In so many ways 2008 was a very difficult and unstable year-as the concrete impact of 8 years of pure and unencumbered mismanagement of our government made itself evident and most peoples' lives started to wrestle with the strange reality that the future wasn't as certain as it had once been.
In my case, two things came dangling apart-first, the job I had taken the previous year became a Polanski nightmare with the unknown forces of globalization breaking through walls and rabid dogs chasing me down Eastern European streets as I try to find who is the right person to payoff to rescue the future; then, my solid mother of 91 healthy years fell ill and teetered near death in a South American clinic. Disorienting to say the least.
Fortunately there is art and music for us to rely on at times such as this. The strange comfort of laying back in your cramped airline seat, flying across some ocean, as you slip on the ear buds to your I-Pod and begin listening to the sweet sound of surprising new music downloaded just the week before. When it works it is golden-when it doesn't you just press on to the next set of sounds. Or in the hospital in Lima, by my mother's bedside listening to a Haydn Piano Sonata on her portable sound player that can take my I-Pod output and remembering 6 years ago when we listen to it in her apartment in Baltimore. Like thick and warm honey, music envelops you and then begins to seep memories (perhaps like a friendly virus) of both the past and possible futures making a refuge from the maze-like panic that illogical stress can bring about. Something to said about the portability of one's past in a small handful of sounds.
So in all this hubbub, I found the general music scene this year a bit too retro as critics and musicians went back to the past-for instance, though I appreciate the good sound of the Fleet Foxes-I couldn't help thinking about Crosby, Stills, and Nash and how their promise and surprising harmonies (back in the 60's) led to absolutely nowhere and actually became a tired cliche of less talented groups. And a lot of other music wallowed around in echoes of past sounds. There is no crime in this when it is well done. But then it is only a craft and not art-perhaps like a good steak. And unfortunately I'm looking for the higher sounds that persist through time-that memorable meal.
The sounds from this year that attracted my ears continue to be in that zone known as "surprise". That is my prejudice, but I wont make too many apologies since I use my music to keep me alive, strong and sometimes smart. In no special order, these are the best sounds that made an impact on me and that I've managed to assemble before the end of this at time frustrating -but in the end hopeful year as the change agent moves in:
Quiet Village-Silent Movie
Amina Figarova- Above the Clouds
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Thao Nguyen - We Brave Bee Stings and All
I would add the latest Elbow, the Portishead comeback and Takk from Sigur Ros as part of my 2008 soundtrack of life. As for Brazil always new things springing up from all places... But I would suggest Vitor Ramil and also stuff from Kassin, Moreno Veloso and Domenico. Lots of good new stuff from Lenine, Zeca Baleiro and Nacao Zumbi
Posted by: Carneiro | January 05, 2009 at 10:14 AM
The music is fast, and the dancers do a number of hip articulations to it.I would become disoriented by a jump to yet another stupid camera angle.
Posted by: adventure trips | September 17, 2009 at 03:00 AM
I would hinder the learning process because of this disorienting condition.
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