Greetings.
This is the first part of Getting Through Security: Counterterrorism, Bureaucracy and a Sense of the Modern (Routledge 2020) by Mark Maguire and David A. Westbrook.
Original music composed and performed by Vincent Parlato. I read the text. Vince also did the sound editing.
Vince is using a keyboard backed by Spitfire Audio. Spitfire, founded by composers, works with the BBC Orchestra, Abbey Road Studios, Hans Zimmer, and a host of others to create a digital sample library of the sounds made by world class artists. The tone is incredible. Used for a lot of movies.
As this audio was being finalized, a listener rudely challenged me: “How dare thee creep into Art cloaked in Academia!” Seriously, and mostly due to Vince’s brilliance, talent, and sheer labor, I’m really, really happy with how this came out. The tensions among the music, the text, and my flawed voice are chilling, world weary, perhaps humane . . . well, give it a listen. And tell your friends!
It has been a while since I’ve done any audio, and it’s nice to be back. There is an enormous amount to say about this project, and I plan on discussing the music in a future Signal. But such things can wait.
You can listen on your browser, through Spotify or Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts. As explained in a recent Signal, book-length projects, including the rest of this audio book, will be available to paid subscribers only. Intermittent Signal’s commentary, conversations, and photography will remain free. Please share, subscribe, like, comment, etc. Or not, but it would help me.
At any rate, I hope you enjoy.
— David A. Westbrook
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