Re: [microsound] enjoyed in 2007

["David @ Audiobulb" <dwnewman@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Kim

Just reading through your post. Can you expand on the problems you see 
inherent in the idea of field recordings as "sonic postcards"?

I'm interested.....


David Newman
Audiobulb Records

http://www.audiobulb.com
http://www.audiobulb.com/ab-shop.htm
http://www.myspace.com/audiobulb

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kim Cascone" <kim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "microsound_list" <microsound@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2008 12:00 AM
Subject: [microsound] enjoyed in 2007


I hate 'best of...' lists
they tend to promote cronyism and are more a badge of hipness and
most sadly lack any muscle-tone gained through intellectual push-ups
that being said I am always asked to write one of these damn things
every new year

but rather than framing it as 'my favorite CD's' or 'the best of 2007!'
I prefer to call this list: 'things I enjoyed last year'

in that spirit
here are some things that I enjoyed last year:

*disclaimer: this list is in no way complete or rigorous – it's the
plucking of low hanging fruit due to a fogged memory cultivated by
traveling, time-zone changes and jet-lag

enjoyed in 2007
===============

music:
Deathspell Omega - 'Fas - Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum'
– a potent blend of math metal, industrial ambience and demonic
vocals. Dark, swirling yet intelligent.

V/A - Spectral Music CDR compilation
– some of these are extremely difficult to find on CD so I was
ecstatic when presented with this collection by a student of mine.

V/A - 'Far Afield'  -
[free from webbedhandrecords.com]
– an intriguing range of approaches to field recording with
thankfully very few of the 'sonic postcard/puzzle pieces' which
comprises most field recording these days.


books:
A Frolic of His Own - William Gaddis
– a hysterical send-up of the legal profession in the USA...the
dialog snap, crackle, pops off the page with the machine gun delivery
of a 1940's Hepburn vehicle.

Remainder - Tom McCarthy
– the second time the hairs on my neck stood on end while reading a
book...I can't wait to read his new work.

Sonic Experience - Augoyard & Torgue
– while a poor English translation, the book manages to extend and
remix Pierre Schaeffer's work very nicely.


film:
Inland Empire - David Lynch
– you either get it or you don't - but this is the first film Lynch
has made where (it seems) he's retained complete creative control;
getting his vision onto hard drive without compromise and without
becoming a caricature of himself.

Werckmeisiter Harmonies - Bela Tarr
– since I learned of his work in Budapest he has become one of my all-
time favorite filmmakers.

No Country for Old Men - Coen Bros
– I came to Cormac McCarthy's work rather reluctantly due to my
yawning boredom of all things cowboy -- but saying his books are
western's is like saying the HBO series 'Deadwood' is a western.
McCarthy's work is dark, austere and very fucked up. Check out his
book 'Blood Meridian' to see what I mean. This film by the Coen's
captures McCarthy's hard-boiled cowboy-noir style very nicely.

The Science of Sleep - Michel Gondry
– a charming film which extends the notion of filmmaking as a conduit
of our dream life.

Bug - William Friedkin
– Friedkin, best known for being a 70's Hollywood director of
Exorcist fame, has opted to make smaller budget and more unsettling
films like this one. I hope this is a trend more directors pick up
on. 'Bug' is a squirmy, slow, uncomfortable descent into madness.



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