Switched Off

An excerpt from a five kilometre soundwalk. The excerpt covers about one kilometre (excluding distances travelled up and down in swift, quiet elevators spanning nine levels - four of which are underground car parking - inside the symbolic/metaphorical 'citadel'). On the one hand, the soundwalk was intentionally pre-'scored' (while allowing for spontaneous detours), based on memory of prior sound-experiences, although most of these locations hadn't been visited for two years or more; on the other hand, it was naturally and necessarily formed by the aleatory/chance events and sounds of the moment. In any case, it was essentially an experiment (both technical and aesthetic). The important thing is that it manages to bear a certain burden of 'logical argument' (albeit in an 'oneiric realist' form). Like any logical argument, it has a point to illustrate and substantiate. In that respect, it is essentially also philosophical in intent. (But that is the case for most of my work.) The piece is essentially unprocessed and unedited: no mixing, no effects. The goal is to capture the 'whole' in one take, as one actually-occurring complex and self-unified fact. Nothing added, or removed. That speaks to its 'realism', its 'documentary' aspect, alongside its metaphoricity/symbolism and oneiric aspects.

2024.10.10 Into the Citadel. (Soundwalk Sample.)

25 Big Night

27 if I were You

30 Coming Back

EARTHBOUND (5)

37 The Silence of Your Hands

40 To Die Until I Died

42 Other Side of the Page

A lone Grey Wolf howls in the late morning, losing itself to the natural reverb of a glacial valley

Grey Wolves were all but extirpated from Washington early in the last century. They've been on a slow but steady recovery now for decades. While still a species of high concern in the Northwest, occasions of hearing their mournful cries are thankfully becoming more and more common.

This is not without controversy, unfortunately, as ranchers fear their livelihoods will be destroyed and hunters express concern over the competition for game animals. My general feeling is this is good, however. The mass numbers of humanity living in former wolf territory and the introduction of highly destructive and invasive farm and game animals such as cattle, pigs, chickens, bullfrogs, pheasant, etc, have had long-lasting, oft-permanent destructive consequences on our ecological systems. That wolves are able to reclaim some territory on their own despite the historical effort to eliminate them is a testimony to their tenacity as a species.

The challenges are great, though, and humanity does not make it easy for other apex predators to survive in a world we claim as our own to despoil at will. Wolves need help all around North America. To help recovery efforts and the benefits they can provide, consider supporting a conservation effort such as The International Wolf Center https://wolf.org or a sanctuary and rehabilitation center such as Wolf Haven International https://wolfhaven.org. For more information on their spread and recovery in Washington, read this informational pamphlet from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife https://bit.ly/2NvfgXW

image credit: "File:Grey Wolf Portrait.jpg" by Jean Beaufort is marked with CC0 1.0. To view the terms, visit http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en?ref=openverse.

Lone Wolf Howls

I hope the Wild Edges speak for themselves. The rest is what happens between them.

I have limited know how and equipment, but think that feeling is more important than hardware and technical ability. 

I decided to stop liking other artists tracks, even if i do like them. I was feeling the pressure to like tracks when i listened to them, especially when people sent them to me to listen to, worried that if i didn't i would upset or offend the artist if i didn't like them, its easier just to like privately. Misunderstandings sadly happened too easily, so i'm distancing myself from the possibility of hurting anyone and of being hurt myself.  Maybe it is better being alone after all. Soundcloud is just like anywhere else where there are lots of people...it can be difficult.

I won't follow, listen, or like, for followers, listens, and likes, so, please, don't ask me to. 

This is a creative escape.

I am always trying to be quiet, but often fail, and to do better.

For Headphone listening
Thank you for listening

Switched Off

Notes From Your Wild Edges

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