? I think so.
Side A of Trans presents us with the very disturbing possibilities of the Computer Age. Side B is the human response to these spiritual dangers. It starts out with the track Hold On to Your Love. This is what must be done to insure that the human being is not completely transformed into something terrible.
"Said the condor to the praying mantis We're gonna lose this place just like we lost Atlantis Brother we got to go sooner than you know The Gypsy told my fortune, she said that nothin' showed.
Who put the bomb on the sacred altar Why should we die if it comes our way Why should we care about a little button Being pushed by someone we don't even know?"
The entire natural world could be destroyed simply by pressing a button. Such a terrible deed could be done with great ease by a single person who is hidden away from the sight of the world's population. This is the reality of technological power. It is incredibly volatile. On this same point the legend of Atlantis is referenced. The implication of this myth is that high technology leads to destruction, and that wise individuals know this. This is why they "build such beautiful buildings to house the chosen few."
There is so much more to say about this album, but for now let us leave it at this. I think the best way to end this article is to have you, the reader, listen to Like an Inca yourself.
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