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Action At A Distance
by Jordan
Please note: MP3s are only kept online for a short time, and if this entry is from more than a couple of weeks ago, the music probably won't be available to download any more.
The Starlight Gospel Singers - "Say a Word for Me" Two songs separated by almost a century, yet not so dissimilar as one might first expect. The two compositions share one subject: a frightened march, by starlight, into an unknown world. And both achieve their power through density (acquired in the first case through enthusiasm and number, and in the second through technology not available at the time of the first song's making). Hear at 1:56 the accompanying voice, like a woodwind, of one of the Starlight Gospel Singers, harmonizing with his band mates, rising above in a most otherworldly way. Then listen at 1:00, 1:01, and 1:02 to the only three bass notes in "In Line," lending structure to that nebulous musical sketch and fortifying its underlying sadness. Two songs separated by almost a century, causing the same hairs to rise on this listener's arms, sending the same shivers up my spine. [Buy Starlight Gospel Singers at emusic, Minus Story] Posted by Jordan at June 27, 2007 8:59 PMComments
I agree with your commentsI agree with your comments And I'm curious: how did these two songs come together for you, leading to the comments? Did you know one long before the other, and then find that a new song resonated with your musical grounding? If so which was first, by how long, and why? Thanks for today's entry... Posted by J at June 28, 2007 10:55 AMPost a comment |
 about said the gramophone
this is a daily sampler of really good songs. all tracks are posted out of love. please go out and buy the records!
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all songs are removed within a week or two of posting. said the gramophone launched in march 2003, and added songs in november of that year. it was one of the world's very first mp3blogs. if you would like to say hello, find out our mailing addresses or invite us to shows, please get in touch: montreal, canada: sean toronto, canada: jordan montreal, canada: dan please don't send us emails with tons of huge attachments; if emailing a bunch of mp3s etc, use a service like MailBigFile. if you are the copyright holder of any song posted here, please contact us if you would like the song taken down early. please do not direct link to any of these tracks. please love and wonder. "and i shall watch the ferry-boats / and they'll get high on a bluer ocean / against tomorrow's sky / and i will never grow so old again." we are a member of MBV.
about the authors
Sean Michaels lives in Montreal, where he is writing a novel. His work also occasionally appears at McSweeney's. Follow him on Twitter or reach him here.
Dan Beirne is an actor and writer living in Montreal. He writes fiction fiction fiction on here. It may feel true, but it is never True. He is most proud of his most recent project The Bitter End. Email him here Jordan Himelfarb lives in Toronto, where he is editor in chief of The Mark. Jordan's posts appear at Said the Gramophone only on the last Wednesday of every month. Email him here. Site design and header typography by Neale McDavitt-Van Fleet. The header graphic is randomized: this one is by . 
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