Alex H Duncan is often to be found foraging forests and coastlines deploying technology to harvest midi data from trees, plants and any other source of sounds that mother nature is prepared to share with him. These recordings provide Alex with the raw data to build his meticulous, dense soundscapes, which takes the listener into a world of the ‘other’. After being invited to record and collect data at a fundraiser for Forest without Frontiers in Essex, Alex found Sherman, a magnificent giant Oak watching over the space.
In an uncanny and exciting live recording session the tree appeared to respond to a nearby gong player following the musical dynamics of the sound. The midi data collected during these sessions has been used to create Sherman Oak.
It’s a fascinating way to make music, and brings an element of the unknown into the creative process. The end results speak for themselves, with a wonderful experimental / ambient track resulting from the process.
I see it as my mission, my calling to give plant life a voice, a sound in a world in desperate need for their undoubtable wisdom. While feeding us daily and providing us with everything we need to survive they suffer our contempt and abuse.Humanity needs to wake up and stand up for the plants. Trees seem a good place to start.
