“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.”
T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding”
“My New Year’s Eve Toast:
to all the devils, lusts, passions, greeds, envies,
loves, hates, strange desires, enemies ghostly and real,
the army of memories, with which I do battle
— may they never give me peace.”
Patricia Highsmith
(New Year’s Eve, 1947)
an #auto_post 5 seconds into the New Year!
I remember over a decade ago thinking holy sh+t! it’s almost 2001! We’re living in Kubrics future!! And now? 2011 is grinding to a hault, and there’s still no sign of that obelix… But I have to say 2011 has been a busy year, including a few life-long/personal/career highlights for me, but it was a tough year for a lot of people as some major parts of reality completely went to hell…
Its too easy to be cynical – I always remember a good friend & producer saying in passing once ‘cynicism is not a particularly attractive character trait’ and he is right – it is too easy to find fault, and while the happy clappers are equally annoying, it is important to acknowledge & savour the good with the bad, the bitter & the sweet… How else would we get to have a window into such profound monents as these? (Reuters best photos of 2011)
So FWIW here are a few references to what made 2011 memorable for me….
MUSICofSOUND Best Films of 2011
Pina by Wim Wenders
The best use of 3D so far, this film is a must see – in a cinema, in 3D… A definite contender for the Oscar for best foreign film and/or best documentary!
The Future by Miranda July
Full of pathos and wry comedic moments this would be one of the best American films I saw all year
Melancholia by Lars Von Trier
Despite the vastly contrasting (& at times jarring) visual style and the constant dense of dread this is beautifully complex work by an auteur worth going out of your way to experience.
Beginners by Mike Mills
Other than TrainSpotting I’ve never been much of a fan of Ewan McGregor but he is excellent as the lead in this film, even if he is upstaged more than a few times by the comic relief of a four legged scene stealer.
The Turin Horse by Bela Tarr
Bleak, glacial pacing & beautiful cinemaotgraphy are all the key reasons I love Tarrs films and while its sad that he is retiring from film making what an influential legacy he has left!
MUSICofSOUND Favourite Music of 2011
Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakmoto – Summvs
Apparat – The Devil’s Walk
BVDub – Tribes at the Temple of Silence
Funki Porcini – One Day
Ghost Poet – Peanut Butter Blues And Melancholy Jam
Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie XX – We’re New Here
Kolortown – Sound Is Coming
Little Dragon – Ritual Union
Mimicof – Rundskipper
Mt Kimbie – Carbonated
Nils Frahm – Felt
Olafur Arnalds – Living Room Songs
Radiohead – King of Limbs
SBKTRKT – SBKTRKT
The Black Dog – Liber Dogma
The Weeknd – House of Balloons
TV on the Radio – Nine Types of Light
And on a more sobering note spare a thought for those who lives ended in 2011…
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.”
Steve Jobs
As it is the holiday season its also very timely to think hard about safe travels – if you are driving any distances bear in mind you are surrounded by people in machines capable of killing you, all through no fault of your own… This article is very sobering and very worth a read before you head off on a road trip. Also related, I always remember one section of Burt Munros biography that I read before working on World’s Fastest Indian, where he explained how he never drove any long distances during holidays, because the roads were full of people who are not used to driving on the open road & are a danger, to themselves and to others…
Have a great holiday, but stay safe!!!
rheo: 5 horizons, beautiful work by RYOICHI KUROKAWA
> Listening to The James Koetting Ghana Field Recordings collection
> How to solve problems like Einstein
> Two great articles about ambiences aka atmos aka backgrounds – part one and part two
> Have you checked out the new sound library & instrument sample site: Echo Collective
Love their Forgotten Zither!
> Charlie Chaplin: “They are ruining the great beauty of silence”
> Interesting camera bags for stealth photography – makes me think about the field sound equivalent…
What do you buy the sound effects editor or sound designer who has almost everything? Well, one option is a HISSandaROAR Sound Library Gift Voucher – available in two forms:
Gift Voucher MAX> US$49 – BUY NOW
Can be exchanged for any one MAX HISSandaROAR Sound Library
Gift Voucher ULTRA US$99 – BUY NOW
Can be exchanged for any one ULTRA Library or two MAX Sound Libraries
Below is a blank prototype – a custom voucher will be emailed to you after purchase
I’ll avoid the puns, but the last new HISSandaROAR library for 2011 has been launched and is available now! I posted the promo video here yesterday so I wont repost it, and DesigningSound just posted a bit of an interview with a few good war stories so have a read there – thanks Miguel!
Ok I’m ready for a lie down – thank god/jah/buddha it is very soon the holidays!!
