RE: [microsound] AC and other sounds

[Philip Sherburne <philip@xxxxxxx>]

>sounds and frequencies that people don't normally pay attention too, or
>have learned to tune out.

a few days ago, i found myself in a taxi at 5 a.m., being carted off to the
oakland airport.  as we passed over the elevated freeways, the tires made
the oddest sound on the grooved pavement below -- there were short, stabbing
attacks of sound, at a high-enough frequency that they actually resembled
*notes*.  there was the impression that there was some sort of music being
made beneath the chassis of the cab; something like listening to a tape
played backwards, perhaps, so that the structure is discernable, but all
twisted up, unrecognizable, nonsensical.  these short, sawing phrases spat
and gabbed beneath us, warbling the oddest of melodies, totally off-key and
yet *almost* a form to be understood.

(i wished that i could have traced that route again and recorded it, for
sampling and manipulation, but i'm pretty sure it's an unrepeatable
experience.)

here, at the end of the century, we're finally learning to listen to the
singing of our machines.

p.