The most recent episode of one of my favorite little podcasts, 99% Invisible, delved into the Symphony of Sirens, a 1923 composition by Arseny Avraamov that used the sounds of everyday Soviet life — factory sirens, barge foghorns, soldiers’ footsteps, artillery fire, workers’ songs, steam whistles and proletarian shouts — to create something beautiful.

The episode reminded me of a 1920s Soviet film I first saw in a world cinema class I took in college: Man with a Movie Camera, the brainchild of Dziga Vertov. The groundbreaking film offers a glimpse into the workaday lives of the people in 1920s Russia, and does so in a way that is both fascinating and delightful.

I highly recommend you check out both.

nprmusic:

nprradiopictures:

wnycradiolab:

Um, guys: public radio temporary tattoos.  Apparently some public radio stations will offer these at pledge drive time.  And WE LOVE THEM.

These are so cool!!!! Another good incentive to donate to your local member station! -Emily

BRB getting tatted up. —Lars

I would wear all of these loud and proud.

Source: wnycradiolab

New Sigur Ros, New Direction? Watch The Video For 'Brennisteinn' : NPR

“Brennisteinn” (sulfur) is a remarkably aggressive piece of music for musicians who can sound so ethereal: Dreamy elements remain, but they provide an underpinning rather than driving the pulse of the song. A new Sigur Ros album, Kveikur, comes out June 18.

So this is why there were several songs I didn’t recognize when I saw them a couple weeks ago. This new album should be great.

shortformblog:

Today in videos that will blow your mind: This is called a “Hyperlapse,” a time-lapse video built with a number of camera movements. This would be cool on its own (the process is generally very time-consuming), but the really awesome part is this: It was created using publicly-available Google Streetview data. There’s even a tool that helps you make your own. The results are rad in that way that few things are. I’m gonna stop talking now. Just watch.

Seriously. Just take the two minutes to watch this.

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  • HoppípollaSigur Rós

I got to see Sigur Ros live this week, and it was amazing. They’re playing Hoppípolla here (had to put the photo in as album art; it’s from the concert); it seemed an appopriate song to post on this rainy Saturday. But also because it’s one of the most joyous songs I’ve heard, and that concert was a pretty great time.