Project Type: sound

The December recording was recorded in shallow water, revealing sounds of the river interspersed with some isolated creatures both sounding and moving close to the hydrophones. Short clicks and croaks are heard in between what sounds like wind, and a heavy but fine rain above ground. This short piece closes the year.

A rain storm introduces the November recording. An intensity of activity close to the hydrophones is also heard. The rain ebbs and flows, the soundings of a winter storm. Nonetheless, as this proceeds, the underwater creature intensely forages with deliberation. This reveals that even in the late autumn or winter, surprising activity can be detected under the water.

October opens with a creature foraging close to the hydrophones. However, the foraging is slower than in previous months, giving a sense of deliberation and consideration. The creature is, at times, accompanied briefly, but mostly is foraging alone.

The September sounds were conducted in conditions of some wind. The creaks of tied boat rope form a background to the creatures foraging and eating around the hydrophones.

In contrast to the July sounds punctuated by rain, the August sounds reveal once more an underwater setting where unidentified creatures forage, make popping sounds, and even a low cat-like noise. However, August is gentler than June, revealing that already the year is once again turning.

July opens with the sounds of the water. This recording was taken in deep water, with the hydrophones suspended in the river. Nevertheless, the hydrophones pick up the sounds of the water lapping against the boat in which the recording equipment was situated. There is a hollow emptiness to this month. A month that should be characterised by intense activity is instead characterised by a few moments of intense activity close to the hydrophones. This activity is noisy, revealing the curiosity of the creature in attempting to forage the hydrophones themselves. Then, halfway through the track, it appears as if noise has entered the recording system. This is the hiss of a heavy rain shower. The water runs faster as the rain pours. The creatures are silent. The interaction of water from the air and underwater is all we hear. As soon as it commenced, the shower is over, leaving the listener to witness the empty river and a single creature once more interacting with the hydrophones.

June commences with the sounds of the marine life foraging and eating material close to the hydrophones. In the background, chattering can be detected. Chirps and croaks are also present, but the overwhelming character of June is a foraging, at times urgent and frenetic, taking place under the water.

The month of May is characterised by a dramatic upsurge in marine activity. Long chattering vocalisations are interspersed with short croaks and creatures exploring the river. A rattling sound also enters the soundscape. A lapping of the water can also be heard throughout.

April commences with some water sounds, the recordings having taken place in a marina for small boats. The sounds here are of the interaction of the water with infrastructure. The backdrop of these sounds is punctuated by some soundings of the marine ecosystem. We hear some small croaks, and some animal movements close to the hydrophones.

March is largely punctuated by sounds of the water itself, the piece recorded at a relatively shallow lake shore. Despite this month associated with a lengthening of the evenings, and the turn to the brightness and life of Spring, the recordings reveal little activity in the ecosystem. Some activity late in the piece symbolically signals the return to Summertime as the clocks go forward at the end of the month.