Bluebrain: Central Park (Listen to the Light) (and, Albums as Apps)
I have to admit: I’m not sure if I like the idea that to experience certain types of music, conceptually, you have to have a smart phone or pad device. I think the notion of site-specific music, which is the concept currently driving Bluebrain’s recent Central Park (Listen to the Light) album, makes for an interesting way to capture the sights, sounds and moments that influence or inspire a piece of work and I could see how video could enliven such a concept. But, have we outgrown our ability to sense this stuff by simply listening? In my estimation, certain albums hold resonance because they enable your senses to experience them, which is why music has endured generations and has had so much hold over how we think and feel. And, while I’m aware that technology will only continue to inform how we relate to music, I can only imagine that an album available solely for those of us with the latest phone excludes those of us who would rather put something on a stereo, tune out the world...