As our Western Civilisation careens into the abyss of its own histrionics, and we thinking apes are dragged down by its vortex, I suggest an experiment…
You have a record player, right? And a sizeable collection of vinyl records from way-back-when, yes? So, use these two resources to step back in time. You can do it if you really want to and know how to use your powers of imagination. The disc and its player can’t do it alone. They require your perception to complete the circle. You can’t influence the abyss but, at least momentarily, you can escape its pull if you deny its presence. Here’s how it’s done:
First, you must be alone. In your familiar den. With booze and, preferably, a sleeping dog. Hunt out a record from the 1950s – I suggest an original Blue Note, maybe a big band or lesser-known jazz quartet. Don’t bother to clean it. Fire up your audio system and devote at least five minutes to contemplate in silence your impending journey into what was. You must be still, and you must be prepared to let go. Don’t be pissing about with hi-fi. Focus on your escape plan.
Lower the stylus into the run-in groove and take your seat. Marvel at the surface noise, gathered over the years as a result of your ordinary manliness, close your eyes and give in to the sounds of yesteryear. Visualise. Go with the flow. Don’t do anything else or think about anything else. Keep visualising. What is the drummer wearing (not a red dress)? And the saxophone player? Black or white man? Does the bass player smile or grimace as he traverses the neck of his instrument? What were these guys thinking about at the time of the recording? What cars did they pass on the way to the studio? Are they stoned?
Now, with the music filling your habitats both external and internal, imagine the world that produced this music: its fancies and concerns, its glories and defeats, its ambitions and ghettoes. This is your past, whether you lived it or not. These sounds are the precursors of today’s sounds, without which today’s sounds could not be. Your participation in them revives them. Thus, you are transported into them, and they into you, as fully as you wish it to be so.
Don’t work at it. Just let it be. Allow yourself to be captivated. Don’t analyse. Be what the record is.
Couldn’t resist replying immediately as I’ve just left MY den at 1.00am after 3 hours of following your advice. IN FACT NOT, THE ADVICE IS IN MY BLOOD.
alone TICK
In my familiar den…. Yes. As you know I am lucky enough to have a dedicated engineered listening room after all these years.
With booze…. Yes. Lucky again. Was a Nuits St George de chez Jean Grivot, from our cellar adjacent.
Preferably, a sleeping dog…. Only sleeping dog was the wife upstairs! Do you have a dog now? What make?
Hunt out a record from the 1950s…. OK, the mid 60s. Blonde on Blonde again, the MFSL 45rpm reissue. Magic! Before that, Scarlatti harpsichord suites and Haydn string quartets. Both a bit older than the 50s, the Haydn recorded on Decca in the late 50s. Just got the amended hardware running nicely: vdH The Grail SB and Audio Research Ref 6, with your front end of course.
I cleaned about 33% of the sides I played: when they looked superficially dusty.
The contemplation was during the day and while I set the system up again – Ref 6 had a fault and just back. I count about two weeks contemplation while it was away at Absolute Sounds being repaired – 6550 power supply valve failed and took down some other components.
Fire up your audio system…. Yes I fired it up alright. 2400watts drawn just by the Krell KRS200 References 1986 vintage; will probably be declared illegal shortly. The vdH Grail, a loaner currently, is simply awesome in almost every way.
You must be still…. Slumped in listening chair, room lights turned down, blue over the system.
No escape necessary unless I go out to meet the virus.
Lower the stylus into the run-in groove and take your seat…. YES
Marvel at the surface noise, gathered over the years as a result of your ordinary manliness, close your eyes and give in to the sounds of yesteryear. Visualise. Go with the flow. Don’t do anything else or think about anything else. Keep visualising. What is the drummer wearing?….On BoB, drummer was the late, great Kenny Buttrey. I went on to listen to John Wesley Harding, again MFSL 45rpm reissue, where his work is incomparable. He was probably wearing a T shirt – drumming in a closed studio for 7 hours is hot work.
Now, with the music filling your habitats both external and internal, imagine the world that produced this music: its fancies and concerns, its glories and defeats, its ambitions and ghettoes. This is your past, whether you lived it or not….Yes I lived it in 66-68. Bought BonB the first day of release and imported JWH from US to get it a few weeks earlier. God. What a surprise that was!!
These sounds are the precursors of today’s sounds, without which today’s sounds could not be. YES, CERTAINLY SO.
Your participation in them revives them. Thus, you are transported into them, and they into you, as fully as you wish it to be so…
GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU. GOOD TO KNOW YOU STILL CAN’T LEAVE IT ALONE EITHER.