Erasure / Emotion
The album Hand. Cannot. Erase. explores dimensions of isolation in a modern world
Vocal Cords
Art, literature and poetry are the vocal cords of society.
Javed Akhtar’s quip based on the example of a voiceless fish pulled out with a bait and murdered mercilessly as part of a ‘relaxing pastime’ for humans has stuck with me for a long time.
This also reminds me that he missed out music in that short quip, though one can argue that music is a part of the broad umbrella of ‘art’.
I have written quite a few posts about music on this blog but those were mostly my random thoughts and feelings about a piece of music. Though I seek variety, it is not a good idea to listen to songs that would drag you to the abyss.
Anyway, I went back to a familiar artist, Steven Wilson, and explored the entire album Hand. Cannot. Erase . It’s based on (or rather inspired by) a rather tragic, but interesting story.
Joyce Carol Vincent
The story of Joyce Carol Vincent, a 38-year-old British woman who died in her London apartment after isolating herself from everyone in her life. And no one noticed for almost two years.
She was no loser as such. Vincent was considered to be having a wide social circle and was seen as an ‘ambitious person’.
The horror and tragedy of a ‘social’ and ‘ambitious’ person being unattended for two years in a big city is enough to make you curious about anything connected to her.
My research on Gemini answered the question partly.
The fact that Joyce's death went undiscovered for over two years is a result of a confluence of systemic and social failures. Several factors contributed to this tragic silence. Her bills, including rent, were being paid through automatic debit, and for a period, half of her rent was being covered by benefits agencies.
This automated system created a false sense of security for the Metropolitan Housing Trust, delaying the accumulation of rent arrears and thus delaying any official check on her well-being. The trust itself stated that no concerns were raised by neighbors or visitors during the entire two-year period.
The physical environment also played a role. Her flat was in a noisy building, which likely explained why no one questioned the constant sound of the television that remained on for years.
Her neighbors, who may have been accustomed to the anonymity of urban life, simply assumed the flat was unoccupied. The odor of her decomposing body, a potent sign of something being amiss, was simply attributed to nearby waste bins.
The lack of human intervention or a personal check from the housing association, combined with the indifference of her neighbors and the false-positive signals from an automated payment system, created a perfect storm of neglect that allowed a life to end and be forgotten in a silent void.
~ Deep Research on Gemini
In a very literal sense, Steven Wilson gives voice to this story of isolation, abuse and loneliness in big cities through his album.
Hand. Cannot. Erase.
A lot has been written about this album on the internet already. So what can I add to this conversation? Of course, one can harp about isolation. I can’t talk about abuse as I have not experienced it in the way Vincent did. I’m not an expert on music either.
So, I choose to write about how I felt.
As a single guy living in a big city like New Delhi, I have felt a bit isolated at times. This problem was partly solved by going to a group fitness class, a run club or a book club meet. Work, surprisingly, brings joy and puts you in touch with people.
These spaces helped me find friends with common interests. I’ve tried concerts, curated walks, cafes and even a tango class to ensure that I don’t feel the sense of void. Thankfully, I do stay in touch with family and friends.
Of course, the Vincent scenario would have never hit me. But I do believe a milder dose of that feeling is felt by people in big cities.
Hard Hitting Lines
Some of the lyrics in the album really hit me hard. This one from the song ‘Routine’ was one such line.
Routine keeps me in line
Helps me pass the time
Of course, I would vouch for a good routine to keep an individual healthy and engaged. But if it becomes a coping mechanism, which it did at times, one can feel that he/she is at the precipice of existence.
But then you have a hundred distractions on the internet. That leads me to the next piece of lyrics from the song ‘Home Invasion/ Regret #9’
Download love and download war.
Download the shit you didn't want.
Download the things that make you MAD.
Download the life you wish you had.
These lines are probably a comment on the habit of downloading apps for things we need. These days you have an app for literally everything. And suddenly, we are in the middle of a realisation that in-person activities are the way out.
That’s a good trend. I’m also happy to see a few startups taking up the task of building a space of those who want to get out of the internet.
We meet people. They come and go. Some leave a mark, others are forgettable. But the song ‘Perfect Life’ which kinda captures the dissolution of a sisterly bond touches a delicate nerve.
For a few months everything about our lives was perfect.
It was only us, we were inseparable.
But gradually, she passed into another distant part of my memory,
until I could no longer remember her face, her voice, even her name
I’ve always believed that blood is thicker than water and somehow find ways to rationalise the actions of my family members.
One needs to keep meeting them often or stay in touch via other methods to ensure the bond never breaks. If it does, the individual would feel rootless and fail to make any meaningful connection that nourishes the soul.
I feel that Joyce Carol Vincent can’t be blamed for failing to maintain a familial bond. We are not witness to the events of her life. But, I would have hoped that she had at least one reliable person in her life who could check on her once a week.
Final Words
Steven Wilson’s music can create a gloomy and eerie feeling in your belly. Thankfully, I am in great spirits and it didn’t have much of a negative impact.
I would not recommend this to people who are already depressed or sad. But it is a piece of art that speaks to the heart. If you wish to explore new music, this is the album for you.
As mortals, you and I risk erasure almost on a daily basis. The only way to combat that threat is to value one’s own emotions and those of others.
So that we are remembered and valued.
And not forgotten.