Tag Archives: noise

SSSHHHHH!!!!! TOO LATE!!! “A QUIET PLACE” (2018)

“A Quiet Place” is a great horror/suspense picture about the need to keep as quiet as possible in any activity you may be involved in or chance the risk of being mutilated and dismembered by some mysterious creatures straight out of one of your worst nightmares. We don’t find out the origin of the monsters this time out, maybe more on that in “A Quiet Place 2” slated for release later this year. Speech isn’t even advised unless there is some form of audible mask such as a water fall or falling rain. Wow. That is quite a life restriction. The movie’s characters, including stars Emma Stone and John Krasinsky, must rely on sign language most of the movie. There are precious few actual exchanges of dialogue which makes this a very entrenched concept that drew me into the plight these endangered people face. Anyway, a family moves on foot (shoes are ditched. Squeaky rubber?) out of a town devoid of living beings before eventually set up their base of operations on a farm. Requisite security measures are set up amid the off grid existence but never put it past the beasties to figure out where the meal ticket is and how to breach the defenses. Well directed by John Krasinsky who stars along with his real life wife Emily Blunt. I guess no one snores in this family because that form of noise would be a dead give away to the sonically acute creatures. Also not sure how people use the bathroom or prevent the old farm house from creaking too much, etc. Still a gripping, horrifying, at times, monster movie.

People Who Do Noise (2008) Full Concert Movie Documentary

Very sweet documentary covering people who shape sound in any manner or way they see fit.  Call these noise practitioners, the new Punks.  Some of those shown performing describe what they do as a new form of punk rock, a DIY mindset of artist creation, made with whatever musical instrument, effect pedal, electronic device or mechanical apparatus is at hand. Whatever label you put on these sounds, the end result is a collection of unique individuals who are producing, performing, and espousing noise.  It is all very liberating and refreshing.  Granted the documentary is seven years old by this date but the sonic attacks presented here remain vibrant and vital to these loud music abused ears.

LOU REED – METAL MACHINE MUSIC (COMPLETE)

lou reed

Some call it a contract ending or breaking recording project turned in to his record label.  Lester Bangs referred to it as garage electronic rock.  Whatever Lou Reed’s intention, Metal Machine Music is pretty much a consistent recording: It all pretty much sounds the same after 5 minutes but there is over an hour of material on the record/CD to “indulge” in. What we hear are moments of interest, maybe even melody seeping briefly out of the multitracked noise sludge before being sucked back in by the feedback monster.  I remember listening to this sort of thing being hungover.  What’s a few more brain cells going bye-bye by that point?  Best to avoid prolonged headphone usage on this one.