Sound Propositions

DeForrest Brown, Jr. is a media-theorist, curator, and self-described rhythm-analyst. He releases digital audio as Speaker Music and under his own name. While he’s been based in NYC for the better part of the last decade, he was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, which also happens to be where Sun Ra first landed on Earth.  Brown’s upcoming book, Assembling a Black Counter Culture, traces the cycles of American history through the Great Migrations from the Deep South to the industrial center of the north and back again. In this episode, he discusses his profound sense of future shock, the meaning of rhythm-analysis, and the making of Black Nationalist Sonic Weaponry, his critically acclaimed 2020 album. As always, headphone listening recommended.  Read more at www.acloserlisten.com TRACKLIST Speaker Music – “Ex-American Blues (excerpt)” (Soul-Making Theodicy, Planet Mu, 2021) Drexciya – “Depressurization” (Deep Sea Dwellers, Shockwave, 1992) Speaker Music – “Amerikkka’s Bay (ft. Maia Sanaa)” (B