Environmental Sounds

Yorkshire Records - Environmental Sounds

An LP of two side-long recordings of "nature's music ... recorded live on this planet". These occurred during the summer and autumn in New York (United States).

A Mid-Summer's Thunderstorm

This was recorded in mid-July, near Saratoga, New York. It was one of those hot, heavy summer days when the air pressure increases until your veins are about to burst.

In the blackness forming to the Southwest came the first rumblings. We ran to the studio and set up our microphones. The storm continued to build, the rumblings increased and lightning ignited the horizon. Though it was early afternoon, it appeared to be nearly nighttime. The wind began to blow, the leaves of the maple trees outside began to rustle, and the first drops began to fall. It was incredibly exciting.

The rumblings continued to build slowly, the rain fell quietly. Then suddenly it came, from across the field you could see a wall of rain coming. And it engulfed everything. But the rumblings continued. Then as the rumblings were beginning to die out - lightning struck a tree only a few hundred yards away. There was so much power behind it, it was enough to make your hair stand on end. This was followed by several other sharp cracks, but far less threatening.

Eventually the storm subsided, the sky became light, the rain lessened to a pleasant shower, and the first bird began to tweet. A dog could be heard and the sun came out. Other birds joined in and finally in the Northeast an amazing rainbow appeared against the dark sky.

The record finally ends with a single bird that perched near our microphones warbling through the most amazing repertoire of songs, paying homage to the fresh new world.

The Wind in the Autumn Woods

This was also recorded in upstate New York near Saratoga, but in late October. We were fortunate enough to record this on one of those quiet sunny afternoons, the last few days of Indian summer. The leaves, all red and orange and golden were beginning to fall, and the wind, in the tree tops above was shaking them loose (you may be able to hear some landing near our microphones). As we recorded this, lying on our backs on a bed of leaves and looking up through the lacework of branches above, we found ourselves amazed at how little we'd heard before; the wind coming in such unpredictable gusts, rising and falling with no perceptible pattern; the groups of geese from Canada headed south; the loud squawks of bluejays arriving to spend the winter; birds gathering in flocks preparing to move South (these were a little late, most had left by then); a dog barking and a cow mooing on a farm a half a mile off; a single engine airplane passing over; later a train far off in the distance; and the lonesome cry of crows in an open field about a quarter mile away. The wind subsided and we switched for a close-up to a set of microphones set very close to the leaves - dry and rustling quite loudly. With this close-up you can also hear flies buzzing, playing in the warm sun chasing each other, doing loop-de-loops, and one even landing on the microphone, sitting for a spell then zinging off again.

The wind whistled and whispered, and did all those beautiful things poets celebrate as nature's most intimate music.

Perhaps what fascinates us most about this recording is the purifying effect the wind has. There are times when I listen to this that I can feel that all negative stuff in me that's been collected during the day is being blown away. Whatever it is, it leaves me with a good cleansed feeling and makes a nice background environment, bringing the autumn woods into my room. (from the liner notes)

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. A Mid-Summer's Thunderstorm {23:52}

Side 2

1. The Wind in the Autumn Woods {25:03}

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