Title: Off the Record

Author: Samara McDowell

In: Sport 32: Summer 2004

Publication details: Fergus Barrowman, December 2004

Part of: Sport

Conditions of use

Share:

Abstraction

You say aloud, watching the musicians' faces, something you've thought every time you've seen them play, and have always been too well brought-up to mention. To these other two women, watching the (all male) musicians at one remove, on the Avid, you say, ‘Isn't it amazing, how they all look like they're fucking?’

The youngest of you says dryly, ‘Like they're masturbating,’ and the other two shriek with delight. ‘Yes,’ you all say. ‘Yes, exactly.’ That look of intense, pained concentration, that utter self-absorption.

And then, of course, they're all doing something both frenetic and highly skilled. With their hands.