A 'soundmark' loosely refers to a location-specific sound which is unique, or possesses qualities which make it specially regarded. It might communicate some cultural, historical, geographical or natural significance, perhaps meriting preservation and protection.
In Spring 2017 I was able to explore the Golden State of California, and wanted to exercise this act of preservation by sourcing and capturing some of its soundmarks. Recorded across snowy mountains, arid deserts, dense forests, oceanic vistas, majestic waterfalls, monolithic rock formations and some of the most beautiful and vividly cultured towns and cities I've ever visited, this is the sonic documentation of an awe-inspiring and humbling journey.
For Nell, Mark, Lucy & Ellie - the best travel companions you could ask for.
credits
released December 1, 2017
Danny Mills - mixing, editing.
Joe Richards - recording, mixing, editing, photography, artwork.
"San Francisco: A Sound Map of the Golden City" features the sounds of the Municipal Railway and heritage streetcars, sea lions, pelicans and seagulls of Fisherman's Wharf, the windswept bustle of the Golden Gate Bridge, the creaking and swaying of ships moored at the bay, and the city's emergency sirens by day and night.
"Into the Wild: Deserts, Sierras, Ghost Towns and Guns" features the abandoned Wild West undertones of Bodie, cold winds and birdsong over the Sierra Nevada, gunshots echoing above Santa Barbara, the motionless hum of Death Valley, and the distant rumbles of Los Angeles from the mysterious Mulholland Drive.
"Hydrophonics: Waterfalls, Waveforms and Aquaculture" features roaring sea lions at La Jolla, windchimes at Monterey Bay, panoramic waves from the tip of Avila Pier, the crashing thunder of Cascade Falls and Yosemite's Lower Falls, lapping waves recorded inside a shipwreck at Coronado, the commentated surfacing and spouting of a fin whale near San Diego, and the cathartic oceanic greyness of Carmel.
supported by 4 fans who also own “Soundmarks of California”
A perambulation down the by now familiar trail but this time the weather has conspired with other atmospheric forces to reveal the stunning views.
Additional: I find this and their other albums provide the perfect soundtrack for driving in Wales. Moth Ear Earth
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