Bringing nature to you in sounds and images
Posted in In Nature:, Thailand on Sep 3rd, 2008
A Rufous Woodpecker flew across the open meadow, toward the grove of pine trees in which I was sound recording. It landed on a tree nearby, and I could see its lovely, rusty plumage illuminated by the first rays of morning sunlight. They defy gravity, these large woodpeckers, clinging to tree trunks with formidable claws, [...]
Posted in Australia, In Nature: on Sep 3rd, 2008
There are times when nature’s sounds and the physical landscape come together to create a moment that is utterly magical. Such an occasion involved the voice of one of the world’s most sublime songbirds, the Pied Butcherbird, and the cathedral-like acoustic of Ormiston Gorge in the Australian desert.
The recording we made of the butcherbirds in [...]
Posted in Australia, In Nature: on Sep 2nd, 2008
The average time that visitors stay at Uluru (Ayres Rock) National Park is only one and a half days. Which is not only surprising, but very sad, as Uluru is far more than just a picture postcard to be ticked off the tourist itinerary.
Situated on the edge of the great western desert, Uluru is not [...]
Posted in Australia, In Nature:, New Releases on Aug 22nd, 2008
When Sarah and I first began Listening Earth in 1993, I had no training or guidance in how to go about recording nature sounds. I simply turned the recorder on when something interesting caught my ear; a particular species calling, or a pleasing harmony in the sounds around me. As soon as the subject of [...]
Posted in In Nature:, New Releases, Thailand on Aug 21st, 2008
Being in a tropical forest in the depths of night can be one of the most relaxing and meditative experiences for me. In total darkness, with a chorus of nocturnal insects chiming in the night air, I would describe it as being immersed in a hypnotic sound bath. Very peaceful.
So I wanted to create a [...]
Posted in Australia, In Nature: on Aug 8th, 2008
Swift Parrots (Lathamus discolor) are pretty little creatures. Not only are they beautiful birds, but there are estimated to be only a few thousand of them left in the wild.
Posted in Listening on Aug 7th, 2008
In part one, I discussed music as background listening to enhance your study or work environment. I concluded that what makes for good music is what engages our minds and feelings. However in studying, this can be distracting, and not what we want. Ideally, we are looking for listening that is vital, not soporific, whilst [...]
Posted in Listening on Aug 7th, 2008
I fondly remember the trauma of studying for my year twelve, high school exams. I also remember the music I listened to while I studied, choosing it because it seemed the most calming and focusing, or relatively so considering my music tastes at the time.
Since then, I have gone on to develop a keen interest [...]
Posted in Australia, New Releases on Jul 30th, 2008
Nature sounds recorded in the Blue Mountains National Park feature in our latest album release: “The Blue Mountains”. The album is an evocative sound journey into the nature of one of Australia’s most well-known landscapes.
Posted in India, Society and Nature Sounds on Jul 2nd, 2008
When in India, we found ourselves amused at the variety and volume of car and truck horns. From reedy wheezes, old-time ‘honks’, blarting farts, to an ear-splitting rack of air horns – the range of sounds was extraordinary. Have a listen: Indian traffic, with those ubiquitous airhorns.
But it is no laughing matter.