I told you to listen to this, didn't I? Well, I know you all ignored that, I know you were too busy walking quickly and carrying your very important papers. But you can't ignore this. This track is in a kind of scaremongering hysteria, it's circled by crazy-eyed kids stamping their feet and saying ha! and rolling their tongues. This track isn't fun, it's gnashing, thrashing, and hot. The sweat just drips off and down, leaving a black puddle on the black ground. The rest of the album feels like filler compared to this. [Buy]
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Antonio Vivaldi - "Concerto RV 425 for Mandolin I. Allegro"
Children Eating Birds - "Is That?"
Michelangelo Antonioni died on Monday. I realized that all my life I had been confusing him with Antonio Vivaldi, the two had become conflated in my mind. They're not related, they're not the same, they really only share three phonemes, and a country of origin. Antonio is full of flourish, constantly playing notes, where Antonioni is a lighter touch, one note sustaining, like a gaze, fixated. From what I can find, he sounds, his films sound, as if the images could be musical, more like Children Eating Birds. I should have known just from their musical differences (once converted) that they were not the same, but I only realize now. So instead I'll let them live on in my mind as one; an artist of densely layered compositions or often simple lines, inventing new devices while often using classical devices turned starkly on their head.
Posted by Dan at August 2, 2007 2:45 AMFiller?!! The M.I.A. album is amazing, and I can't help but feel that "Bird Flu" is one of its minor tracks. Can't wait to hear "Paper Planes" wafting from every open window.
Vivaldi was kind of a cheeseball. Do you think Antonioni was too? I wish they had the same haircut.
Posted by: Sean at August 2, 2007 7:40 AMSeriously though, I do have quite a lot of important papers that need to be carried quickly.
Posted by: Mr.Sirmansir at August 2, 2007 10:32 AMI've been listening to this Concerto all day. I've always liked Vivaldi for some reason.
I don't think I agree that the rest of the M.I.A. album seems filler though, haha. It's incredible!
Posted by: Caleb at August 2, 2007 8:21 PMgotta agree with Sean here. in fact, 'bird flu' is one of my least favorite tracks on Kala. it's all about "paper planes" and "$20."
Posted by: chris at August 2, 2007 9:00 PMThe good-- or bad-- thing about Vivaldi (depending on where you stand) is that he wrote the same concerto many times. Oh, and he had red hair.
Posted by: moominpappa at August 2, 2007 10:37 PMdid you read leila peacock's callout for the pop mtl bird art show? if not, big fantastic coincidence. you should make a mixcd or do a djset for it or something
ps. i haven't heard all the rest of mia's album but this song makes me feel like i am vraiment going crazy, and that is impressive.
Posted by: efff at August 4, 2007 6:37 PMAntonioni is purple dusk with a girl in mascara; Vivaldi, a priest, ate oranges with beautiful sopranos.
He may have written the same concerto 400 times but it's a hell of a concerto. Try the one for recorder, oboe, violin, bassoon and basso continuo in G minor RV 107 if you think him a lightweight.
Never forget the effect Antonioni's 'The Passenger' with Jack Nicholson had on me.
Recommended interpreters: Il Giardino Armonico
Posted by: Inurbanus at August 5, 2007 6:39 AM