FreeTEMPO의 요즘 근황이 궁금해서 검색을 하다가 지난 1월 17일에 발매된 이 EP를 발견했다. 시부야계-멜로디 천재와 한국형-복고일렉비트 천재가 만나서 진심으로 기쁘다. House Rulez – Star House City 이후 오랜만에 감성과 열정이 적절히 섞인 음악을 들은 느낌이다. 네 곡 모두 너무 좋다. 계속 이런 프로젝트들이 생겨났으면 좋겠다! 아. 정말 상상도 못한 조합인데, 무아지경으로 빠져들어버릴 정도로 좋다. 당분간 이 앨범의 무한반복으로 시간을 보낼 것 같다. #

Wow. This is so Minority Report. It’s so futuristic! I was amazed when it turned into a built-in blinds. Technology is indeed marvellous. The YouTube page had top comments about thieves and kids that make this a pointless promotional tech, but I reckon it’s irrelevant because for those ‘wealthy’ early-adaptors living in a chic apartment with this future gadget won’t have any children. Haha. When they do plan to have children, they’ll leave the city and become a part of a peaceful suburban community where a family oriented lifestyle with a lot of conversation between its members is much appreciated. Or else, they won’t have any money left to afford and enjoy the true potential of such products. Anyway, this is something. But I don’t want it so bad. Not because it’s extravagant but I just don’t see a point of having this at home unless I’m some sort of a big-shot professional with a workaholic lifestyle. Hmm, wait, may be I do. If I would become that kind of person who can afford and more importantly, understand its utilisable functions that can aid my personal and professional life, I would’ve worked very very hard for the money to buy this kind of stuff in the house in the first place. And yes, the money has to come first before. That’s so sad. Or, looking on the bright side (almost), may be I just want to become that person who can spend i.e. the one with an option not to purchase in spite of a sizeable surplus in the bank account. Haha. Enough of daydreaming for today. Anyway, this thing surely is cool as a frosty window. #

How witty and inspiring. However, I can’t help thinking he needed more time (or may be I just want some more). Especially on the methods of appreciating the arts and all, this YouTube clip is being plagued with snobbishly biased condemnations that this talk was the worst they’ve seen on TED, failing to see the whole picture and by those who did see, but want to feel good about themselves by picking on his generalisations and somewhat oversimplified suggestions. Well, those people just should need to learn how to take time to digest the ideas presented in front of them – that they’ve chosen to view voluntarily by a physical act of clicking the link in the first place – and be polite to fellow human beings on this communal cyberspace. #

•  Since the onset of the global economic crisis in 2007, many people believe that modern, western societies and their economic system, capitalism, are in crisis. To what extent do the writings of Marx help us understand the social and legal dimensions of this crisis? [This question sounds easy enough, but I guess most students in the class would be inclined to choose this one among many others.  Well, this one would be my safety option if I fail to think up proper arguments for that Foucault question.]
•  ”The key to understanding any society – for instance, what type of society it is, how complex, how it is integrated, whether or not it is well integrated, etc? – is to understand its legal system”. Does this statement accurately reflect Durkheim’s social theory? If so, why? If not, why not?
• “For Weber, modern society is far to rational for its own good. It, and its key institutions, including law, are due for a big fall”. Does this statement accurately reflect Weber’s view of rationalisation and its effects on modern law and society? If so, why? If not, why not?
• Modernity has traditionally been depicted as providing the highest realisation to date of human freedom and equality. Foucault and other so-called postmodern theorists have questioned this understanding of the contemporary western world. What, according to Foucault, is the status of freedom and equality in resent day western societies? What, in particular, is the status of the rule of law as an upholder of freedom and equality? [Currently reading Michel Foucault's biography by Didier Eribon. However, to talk about Foucault, I have to be able to regurgitate the historical backgrounds of post-modernistic social theories. I cannot yet. May be once I finish this book. I should just finish the book off tonight before I go to bed.]

So there they are. Fortunately the lecturer has given us a list of reading materials for the relevant topics. Well, I doubt I’ll have the guts nor persistence to go over every single piece of excerpts (or should I?). Aye. What’s disturbing me? Anyway, I should just stop worrying about it and start reading. I have a long way to go. #

아, 정말 우울해진다. 하지만 ‘나쁜’ 우울함은 아닌 듯 하다. 앨범전체를 재생목록에 추가하고 3-4곡 정도 듣고 있노라면 연기가 자욱한(?) 지하 라이브공연에 있는 것 같은 느낌을 받는 것 같다. 특히 보컬 채널의 마스터링이 살짝 과장되게, 세션들과 조금 떨어지게.. 들린다고 해야할까.. 하지만 전혀 이상하게 들리지 않는다. 오히려 그게 매력이라고 해야하나. 보컬의 울고 있는 듯한 – 섬세하게 표현된, 어쩌면 계산된 – 허스키함에 익숙해 질 타이밍엔 overdrive 충만한 기타사운드가 머릿속을 가득 채운다. 그리고 파워풀한 드럼, 그리고 헤비한 베이스. 개인적으로 <Tonight> 트랙을 적당한(?) 우울함에 잠겨 몇 번 반복재생해서 들었다. <Choking> 트랙은..음, 괴기스러울 정도로 음산하다. 아이폰 재생목록에 넣어두고 밖에서 듣고 싶은 음반은 아니지만, 아무 약속도 없는 그런 밤 어두운 방안에서 혼자 조용히 집중하게 되는… 이런 느낌도 좋다. #