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Robert Millis | Indian Talking Machines
February 2, 2016, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Robert Millis’s Indian Talking Machine is a book about the scratched world of India. About vinyl, grooves, dust, memory. India was one of the earliest non-Western outposts of the recording industry; 78rpms were first made there in 1902. Such recordings! Folk songs and ragas, animal imitations and laughing discs, plaints and comedy routines. Over time, these discs – often featuring exquisite label designs – were smelted and forgotten. But, as Millis argues, “Obscure companies, destroyed master copies, experimentation with regional markets, fragile objects, and catch-all recording policies all lead to rare titles and endless potential for discovery and research.”
Millis will discuss Indian Talking Machine, his work as a sound artist and researcher, and his experiences with musicians, sounds, and collectors in India and elsewhere. Rare 78rpm discs, field recordings, video and more will all be featured.
