Inspirations (06/25)

Selections of sounds, words and visions that moved and inspired

This is a new experiment.

In this monthly series I share selections of what I have been listening to, reading, watching or exploring. Notably, what ignited me and what feels worth sharing.

You’ll find brief notes from me here and there, but these entries are primarily logs of music albums, songs, books, articles and arts. They are intended to offer experiences.

For anyone going through these, please feel called to share your inspirations too, mutually, in the comments below.

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Recordings from the Åland Islands

by Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer

Experimental, Contemporary, Ambient, Jazz, Modular Synth

I listened to this in many ways, at home or while traveling, attentively or as ambient, and I keep returning. This wonderful work from Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honeri is lush, loving and intricate, conveying an organic aliveness and a pure beauty.

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Space as an Instrument

by Félicia Atkinson

Contemporary, Experimental, Ambient, Minimal

Something quite special here created by French musician Felicia Atkinson. Distinctly nostalgic and contemplative, expressed with a notably creative approach.

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Mumbai 04.02.1996

By Amelia Cuni

Dhrupad, Indian Classical Music

My first introduction to Amelica Cuni happened a long time ago through the collaboration with Alio Die in 2001. Recently I was reminded and re-introduced to her legacy. This album being on repeat lately, demonstrating both the sublimity of her vocals and of the world of Dhrupad.

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HIMAVANTA
Environmental sound matter from Thailand’s rainforests

By Francisco Lopez

Field Recordings

These captivating recordings taken from Thailand’s rainforests by Francisco Lopez, who never disappoints with his skilful, sensitive representations of sound, and the dynamic and vast depths discoverable within it.

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The Blind Spot: Why Science Cannot Ignore Human Experience

By Adam Frank, Marcelo Gleiser and Evan Thompson

Science, Phenomenology, Subjectivity

An important book in which the authors call for a more integrated framework that includes and recognises subjective, first-person experiences as a legitimate dimension science. With much lost when we don’t manage.

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The Alphabet Versus The Goddess: The Conflict Between Word And Image

By Leonard Shlain

Science, History, Language

Shlain argues that the introduction of the alphabet (i.e. writing and reading), might have fundamentally re-wired our brains, restructuring perception, cognition, and the values held up in our communities and cultures. Away from a holistic, non-verbal and relational mode, towards a more linear, abstract and analytical mode. A pretty interesting hypothesis, presented well.

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The Shadow Of The Object: Psychoanalysis Of The Unthought Known

By Christopher Bollas

Psychoanalysis

With the “unthought known”, Bollas refers to implicit pre-verbal knowledge that our psyche carries, but has never verbalized or symbolized. Transformational objects are defined as experiences we actively and innately seek that transform inner states. Not just emotionally, but ontologically, in terms of our becoming and being a self. Quite a good amount of reflections came from reading this seminal work, with strong relevance to conceptualising music’s therapeutic effects. You’ll see me referncing this book and Bollas’ work in next articles therefore quite a bit.

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Paintings by Ivan Aivazovsky

Russian romantic painter who lived 1817 - 1900. Thanks to The Culturist for the putting this on my timeline. More on Wikipedia.

What has inspired you ?

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