"Grey Ghost" reminds me why all those old "what public radio is good at" cliches were coined in the first place. It takes you to a place you've never been, to learn about something you might not think would interest you at first, but ends up fascinating you. It is 100% tape - just the voices of the people whom the story's about - voices you probably wouldn't hear otherwise. It's exotic, arresting, engrossing, maddening, dream-like and gorgeous. It is also so meticulously and creatively edited that the producer completely disappears. The program seems to just unfold organically, relentlessly even, as if of its own volition.
At bottom, though, what really counts is that "Grey Ghost" is just a damn good yarn, the audio version of a page turner in which an obsession becomes its own brand of religion.
Review of Grey Ghost
Sean Cole
Posted on November 17, 2004 at 02:31 PM
"Grey Ghost" reminds me why all those old "what public radio is good at" cliches were coined in the first place. It takes you to a place you've never been, to learn about something you might not think would interest you at first, but ends up fascinating you. It is 100% tape - just the voices of the people whom the story's about - voices you probably wouldn't hear otherwise. It's exotic, arresting, engrossing, maddening, dream-like and gorgeous. It is also so meticulously and creatively edited that the producer completely disappears. The program seems to just unfold organically, relentlessly even, as if of its own volition.
At bottom, though, what really counts is that "Grey Ghost" is just a damn good yarn, the audio version of a page turner in which an obsession becomes its own brand of religion.