Liner Notes

Soundscape #53: “Home Is Any Four Walls That Enclose The Right Person” — Helen Rowland

I once read somewhere that the space/place one is in can really affect not only the mood but his or her potentialities. It’s not that far-fetched actually, if you think about it. If you live in a cardboard shack, I doubt you will be thinking more than where your next meal is coming from. The weird thing is that apparently our thinking becomes more left-field than straight-laced with more physical space. All the possibilities, all the creativity, all that space.

Vincent Van Gogh. La chambre de Van Gogh à Arles (Van Gogh’s Room at Arles), 1889.

Imagine in singapore when 85% of the population live in HDB flats: to say that it’s claustrophobic is perhaps an understatement. I don’t like it that I sometimes look out of my window late at night and instead of the stars, see someone in the next block staring back at me. Come to think of it, I can’t remember the last time I could see stars.There’s nothing much anyone could do about it though. Because of the land scarcity situation in singapore, housing is extremely crazy-expensive. The amount of money paid for a 4-roomer is probably the same for a small ranch in the countryside somewhere else. Thus many people still stay with their parents’ and it’s difficult for many to move out unless you are married and don’t mind being in debt until you are like 85. It’s not that bad a social stigma here but sometimes it’d be really nice just to be left alone for a bit, without someone nagging at you about something or other. I want a place of my own where I can be myself and be with myself; I think I might even be willing to do all the chores if it happens.

download *
*Ed.Note: Sorry, I forgot to include the tracks earlier. It’s been a crazy week.

Playlist:
1. (0:00) Radiohead - Life In A Glass House (Amnesiac)
2. (4:33) The Weakerthans - This Is A Fire Door Never Leave Open (Left And Leaving)
3. (9:40) Headlights - Put Us Back Together (Kill Them With Kindness)
4. (13:57) Death Cab For Cutie - Your Heart Is An Empty Room (Plans)
5. (17:34) Yo La Tengo - Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House (And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out)
6. (22:30) Okkervil River - The Room I’m Hiding In (Overboard And Down)
7. (26:00) The Clientele - (Can’t Seem To) Make You Mine (Strange Geometry)
8. (29:39) The Ladybug Transistor - The Places You’ll Call Home (S/T)
9. (33:43) Wolf Parade - You Are A Runner And I Am My Father’s Son (Apologies To The Queen Mary)
10. (36:41) The Walkmen - Little House Of Savages (Bows + Arrows)
11. (40:03) Bloc Party - Where Is Home (A Weekend In The City)