an unedited extract of a durational recording of vibrations within soil horizons - east yorkshire 


ink botanic is an on-going series of installations and multi-channel sound works...research into transpiration, root systems, cavitation, vibrations in soil horizons and situated connections between species

recorded with JrF c-series contact microphones, d-series hydrophones and adapted geophones


https://jezrileyfrench.co.uk/ink-botanic.php

ink botanic - soil horizons (unedited extract)

Red Deer Rut - Binaural 26:09:2022

recorded with 2 x JrF d-series hydrophones placed directly in the 100 degree centigrade + mud pools at Krafla, Iceland, June 2014

Krafla mud pools with hydrophones (extract)

water beetles - recorded with 2 JrF d-series hydrophones

Water beetles - recorded with JrF d-series hydrophones

→ http://shelter-press.org/tomoko-sauvage-musique-hydromantique-sp087/

TOMOKO SAUVAGE 'Musique Hydromantique' (SP087)
SAMPLE MIX

Musique Hydromantique is the second solo album by Tomoko Sauvage archiving many years of her performance-based practice on the waterbowls - the natural synthesizer of her invention, composed with porcelain bowls filled with water and amplified via hydrophones (underwater microphones). While her first album Ombrophilia (released on and/OAR in 2009) was studio-recorded /composed work, «Musique Hydromantique» is about experimentation and improvisation with the environment - acoustics affected by the architecture, temperature, humidity and the human presence. 

For more than ten years, Sauvage has been investigating the sound and visual properties of water in different states, as well as those of ceramics, combined with electronics. Water drops, waves and bubbles are some of the elements she has been playing with to generate the fluid timbre. Since around 2010, hydrophonic feedback has been an obsession for the musician - an acoustic phenomenon that requires fine tuning depending on the amount of water, a subtle volume control and interaction with the acoustic space. 

Calligraphy was recorded in a genuine echo chamber, with about 10 second reverbs, situated in a former textile factory. Like an endless exercise to draw perfect curves and forms floating in the air, the subaquatic feedback frequencies are pitch-bended with the mass of water sculpted by a hand changing its quantity. Fortune Biscuit is about the singing bubbles emitted from the pieces of ‘biscuit’ (porous terra-cotta). Depending on the texture of the surface, each biscuit makes different sound : insect and animal voices in a forest, motors, crying babies changing pitches and rhythms while absorbing the water… Clepsydra (meaning water clock) features Sauvage’s classical technique, a random percussion with dripping water. She tunes the waterbowls by adding and removing water, making flowing glissando, to find the balance point in ever-changing tonalities. 

Just as the flow of water is subject to a number of variables such as temperature and pressure, water clocks mark a time that is shifting and relative. However, slowness dominates throughout the album as a result of favoring the full resonance of the instrument, leading to a path to experiencing timelessness. 

Hydromancy is a method of divination by means of water. Unpredictable bubbles and water ripples become oracles. Evaporation and acoustic space constantly play a chance operation. Through primordial materials and ritualistic yet playful gestures, Musique Hydromantique questions contemporary divination.

All the tracks are live-recorded without electronic effects or editing. They were recorded during the night or very early in the morning and the whole album is to be listened to during that period of a day. 

—
LP edition of 500 copies with reverse board-printed inner and outer sleeve. Digipack CD edition of 1000 copies. Mastered by Rashad Becker at Dubplates and Mastering.

TOMOKO SAUVAGE 'Musique Hydromantique' Sample Mix (SP087)

an extract from a set of recordings of  sulphurous 120 degree mud pools in Iceland, recorded with 2 JrF d-series hydrophones

from the forthcoming  'ísland   |  archives (skjalasafn)' publication

2018

Solfataras (extract)

a short extract of a long form recording of a pond in southern Sweden, recorded with 2 x JrF d-series hydrophones

the sound of pond weed during photosynthesis

pond weed photosynthesis (sweden)

from 'ink botanic' 

https://jezrileyfrench.co.uk/ink-botanic.php

a recording of the root system of a group of plants - mainly japonica peach blossom but with other smaller species also.

recorded using prototype JrF microphones based on the c-series contact mics. 

listen with headphones for the more subtle sounds alongside those of regular transpiration.

ink botanic - (japonica peach blossom)

Composed for Wave Field Synthesis at Game of Life, Den Haag, NL, primarily with non-standard synthesis processes.

Textonics

(listen with good headphones or conventional speakers to get a sense of the full frequency range)

3 extracts from recordings made with JrF c-series contact microphones;

rain bowl - sweden
railings - sussex
railings - stockholm

I'm posting these particular recordings to highlight the low frequency response capable with the c-series contact mics. Frequencies down to 10hz can be detected. All digital recorders have a 10hz limited installed that can't be turned off without hacking the recorder.

resonances recorded with c-series contact mics

taken from the project 'mineral veins' (dissolves)  natural substances breaking down under environmental pressures, interactions and distortions. 

(recorded using JrF d-series hydrophones & adapted geophones)

mineral veins | Lugnas Dissolve (extract) - headphones / speakers needed

exploring the overlooked and underheard through located sound, film and photography

resonances recorded with c-series contact mics

JezrileyFrench

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