The most impressive thing here is the elegance of the idea, the simplistic but absolute creativity. One almost need not hear the actual music to appreciate its beauty. Yet, in hearing the recording, particularly a recording made by Lucier himself, the listener is treated to another surprise.
Before listening to the piece, I wondered what Lucier meant by “I regard this activity not so much as a demonstration of a physical fact, but more as a way to smooth out any irregularities my speech might have.” There is something of a clinical quality to almost any process music, as if the idea behind it is more important than what the idea actually produces. He handily escapes this when his intentions fold back in upon themselves, creating an additional lense through which to view the piece.
Lucier created the recording, he says, “to smooth out any irregularities my speech might have,” but it is those irregularities that lend such a human quality to the piece. Lucier suffers from a pronounced stutter, particularly on the “R” sounds, but he also pauses uncomfortably at other times. It must have been a source of embarrassment for him, although one has to wonder if he could have produced this masterpiece of vocal/aural suicide without it. In destroying (and thereby perfecting,) his stutter, Lucier may have been escaping into a sonic debris of his own making, but the listener is witness to a man’s desire to correct his personal flaws.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
Can't believe it took you so long to join with as much time and as much smarts spent in the comments.
Very nice first piece. A well-written article that I very likely might not have seen covered by anyone else, let alone find on my own, but don't you think it's rather obvious that the only reason you like it is because you agree with Lucier's politics?! Whoops, wrong thread. Sorry.
Keep them coming.
2 - zingzing
well thank you. i'll leave politics out of this column. if i can. ha. ha.
3 - Mark Saleski
woo, woo!!! awesome stuff. really!
wait, didn't i read somewhere that Lucier was no longer relevant? ;-)
seriously, i'm so glad you decided to do this.
4 - Christopher Rose
I'm delighted you finally bit the bullet and joined in zingzing and with such an interesting subject too. I hadn't heard this before but you have made me want to. Thanks for that!
5 - STM
Yeah, up you go zing ... good stuff
6 - zingzing
in case you hadn't noticed, there's links to a couple different versions of the piece inbedded in the article.
if anyone listens to it, tell me what you think. even if all you have to report is "sounds like masturbating with broken glass" or whatever.
7 - Mark Saleski
people should also take note that one of the links takes you over to ubu.com, a terrific source for loads and loads of musical, spoken word and other oddities.
thanks zingzing.
8 - zingzing
hey--shush!
that's where i get a lot of my goodies from... aww... this column is busted... thanks, mark... thanks...
actually, it is quite an amazing site. check out the dj food link for something special.
9 - Glen Boyd
Mr. Zing,
A damn nice first effort if I do say so myself sir. We need fresh new voices here, especially when they are smart and they can obviously write. So welcome to the monkey house Mr. Zing, your secret passwords and handshake should arrive ivia e-mail shortly.
-Glen
P.S. And don't look now, but I hear through the grapevine that a certain other rather bright lad is about to make the jump from commenter to critic. You all know him as Vern Halen, but I believe he will be writing under the moniker JC Mosquito. Between the two of you guys, I think the music section may have just got a bit better (or at least regained it's balance given a few rather curious recent entries).
Again, welcome to the cabal Mr. Zing.
10 - Tom Johnson
zingzing, thank you both for joining us and for offering this - this is fascinating listening! Looking forward to more from good stuff you, man!
11 - DJRadiohead
Zing, welcome to the land of the writers. You'll be hearing from my lawyers regarding your use of series title, but I am sure we can work something out amicably.
Seriously, it good to add your voice to the section. We need the voices of people who actually like music. Strange that we find ourselves in need of that, yet we do.
12 - zingzing
djr-ahh... you really have lawyers? (bring it on, rich man.)
actually, i rather handily parodied your opening as well... in case you didn't notice.
copying and pasting your latest opening into my next one. thank you.
(oh ho- i read your opening. naughty boy)
13 - Pico
Haha, I knew your threat to be vulgar was an empty one, you pus.
That was a damned fine debut, btw. I am in the company of even more greatness, now. Glad you're on board.
14 - zingzing
i forgot to be vulgar. well, i've got two i'm working on now, one that will be fairly serious, another that demands plenty of cursing.
15 - DJRadiohead
Yes, let the profanity flow in every fucking direction.
16 - Michael J. West
Well said sir! Well done sir! Came out quite nice, didn't it. I think you downplayed the importance of the recording device but what the Hell. I'll let it go.