lawrence english studies for stradbroke

More wind music can be found on Studies for Stradbroke, a set of hydrophonic
recordings fetched from an island of this name in Queensland by Lawrence English,
the famed Australian sound artist and field recording expert. His titles make
reference, not to the prevailing weather conditions, but to the surrounding
geography, such as lakes, tides, rock walls, and grains of sand. Presumably we all need
something that will enable us to perceive the movements of the wind, and when
your hydrophonic recordings fail, then we can watch with amazement at ripples on
the lake’s surface, or the swirling grains of sand around our feet. This is quite a
varied collection and each recording offers you a new perception of the forces of
nature, but as usual with English’s work, he is not especially interested in violence,
strangeness, or drama. Perhaps this is a good thing, and this seaside document will
charm you with the beauty of the miniaturist paintings that flow from Mother
Nature’s gentle hand, rather than scare you with the force of howling tornadoes
that blast from her mighty cheeks. A hydrophone is a microphone for recording
sounds made underwater. These steely brutes work by generating electricity
whenever they sense a change in pressure. Such devices have been used by Chris
Watson whenever he wants to debunk the myth of the ‘silent sea’.

reviewed by Ed Pinsent issue 17 in the sound projector
9/14/2008