Wednesday, 27 March 2013

The oldest recorded human voice

Although not entirely supernatural the clip is reportedly the oldest recording of a human voice, and will certainly send shivers up your spine. The track is dated 17th August 1857 and was created by Leon Scott, entitled "Jeune Jouvencelle". Even though I believe it's all but impossible to prove that it's a human voice the effect is very, very creepy.

The sound is paired with the oldest film recording from 1865, a revolving portrait of Felix Nadar the French journalist, photographer and baloonist. When it was released the video caused some controversy, linked to the belief that photographs held pieces of your soul, so a series of them would hold more. The belief seems to stem from the superstition about mirrors, that they reflect the soul. After a person died the mirrors in their house were covered up, to ensure that the soul didn't get stuck in a mirror instead of passing over.