Someone suggested that Suss Müsik repost our contributions to the weekly Disquiet Junto projects, because they enjoy reading the explanations of the tracks. While you’re reading the original post, make sure you check out the other contributors’ works as well.
This past week was a stressful one at Suss Müsik headquarters. Less than a mile away, a four-alarm industrial fire erupted at SPS Technologies in Abington, Pennsylvania (USA). Several explosions could be heard, and all residents and businesses (including this one) within a mile of the incident site were ordered to shelter in place.
Although friends and neighbors to the southeast were relocated to a nearby school, this location was thankfully upwind and thus beyond the evacuation zone. Also thankfully, no casualties were reported among SPS employees, firefighters, or nearby residents.
The major concern, however, was air quality. SPS manufactures parts for the aviation and aerospace industries. The 600,000 square foot site contains voluminous supplies of hazardous chemicals and heavy metal alloys. As recently as Wednesday, there were concerns of cyanide and arsenic being released into the air. The Kate Bush lyric “Oh God, please leave us something to breathe” came to mind.
These recent events coincide with this week’s Disquiet Junto prompt on the nature of breath. The resulting contribution from Suss Müsik employs flute—possibly the most breath-intensive of all wind instruments—to replicate the rhythm of one inhaling and exhaling. Handmade glitch electronics create an increasingly claustrophobic atmosphere, augmented by mangled recordings of actual fire company transmissions from the night of the incident.
The piece is titled 68 to commemorate the number of volunteer fire companies who responded to emergency calls, and the firefighters who worked 24-hour shifts to contain the blaze. This creative effort is further dedicated in honor of all first responders who work tirelessly, often without compensation, to keep our communities safe.