By Gabriel Lordon, Third Year, Philosophy
Creator Ben Mogori describes it as a type of ‘deep-listening’ event, which ‘makes music feel more intense, lets you hear it in more detail, and allows your brain to feel less distracted’. – Pitchblack Playback. Not only are all the lights off, but you are provided with an eye mask, ensuring an absolute blackout that creates a truly heightened sensory experience.
The concept has gained traction amongst key figures within the music industry, including Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay who described it as ‘a fabulous idea.’ It’s an interesting way of putting complete albums back into the spotlight, considering ‘we’re repeatedly told the album as an artform is dying’.
The planetarium at We The Curious provided the optimal space to undergo listening to Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun, a classic album celebrating its 25th anniversary. Listening in this unique way felt like taking a step closer to the music; you noticed how the tracks flowed seamlessly into one another, creating an ongoing and uninterrupted experience.
You didn’t have to wait long for the experience to truly come to life. Second on the album is the unforgettable ‘Didn’t Cha Know’, which slid in with complete seamlessness from the opening track. I thought this song sounded incredible through my Bose speaker, but in total darkness, on a state-of-the-art system, it felt like the music was swinging around my head like a pendulum.
Other highlights included ‘A.D. 2000’, which seemed to reverberate around the room and reveal some of the silkiest tones in Badu’s arsenal. Each track evoked a different mood, with this one offering a perfectly tranquil moment. Another favourite was ‘In Love With You’, where Stephen Marley’s deep vocals beautifully complement Badu’s softness, creating an intimate, warming duet that invites you to sink into the gentle piano and jazzy rhythms.
By the end of the experience, I’m not sure I was fully conscious. Not asleep, but somewhere in between, as if the mind adjusts to the darkness and enters a new state designed purely for listening, free from all other senses. Time had completely disappeared. I left We The Curious feeling zen, and with an undoubtable new appreciation for Mama’s Gun and Erykah Badu’s genius.
Audrey Wallis
If you’re a music lover, keep an eye out for Pitchblack Playback’s next event in Bristol or around other major UK cities.
Featured image: Epigram / Gabriel LordonWhat album would you like to hear at Pitchblack Playback?
