motel de moka

Photo credit: ichie

For years scientists have thought that whales only sleep with one side of the brain at a time. This was thought to be necessary in order for the whale – being unlike us a conscious breathing mammal – to be able to come up for air and stay on the lookout for any possible dangers. The idea behind this was that they never reach unconsciousness like we do while sleeping, but instead only shut down one half of the brain while the other half is still active. The two sides alternate until both are rested.

Recently however, a pod of six whales were spotted by Scottish scientists along the coast of northern Chile, floating motionlessly just below the surface, clearly with both eyes closed, displaying REM and being non-responsive to their presence. According to the scientists this might prove that whales do in fact experience sleep like other mammals do, with both sides of the brain. And quite possibly even being capable of dreaming. This is a wonderful find and only shows how much we still have to learn about cetaceans. It’s one of those questions probably every one of us has pondered over as a child. How do whales sleep without drowning? And we still don’t know for sure.

This certainly asks for a dedicated playlist. Arthur Russell’s Lets Go Swimming - produced by Phil Niblock - is a perfect way to start off the list. With his cello drenched in reverb it easily recalls the deeply resonating sounds of moaning whales. This continues throughout Belong’s liquid and mysteriously romantic I’m Too Sleepy…Shall We Swim? until we reach the wonderful lullaby performed by Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker (from the band Low). They recorded this song to celebrate the birth of their first child. Maybe it’s the same song that the mother whale in the picture above uses to sweetly sing her infant to sleep? After that the playlist sets off into a combination of vocal and non-vocal lullabies. Ultimately this playlist is meant for winding down. Ballads for heavy eyelids.

1. Arthur Russell - Let’s Go Swimming
   World Of Echo (Upside, 1986)
2. Belong - I’m Too Sleepy…Shall We Swim?
   October Language (Carparck, 2006)
3. Alan Sparhawk - Sleep Song
   Alan Sparhawk/Charles Atlas split 7″ (Star Star Stereo, 2000)
4. Susumu Yokota - Sleepy Eyes
   Grinning Cat (Leaf, 2001)
5. Sculptress - Yume
   This Phrase Appeals to You (Foxglove, 2005)
6. Morton Feldman - Rothko Chapel 4
   Rothko Chapel; Why Patterns? (New Albion, 1992)
7. Andrey Dergatchev - Underwater
   The Return OST (ECM, 2005)
8. Sylvain Chauveau - Lapproache du Nuage
   Nuage (Type, 2007)
9. Agitated Radio Pilot - World Winding Down
   World Winding Down (DeadSlackString, 2007)

Stream playlist

Additional playlists:
You also might want to check out the following posts for similar music and themes:
In Search of the Miraculous (for more Arthur Russell information)
As Long As I Can Hold My Breath - pt.1, pt.2 & pt.3
Sleep Cycle pt.1: Late Night Lullabies
Sleep Cycle pt.2: Asleep Eternally
Sleep Cycle pt.3: Awaken
Return to Sea: As the Waves Will Always Roll

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