Glenn Gould’s radio documentary The Idea of North begins with a reminiscent woman whose words not only speak of the past, but also possesses a voice that illustrates history, a certain wisdom. This poignance is interrupted by the overlap of voices, people speaking on top of each other about what is presumably their own pasts, in which I found myself jarred and uncomfortable. Despite the multitude of voices, I could not help but look for the woman’s voice, her cool, charmingly-accented lines that provided initial clarity.
This confusion is redeemed by Gould’s introduction, providing a relief from the chaotic voices that had been minuted. After introducing another voice whom will play the role of narrator, it is clear that the character of the voices is somewhat equally important, if not more, in the creation of the image of the past. Unfortunately, this is only bogged down by the straightforward interview reply style with which the clip ends, lacking in any form of audial elegance.