Slowing down with the Avant Garde
Against all logic, time seems to be simultaneiously standing still and moving at warp speed. Days and months fly by, yet with no events to structure the weeks and months, there is no sense of flying towards something. As an antidote to this displacement, I have found myself craving slow-metabolism music. I’ve recently had the chance to talk with Laurie Anderson, the incredible American avant-gardist and, in preparation for our conversations, I have spent significant time listening to her past discography. Though I’ve always known of her, I’ve had very little experience with her music to this point. Of course, I love it and of course, she is brilliant. Even the cadence of her speech invites you to slow down. Below is an example of her greatness.
Laurie shared with me a radio show that she has been making during quarentine. This episode features the poet Paul Muldoon. The show airs during the 4am slot on WESU 88.1FM. Check out other shows by clicking the link!
After connecting with Laurie’s music, I began revisiting other music that explores space and time. This is the kind of music that is less about transportive experiences and more about momentary pause. It reminds me of the sense of peace one feels sitting inside a beautiful architectural space.
