As part of the Ballroom Marfa’s Music on Film series, curators Vance Knowles & Noel Waggener selected two documentaries which address the main factors for creating music, creative inspiration and technical mastery.

Imaginary Landscapes
Directed by Gabriella Cardazzo and Duncan Ward
A documentary detailing Brian Eno’s process in the studio. A remarkable snapshot of a pioneer.

Tom Dowd and the Language of Music
Directed by Mark Moorman
A fascinating documentary about Tom Dowd. His early scientific work with the Atomic Commission led to the atomic bombs of WWII (he was 20). After this, he became staff engineer at Atlantic Records, recording such legends as Ray Charles, Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane, Booker T & the MG’s, Cream, The Allman Brothers, and many others. He is quite possibly the foremost studio innovator of recent times, inventing the 8-track tape machine, mixing board faders, and isolation of studio instruments.