The Space Between Time
July 21st, 2008 by Dan HillRadio National recently dusted off a few archive programmes to mark the work of producer Tony Barrell. I’ll post a few of the shows here, for sure. This one’s a beauty - on the life and work of photographer Edward Muybridge, and thus the nature of time. Some charming moments, not least a few shards of Philip Glass cross-fading into the sound of a train. But also some mind-boggling insights into time itself, from scientists and skateboarders. An absolutely lovely piece of work.
Radio Eye: The Space Between Time [mp3]
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Dan, that’s a real gem. I think the Muybridge part of the show is the best bit of factual radio I’ve heard in a long time. I think this is one of the really cool things about Speechification: we smuggle radio talent across borders. I really want to know more about Tony Barrell now - why isn’t he a major radio star in Britain too? What’s that about?
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:15 am
oh this has my mate daniel crooks! hehe
July 24th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Cheers Steve. I’ve just uploaded another Tony Barrell piece, on the Tokyo firebombing. Also astonishing bit of radio.
As to why Barrell’s not known more in the UK, well I guess the BBC doesn’t syndicate much stuff in from ABC, despite the (almost) shared language, so it’s only now that this stuff can be heard. I guess he’s hardly a major star in Australia either, as radio documentary tend to not be. Which is a crime, of course.
I’ve always though Speechification is a kind of meta-speech radio station, which should curate the best from wherever - as you say, smuggling talent across borders, irrespective of where the show emanates from. The shows carry their provenance with them.