I’m planning to record an album entirely outdoors. On rooftops and rowing boats, in forests and high streets, mountains and quarries, ruined churches and beaches, car parks and peat bogs. Anywhere, really.
I first had the idea while on a trip to Sierra Leone, but quickly realised that it’s one thing to daydream of such a plan whilst in the tropics and quite another to actually attempt it back at home in Scotland. Nevertheless, I think some part of me took perverse pleasure in the thought of having to make a real physical effort to complete this project. My favourite works at most galleries are those that not only look beautiful but must also have required a particularly generous portion of excursion. The exploding shed at the Tate Modern in London. The huge tapestries at the Alcázar in Seville. Besides, it would be good to get out more often. Most of us (myself included) can easily go through a whole week and spend just a few short hours outwith the confines of buildings and vehicles. That would have to change if I was to complete this project. But thoughts of self-betterment (bordering on downright masochism) weren’t all that were on my mind. In an age when it seems anyone can produce an album in their bedroom I was also interested in re-exploring the relationship between music and the environment in which it is created. What happens to a recording when you have no control over the surroundings? What anomalies and accidents may occur? By working outdoors I would surely be closer to finding out. What about noise?! What about fidelity?! Certainly, the protesting perfectionist in me would be severely challenged by this project. However, the music we listen to on our cheap iPod earbuds is constantly being assaulted by the sounds of our surroundings. Why not creatively introduce all this ‘noise’ at an earlier stage? Most of all, the idea sounded fun and stupid in equal measures and these are my favourite kind of ideas. Dan
Dan,
This sounds a great idea. Despite the fact that I actually think we should take out our earbuds when we’re out and about in interesting sonic environments, I think the idea of walking about with them in and listening to an album that has been recorded outside is wild…
Come up to Aberdeenshire, there’s some amazing environments. A track recorded at Pocra Quay near Fitdee (old fishing village close to docks at Aberdeen) would be excellent. It’s a huge space with the distant sounds from the massive expanse of the docks sounding like tiny percussive sounds from an orchestra of ships and boats.
Do a track in a stone circle. We’ve loads of those. They’ve got strange infrasonic qualities and a band member near each stone would give some interesting spatial effects.
Pete
Good luck, I really enjoy your music and wish you all the best!
Thanks Joe, I appreciate that!
And Pete, thanks for your comments. I couldn’t agree more about taking your earbuds out when walking around! There’s such a rich tapestry of sound around us almost anywhere you go, a constantly changing soundtrack that certainly beats anything on my iPod!
Pocra Quay sounds amazing. I’m up in Aberdeen from time to time so will definitely have to check it out next time I’m up. And the stone circle idea is brilliant, would definitely like to give it a go.
I love your Gordon Soundscape site by the way. I had looked at it a while ago but enjoyed having another browse this morning. Very good. I suppose, in a way, I’m attempting a similar but much simpler idea with the Google Map I’m working on (link below). However, I haven’t yet figured out how to embed sounds into the comments yet…
Hopefully get to meet you soon.
Dan
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=100280044493069927534.0004927e0a3f1a9d13093&ll=37.579413,-38.144531&spn=74.779923,158.027344&t=h&z=3