Scaree

This financial and economic situation is scary. I'm starting to see it creep into the lives of at least half the people I know on the personal side, and on the abstract side, I'm growing increasingly aware of how boxed in we are on all sides. Trust me. We are boxed in: There is hell to pay.

On a brighter note, I have discovered yet another musician that I am growing increasingly fond of: Zoe Keating. I think she's described as an "Avant-garde cellist".

I first came across her on two separate Radiolab episodes (yeah yeah, fuck you, but it really is that good). I've always been particularly fond of the sound of the cello. I find the violins too squeaky, the bass too lacking in character, and the cello this incredibly rich, full instrument with such beautiful sounds. I can't really describe what she does, but her process is actually quite fascinating. She plays alone, with some sort of recording-device she controls with her foot, and as she plays, she records, then loops back her own recording as she plays (and records) yet another section. I don't quite understand how she manages to keep this all going at the same time, but by the time her music builds...you are hearing over like 15 different cello parts all at once, so it's almost like an orchestra of cellos. It's really quite amazing. If you're willing to pay the dollar, download "Sun Will Set" and see what you think.

That's all. My work has been a little exhausting recently, so I've really just sorta checked out and given up...BUT, I did find out that there's this huge orchid show at the Bronx Botanical Garden...which seems sorta exciting to me. Yes, I understand that's not the type of thing I should be excited about, but after reading "The Orchid Thief" I just sorta get semi worked up about it. And I got live tickets to This American Life. And I may go see Glen Hansard in concert. Oh, and Pineapple Express was excellent.

So, maybe things aren't so bad.