As I’ve mentioned before, re Björk, the influence the everyday sounds of our lives has upon our aesthetic sensibilities is really quite remarkable.
The same is true of our environment.
I’m particularly confused because, on the one hand, mine is strongly influenced by London’s urban decay, but also by it’s Georgian and Edwardian architecture … whilst also by the almost early Victorian London quality of much of Paris … that of Germany … of Belgium and Holland … of Spain … Portugal …
… but, throughout all of them, there is that sensitivity to urban decay that appeals: where I like most in any of them are the previously genteel areas that have since ‘gone to seed’ (especially noticeable in Lisbon, for instance) or previously poor areas that have been (semi) gentrified (like Camden in London). It’s that hybrid of the industrial and the organic ¹ … the organic inorganic … that calls to my soul (in a way the bucolic ‘splendour’ of the countryside never has or could ²).
And that crosses … synaesthesia like … into all manner of my appreciation: I like the edginess that comes from walking its ‘mean’ streets, on alert for trouble but, simultaneously, relish the relaxed confidence none will come my way because this is my turf and those likely to be a cause of it recognise that about me … I‘m one of us whilst apart from them — there’s a burning heat to the cold and a frosty edge to the warmth.
Equally, I enjoy the more relaxed pace of life in Southern Europe … although I always feel slightly more energised there … inherently faster than the life around me: in London it’s more of an offensively defensive posture … elsewhere a more predatory one — perhaps it’s because, in London, I’m merely keeping up with the pace of life,whereas down South, life passes at a slower (dare I say more human) pace, so I’m aware of how much more amped I am (which I find oddly soothing).
Holland and Germany are a comfortable halfway house … more relaxed than London but faster paced than Southern Europe … so, I’m aware that I’m quicker and ‘dirtier’ than much of my environment but not so much so that it’s life in the f̶a̶s̶t̶ bus lane, if you see what I mean — it’s not quite so much of a juxtaposition.
And I guess that’s really what I like about it … the juxtaposition: industrial yet organic, dirty but not mucky, fast but (as we’re all leading lives at that pace) slow — every day exists on that edge of possibility where differences collide and anything could result.
And you don’t need an armoured car … you just need to have a potential (if not even an actual desire) for the unrestrained use of excessive force, keep your wits about you, be observant and you’ll be fine — being an adrenalin junkie helps … you get off on the rush 😉
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¹ Sonically best exemplified by The Prodigy’s album Music For The Jilted Generation, in which there is that analogue warmth characteristic of what went before in the genre but given a distinct digital crunch — it’s a unique sound that hasn’t been replicated by anyone since … not even Liam Howlett himself.
² The city is appealingly grubby : the great outdoors offputtingly muddy.
