MOST OF US LIVE OUT our lives in the world of time, in memories of the past and anticipation of the future. Only rarely do we touch the timeless dimension of the present - in moments of sudden beauty,or sudden danger,in meeting with a lover or with the surprise of the unexpected or utterly beautiful MUSIC. Music is something whose effect can't be ephemeral or the entire purpose is lost. If you listen to the modern day twangs, most of the sustainibility present in legends (like Pink Floyd, Madonna, Satriani, Dream Theater, Michael Jackson) is missing.
It happened one night. I was alone at home, sitting on the sofa unable to sleep. Restless. Trying to make sense of Basho. With Late Night Channel V on the idiot box when the song "Falling" began. The depth of her voice made my hair stand on end and I just closed my eyes to the sensation of the singer's voice floating around the hall surrounding me. I jabbed the sound volume to the max and surrendered to the voice. Totally unlike I had heard anyone else. Enjoyed the mist when I opened my eyes towards the end just so I could catch the song title and the singer's name before it faded away. Julee Cruise. Whose music I realised is unheard and unavailable in India. After a long, long search from the music stores to the bylanes of VT to meet the magician Razaq who had so far been able to procure any music for me at my whim. He turned his hands outwards in defeat finally and I had to then wait for a bitter two years for my first trip to US to be able to get the CD.
Julee Cruise is an artiste whose music is surreal. Her album "FLOATING INTO THE NIGHT" is an alchemy, a transformation that is not just verbal. Something different. Listening to her music is risky. Especially in the dead of the night in the sounds of silence. Just like listening to Pink Floyd is nothing less than death and rebirth.
Julee Cruise was capable of prodigious jumps not only beyond the accepted but also beyond the acceptable limits of today. I wonder why she is happy just living with her husband and two dogs in Manhattan. I wondered why didn't she create more music to the likes of "FLOATING INTO THE NIGHT". Maybe it was a complete circle for her. Maybe it's hard to improve upon perfection. Whatever it is - the lone CD lies securely nestled on my music shelf un-accessable to anyone but me. To be played undisturbed, alone and float into the night. Moi favourite song of the album:
Falling
Don`t let yourself be hurt this time
Don´t let yourself be hurt this time
Then I saw your face
Then I saw your smile
The sky is till blue
The clouds come and go
Yet something is different
Are we falling in love?
Don`t let yourself be hurt this time
Don`t let yourself be hurt this time
Then your kiss so soft
Then your touch so warm
The stars still shine bright
The mountains still high
Yet something is different
Are we falling in love?
Falling
Falling
Are we falling in love?
