Episode 2: Waiting

if you have been listening and recording situations and

environments for a long time and feel confident, self assured then

the listening might have at least partially stopped. We are not in

control of ‘place’. Further to this part of the job of an artist

working with such sounds and experiences to recognise the results

only contain traces of place. Then there is the working out of how

to convey that to you, the listener. It’s easy to say ‘enjoy’ but

really the point of durational listening, in my opinion, is to get

further than that. To realise that we, as a species, are

constantly imposing ourselves on environments. I’m still waiting

to know more about how or whether we can stop that, or at least

slow it down. the recordings in this piece include fish, shrimp

and boat motors in Husavik harbour, a marsh and a small inlet on

the north coast.

Listening is more than hearing. It’s about letting sounds in and

that requires a letting go of control, and a recognition (for

artist, recordist, audience) of the intuitive response being a

natural part of our species.

nb. headphone listening or via audio speakers is recommended as

some of the frequencies are inaudible via computer speakers