Listening Mirror – On the Passing of Chavela

Chavela Vargas, “hailed for her haunting performances, and called ‘the rough voice of tendernes'” passed away august 5, 2012, at the age of 93.

She was an inspiration to many, but obviously also to Jeff Stonehouse,  a.k.a. Listening Mirror: 
“When I awoke, one Sunday morning, to learn of her passing, I took a deep breath, played ‘Paloma Negra’ one more time in her honour, and reached for my guitar…………” 

“On the Passing of Chavela“ is a single composition (61 minutes), created using his “Wind driven” Electric Guitar and a Rotary Fan, processed using Ableton Live & Macbook Pro.

“What a voice she had! Rough hewn by cigar smoke and tequila, Chavela’s voice was perfect for the songs of love, death, joy, heartbreak and revenge that were her trademark. As a girl she roamed the streets of Mexico City with a gun in her belt and a song in her heart. A free spirit. A strong and powerful woman. A legend.
If ever a voice reflected a life, then that voice was Chavela’s.”

The sound is heavy, filled with extremely low frequencies, with only occasional notes drifting by as if they are carried by the wind.
It conjures images of Chavela’s spirit hovering over Mexico’s vast and rough landscapes.
It’s a contemplation, or meditation, on the power of her ‘free spirit‘ and the impact she has had on the world around her.

Chavela’s fans,however, may not immediately recognise this dark and haunting soundscape as a tribute to her music: this is not exactly a ranchera!
But the thoughtful silence definitely is a respectful homage to her life and her music.

And somehow, remotely, it does breathe the same kind of atmosphere …
As different as these musical styles  may be, I found they worked out pretty well when played together at the same time.

Note: the physical edition of “On the Passing of Chavela“ , as released by Dronarivm records, is available in a limited edition of 93 copies.