From Premonition (Giant Empty Iron Vessel) by David Sylvian and Holger Czukay

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A documentary by Peter Greenway about the music of Meredith Monk. What better combination?

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Facing North - Meredith Monk

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If I didn’t have you by Tim Minchin.

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One of the benefits of living in Norway: Arvo Pärt concerts.

A fellow 23rd of January birthday kid. 100 years since his birth today.

Stereolab playlist.

I enjoyed listening to CDs with NASA recordings of “sound” from space several years ago, and was just now reminded of it.

There are many snippets on YouTube.

Our culture - whether it is pop or fine culture or any other subculture - is abundant with our universal beliefs.

It is a great place to find stories to inquire into, because I have them too. It is all a mirror for myself.

In this case, I can find where I too believe that they don’t really care about us/me, inquire into it, and find what is more honest for me.

I can still appreciate the conventional view and find the validity and value in it. For instance, I can recognize how the majority or those in power directly or indirectly mistreat minorities and those less powerful. I can even find where I am doing the same in my daily life, and how I participate in these dynamics in our local and global society.

The difference is that when I am still caught up in this belief, I tend to come from reactivity, blame, a rigid view, and often a victim role. And when there is more clarity for me around it, when I find what is more honest for me than the initial story, there is more room to find chocies and actions that may be a little more effective, that come a little more from wisdom, kindness and experience.

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A taste of Passio by Arvo Part.

Pure genius in action. Tight and organic, as if dance, music, rhythm and facial expressions all are squeezed out of the same source, and in a way that seems authentic, playful, charming and spontaneous. (Look at 2:45-2:55.) There is a huge amount of practice behind it, which is partly why it seems so tight and organic.

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One line is my sins, and another line is forgiveness for these sins. Mostly the music has two vocies. One is more complicated and subjective, but another is very simple, clear, and objective.
- Arvo Pärt, interviewed by Björk. 

A beautiful description of who and what we are. As who we are, this human self, we are complicated and subjective. We are conditioned in a particular way, experience life through our own set of filters. As what we are, we are simple, clear, objective. Either one is beautiful, and the real beauty comes from both together, from one existing within the context of the other. 

As a human self, I sin. I make mistakes. I am confused. I am not aware of the impact of my actions in the world. 

As what I am, there is already forgiveness. 

And all of that is reflected in Arvo Pärt’s music, in a beautiful way.

A sweet interview.

Ohhh you have too much fun breaking all the rules
Ohhh maybe so much fun I just might break them too
You’re trouble
Oooh just trouble
Oooh you’re trouble
Mmm just trouble
- Bitter:Sweet, Trouble

One of the synchronicities life is so full of: 

My wife picked up the copy of Astronomy I am reading, looked at an article called Is there something we don’t know about gravity? and read out loud…

Spacecraft flybys and the moon’s orbit aren’t following predictions. Whatever is causing this could usher in a new theory of gravity.

As a punchline, the lyrics of the music we are listening followed with Ohhh you have too much fun breaking all the rules. 

This is another reminder of how life is full of pointers and questions for practice. We create stories about the world, including through science, and life show up differently. It is not limited by our stories or rules. And that is beautiful, there is no problem there. But if we take those stories - any story - as true, we are in trouble. Or rather, we perceive life as trouble. 

You’re trouble
Oooh just trouble
Oooh you’re trouble
Mmm just trouble

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From Röyksopp’s new album, Junior.

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Now that mustaches are back in fashion, it is time to dust off those old disco and funk albums as well. This music was well before my time so my slate is relatively blank. I have to admit I enojy some of it a great deal, especially when there is that unbeatable combination of catchy and camp. 

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Two ping pong related music videos, retro style. The Stereolab one with appropriately topical satire. The second one nicely frivolous and strangely catchy.

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Cleaning out my digital attic, I found these music files I made when I was 16. I borrowed a synth module for about a week during summer vacation, and spent most of those days playing with it.

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Great music and movie from a few years back.

The first part of an Arvo Pärt documentary.

From Books of Days.

Mari Boine, Goaskinviellja.

Gula Gula

Very well done. (original here)

Pure genius, and ages well.