Field Recording

About field recording

I make field recordings for reasons I'm not entirely yet certain of. Are these sonic objects, complete in themselves without need of any reference point, or are they inextricably linked to their source environment and actors? What do field recordings have to say about the sentient, enchanted, animated nature of the world and the networks of communication occurring in it (between living beings and stones, spirits, ideas etc.)? I'm interested in these questions and more, and happy to remain immersed in the activity which I find at least very interesting and which gives me access into another mode of listening.

Here are some essays, books, artists and blogs that I find to be interesting and inspiring. Would love your suggestions on more reading.

• David Michael: Toward a Dark Nature Recording
• Francisco Lopez: Sonic Creatures
• Eduardo Kohn: How Forests Think
• Tyson Yunkaporta: Sand Talk
• Radio Cegeste
• ABC Radio National: The Ghost Songs
• Jim Denley: Last Day at Turkey Creek (recording as time travel)​

Below is a handful of field recordings I've made. I make these all the time and have plenty more I could share, but for some reason I'm selective about what I put online. Maybe if you want to hear more you can write to me!

• Superb lyrebirds in Tarraleah (Tasmanian highlands), September 2019
• Wilgadjny, third visit, Wiilman Noongar boodja (Dryandra woodlands), March 2019
• Footybox, Ballardong Noongar boodja (Koorda), December 2018
• Wilgadjny, first visit, Wiilman Noongar boodja (Dryandra woodlands), October 2018

The photo on the left is from Nanda country - it's the Murchison river, in the Kalbarri gorges, about eight hours drive north of Perth.

---

Live Music

I make an effort to document as much of the experimental music goings-on in Perth that I can using a small portable recording setup. I've recorded on occasion for Outcome Unknown and Tura New Music, as well as recording nearly everything that my label Tone List does.

Some recordings I've made, of my own music & the music of others:
​

• Sage Pbbbt & Lily Tait, live at Tone List's Rookwood series
• Stepančić/Gidron duo, live at Klangraum Festival in Düsseldorf.
• Berlin Split, an album on Tone List
• Andy Butler & ensemble, at the 2019 Audible Edge festival.
• Isabelle Duthoit & Franz Hautzinger, at the 2018 Audible Edge festival.
• Original Past Life, at the 2019 Audible Edge festival.
• DRUM's Lone Ranger, Eternal Stranger, a self-released short album.
• Kirsten Symczycz's 'eleven', a contribution to the EX/IN compilation.

I am really very happy to record experimental projects in Western Australia and would love to help out with a project you have - do get in touch.

---

The Lion Never Sleeps

I have been working with Noemie Huttner-Koros on this project, re-enchanting the streets of Northbridge through audio recordings & walking tours focusing on the history of queer activism in Perth, especially amidst the AIDS crisis. The project specifically focuses on queer elders; our interviewees include Mark Reid, Janet Carter, Claire Bushby, and Carl Gopalkrishnan.

​An online presentation of this piece is slowly coming together.

​Some reviews, writing and interviews around the piece:

• Review by Scott Patrick Mitchell
• ​Review by Saoirshe Nash
• Interview on RTR.fm 92.1
• Article on The Perth Voice