BLACKOUT is the story of a person who describes a day of his life through sounds in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Technically speaking, with the exception of the main character’s voice, in BLACKOUT all environments, complementary voices and sound effects, were recorded with binaural microphones, live, 100% real and in the epicenter of the city.
The recordings of the complementary voices was initially done WITHOUT notifying the people that they were being recorded, in order to capture and preserve the ease, freshness and spontaneity of their voices.
The music of BLACKOUT includes well known masterpieces of classical music, but also sound constructions completely designed with original samples of funk music from the 70's, samples of Pink Floyd, Queen among other artists, and even a remixed version with original samples from the new song "Daydreaming" by Radiohead.
In "Blackout" you will also hear fragments of music by Charly Garcia (Argentinian rock songwriter), Soda Stereo (Argentine Pop-Rock group) and a mash up / remix between Luis Alberto Spinetta (legendary rock composer from Argentina) mixed with The Beatles with the idea of creating a new song as a result of both.
Also fragments of the tango "Adiós Nonino" by the great Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla were used.
The Beatles can also be heard included in an experimental version on this documentary. We first recorded a vinyl being played on a vintage Ken Brown X700-SS player in another room of the studio. We then synchronized the recording with the binaural microphones of a trumpet playing 40 metres away from the studio. Finally in the same way we recorded a female singing the most outstanding vocal line of song "Something".
All this done trying to be faithful to the sound reality of the scene.
BLACKOUT strives and intends to illustrate by sounds, some of the most important landmarks of the city of Buenos Aires, by describing and forming different sound landscapes such as a typical neighborhood of the suburbs to getting lost in the immense traffic chaos of the city centre.
Using the history and the literary narrative of our character as an axis, BLACKOUT takes you through the real sounds of the local means of transport, by listening to the announcements of the subways, the dialogues of the people and even the voices of the most important hosts and announcers of the local radio stations.
With BLACKOUT you will be able to visit some touristic attractions or even become part of an
illegal purchase of dollars in city centre.
You will also be able to unexpectedly enter the magnificent Colón Theatre of Buenos Aires and enjoy the echo of its large halls or, perhaps, mingle among the desperate cries of the fans in a soccer stadium.
"Blackout" intends to place the listener inside our main character’s head using the binaural recording of sound effects technique, from the act of preparing a simple breakfast, to the critical moment of crossing the intersection of two avenues with cars out of control, under an umbrella, on an appointment with a dentist, listening to the radio or traveling in the underground of the city of Buenos Aires.
BLACKOUT expects you to experience the sensation of "seeing" through sounds.
