Blackton Water nt014

Recorded in Northumberland, in the nature reserve situated around Blackton and Balderhead reservoirs. Many birds are featured from rich textures to singular events and bird calls, including curlews that circle over the water, oyster catchers, lapwing etc.

Wide views over the reservoir benefit from the atmosphere and the resonance of the cup shaped landscape, with birds flying overhead and water lapping at the edge of the reservoirs.

Over Balderhead, the soundscape is more mixed with several distinctive bird calls that makes the rich textural atmosphere of this unique environment.

Recorded on location, and mastered by hervé perez at nexTTime studios
©Hervé Perez 2019

nt014

released June 5, 2020

credits

hervé perez (field recordings) [recorded on a zoom H5 with Sennheiser MKH 416 stereo pair]

Postcards from the North Yorkshire Dales nt013

Recorded in the North Yorshire dales, this album features birdsongs on the English countryside in the late afternoon, evening, and at the dawn chorus.

The first tracks provide a wide sonic view of the dales with its many birds; creating a rich texture of songs.

Then we move to quieter moments at night including wings flap inside the resonance of thick woods, what i secretly dreamed might be nightingales (but turned out to be the all the same beautiful song thrush), and there’s plenty of close up details of single birds.

In the morning, the dawn chorus is once again rich in texture and shows many species of birds together.

There is water running at the bottom of the valley, providing a backdrop to the soundscapes.

Recorded on location, and mastered by hervé perez at nexTTime studios
©Hervé Perez 2019

nt013

released June 5, 2020

credits

hervé perez (field recordings) [recorded on a zoom H5 with Sennheiser MKH 416 stereo pair]

Postcards from Manchester [nt012]

The residency in Manchester was much shorter and we had little time to explore the soundscape that was new to all of us. This also proved rather different to the previous work we did in Walney and Lancaster. The place has a violent clash between classes and the poverty is overwhelming. The sounds I collected were certainly heavier and overall had a darker feel.

So we pointed our cameras and microphones to the hidden side, the undergrowth, and the periphery where life breathes a little amongst the buzz of busy bees.
Some of the areas we explored around the centre were the Cathedral, Piccadilly, but also ventured further to Bridgewater and Castlefield.

One thing that is sure is that you never get away from the drone of the city; from fans to traffic, and the omnipresent trams and trains.

These recordings therefore represent the soundscapes and qualities of places, with their natural resonance, as well as a present ambience brought by constant activities of this busy city.

Thanks to Full of Noises, MJF, LJF, ACE for making the work possible.

Recorded on location, and mastered by hervé perez at nexTTime studios
©Hervé Perez 2019nt012

released June 3, 2020

 

credits

 

hervé perez (field recordings) [recorded on a zoom H4n with Sennheiser MKH 416 stereo pair]

Postcards from Lancaster nt011

Continuing the work on ‘Northern’ with cellist Maja Bugge and video artist Adam York-Gregory, we spent a week in Lancaster recording the sounds and images that represent their hometown, as described by local people and the children Maja interviewed.

During this time, we documented the place with sounds and video for performances at Manchester Jazz festival and Lancaster Jazz festival. Those performances were improvised with material we collected during residencies in those places and we interpreted our sense of place from a menu of field recordings and video clips.

Presented here is a selection of the recordings I used to produce samples for performance. These recordings were collected at different key locations, which included the Lune river, Lancaster canal, Williamson park and Ashton memorial. We had exclusive access to the Lancaster brewery and Atkinsons coffee where we recorded amazing sounds from the machinery with rare insights into the production process.

Thanks to Full of Noises, MJF, LJF, ACE for making the work possible.

Recorded on location, and mastered by hervé perez at nexTTime studios
©Hervé Perez 2018

 

 

Postcards from Walney nt010

For a residency organised by octopus collective, I spent a few days on Walney island with cellist Maja Bugge and video artist Adam York-Gregory. During this time, we documented the place with sounds and video for the performance of ‘Northern’ that took place at Full of Noises festival 2018, and later at Manchester Jazz festival and Lancaster Jazz festival. Those performances were improvised with material we collected during residencies in those places and we interpreted our sense of place from a menu of field recordings and video clips.

Presented here is a selection of the recordings I used to produce samples for performance. These recordings were collected over three days at different key locations of the nature reserve and illustrate certain natural habitats and their sonic quality.

Recorded on location, and mastered by hervé perez at nexTTime studios
©Hervé Perez 2018

 

 

Postcards from Matera nt009

This is a document of the rich sonic identity of a place in the south of Italy. Recorded on a minidisk and with binaural microphones the album is a journey through the amazing sonic architecture of an ancient cave dwelling settlement carved into the sandstone of a canyon.

The starting point, in the very centre of the city, gives a sense of the busy bustling square, with a dramatic surround sound immersion into this incredible place that is loud and very much alive. The journey continues down into the old town, and the soundscape immediately changes. And as we wind down windy narrow passages, the resonance and acoustic shifts.

The attraction of the use of binaural microphones, when listening back through headphones, you become immersed into the scene, you become the protagonist; and this is an active journey, moving through the sonic landscape, letting the sounds swirl around your head and listening to the architecture communicate its presence and identity.

The old town of the Sassi is made of rock houses carved in natural caves. This place has a palpable vibe and a unique sound. Moving through the narrow streets and passageways shows how much the architecture filters and shapes the sounds we hear.

Churches are omnipresent and bells echo each other from across the valley. There are bursts of voices, dogs appear, old mopeds jump out, and birds flying overhead. Turn a corner and everything changes. The wind rushes around your ears as it sweeps down crags, porches and passageways. Swifts. It is summer. Time has stopped. You are there. So very present at every moment. This place has power.

The recording, made with a portable minidisk and in-ear binaural mikes is imperfect, but it is a valuable document of an incredible acoustic space in a period of change and transformation. There is a raw quality of nature in constant interaction with present signs of civilisation.
I have left the imperfections of this document to maintain the real feel, the immediacy of wind noises, voices, handling and movements which are all integral part of this active exploration of place and acoustics.

I am very pleased to share this document, and blessed to have had the chance to spend time in this place. Thanks to Harry and Antonia for the invitation and rare opportunity.

Recorded on location, and mastered by hervé perez at nexTTime studios
©Hervé Perez 2004