Album Notes

¨What they have created is a heady martini of massive beats, intricate musicianship and a most . . .
. . . unartificial intelligence.”


Sounding Desire – an evening of music and philosophy
The Studio, Sydney Opera House
2 performances only on Monday August 23

What can philosophy teach us about music and what can music contribute to our understanding of philosophy?

Music matters immensely to some people, perhaps all people. But why does it matter, and how does it matter? Sounding Desire looks at the riddle of music and clarifies it in words, sounds and images.

Sounding Desire is driven by a series of spoken word pieces written and performed by New York-based Professor of Philosophy Simon Critchley. Overlayed with Critchley’s words is the film imagery and music of Sydney-based musician and film-maker John Simmons.

Music is part of our lives on all sorts of levels. Music matters. But why? The significance of music and its relation to philosophy; music as a privileged means for the expression of cultural and sexual identity and music as the articulation of unconscious desire are at heart of this work.

The main section of the event is comprised of a mixture of spoken word/vocals, visuals and music. Who knows, it might even get pretty funky. The spoken segments will also be underpinned by specific soundscapes written specifically to convey the resonance of what is said.

Simon Critchley is Professor of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research, New York. He is also the Directeur de Programme at the College International de Philosophie, Paris. He is author and editor of many books including Very little, Almost Nothing. He is scrupulously fair and kind to all creatures.

John Simmons is an award winning composer, musician and film-maker. Simmons has received numerous accolades for his music and film work. In 2002 Simmons won the Australian Guild of Screen Composers JD Music Award. In 2003 he won an Award at Canada’s Sea to Sky Short Film Festival in the Experimental Film Category, and in 2004 was selected for the San Diego Film Festival. He is a decent man, more sinned against than sinning.