Episode Synopsis "Sound as mystery"
I began studying the work of Australian artist Sherre DeLys after interviewing Third Coast co-founder Julie Shapiro some years back. Shapiro was effusive about a work named “Containers” by DeLys, a 9-minute collage of industrial slams and whirs recorded at a shipping yard. This and “If”, included here and acclaimed by everyone with good taste – most notably Radiolab’s Jad Abumrad – are a manual on the limitless creative potential of the medium. Though both non-narrated works dabble in the avant garde, they are as emotional as they are abstract, much like the equally great documentary films “Koyaanisqatsi” and Laurie Anderson’s “Heart of a Dog.” When people who are new to audio storytelling ask me what makes it great, this is one of the first works I discuss.