the center of a forthcoming radio hour

„the beginning“ (sequence of three or four tracks)

„This morning the conditions were just right. This crossroads at Smalesmouth in the Kielder Forest, I am told, connects two of the ‘old straight tracks’ upon which Scottish drovers would herd their livestock south across the open hill. Today, the forest clearing is home to a host of bird, both resident and migrant. Here, however, end of March, the birdsong comes from local voices at the peak of their activity. So at our usual site on the junction of the forest tracks, recording began just after the light came up. The cold, dry air was full of detail, this isolated spot quickly reanimated by the ringing song and calls of chaffinch, robin, wren, songthrush, siskin and crossbill…“

“the center“

Michael speaking
Steve Tibbetts: a track from „Close“
Steve Tibbetts talking (1)
a short track from a classic desert island album (Eno)
One of the three Necks speaking (1)
The Necks: Disquiet (excerpt from a long piece)
Another one the three Necks speaking (2)
a short track from another desert island album (Ecm)
Steve Tibbetts talking (2)
Steve Tibbetts: another track from „Close“
Michael speaking

„the ending“ (sequence of three or four tracks)

„Wind wherever the sound recordist operates is an obvious nuisance. Just as it is with turbulent seas and fast-running water, it is relatively simple to make a recording that captures the generalised bashing and cashing of the elements, but this results in white noise that describes nothing of the detailed ebb and flow as witnessed. The remarkable thing here, in Glen Cannich, was that i could walk through the foci of these wind sounds within a few paces, as if being part of some great instrument. The blast here was so strong that it took some time to fix the microphones securely – I felt surrounded by the full force of the elements being channelled through this site, and wanted the recording to reflect the bent-double posture and sheer physicality I was experiencing. I cabled back 50 or 60m to a sheltered position and managed to run the tape for almost ten minutes before the microphones were blown over.“