Sound Track Logs are a series of vinyl objects and recordings made as part of my 2011 magisterial thesis Random Access Memories. it is inspired by the synergetic effects of environmental sounds and music on headphones, and a loose contact in the earphone plug of iPod I set out on several walks through Vienna. With every step interrupting the music coming from the music player, leaving space for the environmental sounds to be more present.
I recorded both sound sources just like they sound to my ears using in-ear microphones and semi-open over-the-ears headphones. The music selected for those walks is a selection of favourite songs and pieces. The way DJ Shadow nicely syncs with the sound of the alarm of police cars, or how John Cages piano pieces leave so much air and space for the sound around us to find a place in a musical structure.
The vinyl objects have the sound recording on one side and a laser engraving on the other side. The laser engraving shows a map of the area of the city I walked through, as well as the path I walked.
Sound Track Logs are a manifest to the experience of music in public spaces on mobile devices. Listening to music on the go isn’t the same as music filling a room. The music changes, it becomes more open, with room for interpretation and intervention from the outside.
Walking from Stubentor to Kärntner Ring with John Cage Piano Variations by David Tudor on my headphones
Walking from Kärntner Ring to Getreidemarkt with Damian Frey: Further on my headphones
Walking around Praterstern with with DJ Shadow: Midnight In A Perfect World on my headphones
Walking from Julius Raab Platz to Bauernmarkt with with Asa Chang & Junray: Hana on my headphones
Download Album (MP3, 320k)