Radio music and the the microwave background ratiation

John Smith, Echos, Paris, Les Curies, 1972

The book presents the story story of an old lady who – left alone by her son who was at work – felt the spleen and turned on the radio.

John Smith offers to the reader a detailed account on the two hours that the old lady (her name is Clementine) spent in front of the radio set, changing the frequencie; it gave the author the opportunity to lead us in the world of radio waves (see the chapter covering the microwave background radiation of the Universe, a remnant of the Big Bang, the pages dealing with signals from distant galaxies and how they cross large void gaps), but also to outline a history of music. The narrative is particularly interesting, consisting of the interlacing of sounds and memories of Clementine.

A personal history of the music though, because the reader perceives that the old lady can be identified with the author. In the epilogue we learn that – while trying to prepare a tea – Clementine has caused an explosion and, thereafter, she died burned. Shaken, the radio set changes the frequency by itself and all can be heard in the loudspeaker is the background noise of the universe.