Touch the Sound

Exquisite treatment of ordinary sound...

The last movie was a symphony and a cacophany rolled into one. "Touch the Sound" is in some ways a crash course in being present to the moment and whatever's going on.

"There's sound absolutely everywhere. We have to listen. That's it, really."

Perhaps 'mysticism' is mostly comprised of noticing the things that most people overlook. The film is rife with footage of a recording session in a warehouse - completely improvised music. And amazing. When the instruments fall silent, there's the most profound silence; that's perfect just as it is.

"Silence is probably one of the loudest sounds and heaviest sounds that you're ever likely to experience. At the end of the day we still know that within everything we see there's sound. I mean, we know that, we just don't have that sensitivity to know what is going on around us." Good observation.

Partway through, I had to move the cord and transformer-thingie for my laptop, to plug it in; the battery was running low. Found myself attentive to every noise; the fine cord, heavier one, transformer, stool, frame, cushion, the sound of my bare feet, creak of floor, crack of an ankle; it was a symphony in itself.

"We are the sound."

Something to sit with.

I'm one of those people who'll often have music running through her head; it takes an effort to turn my attention outward, to be attentive. Just sitting, listening - sometimes there is too much to take in - but when it's a little quiet, and it's possible to pick out everything and appreciate it... well, the world really is perfect, just as it is.