Piece Comment

Review of Subway of Mind


Human voices -- some in English, reflecting on the experience of riding the subway, others in a variety of other languages, layered over one another. Compelling sounds in vivid stereo, some identifiable (the flapping of a bird's wings), others ambiguous (the oars of a rowboat?). Droning music.

Radio listeners trained by the linear, informative fare that dominates public radio in the U.S. will struggle with this piece, lose patience, roll their eyes, punch the dial -- or, just maybe, will sit back and take the ride on a different sort of audio experience. And, almost certainly, will pay a different kind of attention on that next subway ride--or bus ride, or commute, or walk through the airport or even the mall. A nicely crafted piece of audio art.