search for something...

search for something you might like...

The True Sound of Silence

The True Sound of Silence

by Alex V. Cook, Music Editor
first published: March, 2005
Empty, indeed! It is filled with idealogical frontierism

approximate reading time: minutes

Swedish Mailer
(unknown)

In this age where music has often been reduced to empty, form-filled floss only serving to bolster a phalanx of marketing agents, interested in none but your dollar. a recent release I received was a welcome shot of wind in my critical sails. John Cage made his name off his famous piece 4'33', where the piantst sits at a piano for that duration and does nothing, allowing instead the sounds of the world to enter instead of more concert music the world does not need. Noble gesture to be sure, but these unnamed Swedish coneptaulists have finished the job he left half-done. This release consists of NO CD, NO tape, NO nothing, appraently done by NOBODY, released by NO COMPANY. The Scandinavians were ardent adopters of the Fluxus movement, but this act blows away and George Macuinas-sanctioned escapade of hukster nihilism.

The whole (or should I say 'hole') of the release was an empty mailer hanging open in my mailbox, wih a yellow sticker saying "Recieved Without Contents" applied by the post office. Neanderthals! Can't they even try to understand that they were witness and unwitting participant in a great step forward in music! Empty, indeed! It is filled with idealogical frontierism.

The Swedish compatriots nary put a name on the envelope, just a standard sticker saying:

If undeliverable return to
PO BOX 2097
Se-202 26 Malmo
SWEDEN

If you are behind this triumphant act and reading this, please contact me at the address to which you posted it. I'd love to hear what else you have to (not) say.

Alex V. Cook
Music Editor

Alex V. Cook listens to everything and writes about most of it. His latest book, the snappily titled Louisiana Saturday Night: Looking for a Good Time in South Louisiana's Juke Joints, Honky-Tonks, and Dance Halls is an odyssey from the backwoods bars and small-town dives to the swampside dance halls and converted clapboard barns of a Louisiana Saturday Night. Don't leave Heathrow without it. His first book Darkness Racket and Twang is available from SideCartel. The full effect can be had at alex v cook.com
about Alex V. Cook »»

Studio 67 banner
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6th at Cork's in Bearwood
FREE TICKETS for OUTSIDELEFT'S STUDIO 67
featuring a live performance form the totally brilliant MILLICENT CHAPANDA
DJ sets from WOODENHAND playing funk, soul, jazz and disco grooves and PREHISTORIC MAN

More information and Free tickets here»»

RECENT STORIES

RANDOM READS

All About and Contributors

HELP OUTSIDELEFT

Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]

WRITE FOR OUTSIDELEFT

If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]

OUTSIDELEFT UNIVERSE

Outsideleft Studio 67 with Millicent Chapanda
OUTSIDELEFT Night Out
weekend

outsideleft content is not for everyone