“Basically, we are outsourcing our brains to the cloud. The upside is that this frees a lot of gray matter for important pursuits like FarmVille and “Real Housewives.” But my inner worrywart wonders whether the new technologies overtaking us may be eroding characteristics that are essentially human: our ability to reflect, our pursuit of meaning, genuine empathy, a sense of community connected by something deeper than snark or political affinity.”
Dirty Three – “Lullabye For Christie”
Whatever You Love, You Are
Inevitably, whenever I run into a “what’s the saddest song in the world” discussion or article, my mind jumps immediately to “Lullabye For Christie.” Sure, there things like “Tears In Heaven”, Barber’s Adagio For Strings, much of A Silver Mt. Zion’s first album, and more recent stuff like The Antlers’ Hospice. But I always come back to this simple call and response, its inexorable, funereal procession and final unhinged shriek. Soundtrack to a burial at dawn.
Yearbook, 1943 – notice anything?
Roy Charles Brooking, The Capture of a French Ship (I like the water – very ripply)
Of all my seeking this is all my gain:
No agony of any mortal brain
Shall wrest the secret of the life of man;
The Search has taught me that the Search is vain.Yet sometimes on a sudden all seems clear—
Hush! hush! my soul, the Secret draweth near;
Make silence ready for the speech divine—
If Heaven should speak, and there be none to hear!Yea! sometimes on the instant all seems plain,
The simple sun could tell us, or the rain;
The world, caught dreaming with a look of heaven,
Seems on a sudden tip-toe to explain.Like to a maid who exquisitely turns
A promising face to him who, waiting, burns
In hell to hear her answer— so the world
Tricks all, and hints what no man ever learns.
The Rubáiyát
Etienne Cliquet, Flottille (2011) – exquisite “micro-origami” opening via capillary action.
(Source: https://player.vimeo.com/)
Now, if a Muse cannot run when she is unfetter’d, ‘tis a sign she has but little speed.
John Dryden (respecting blank verse)
Acquired: Audubon’s Birds Of America watercolors (New York Historical Society folio, 1966)
from this week
The American Analog Set – “Aaron & Maria”
Know By Heart
This whole album passes by in an instant, and not just because it isn’t particularly long. It’s just so pleasant, and so of a piece. Nothing but tight playing, sweet melodies, and soft singing – yet it isn’t twee, nor pretentious or cloying (though it is arguably innocuous). It’s just plain good.