Sound mosaics for a broken world

Holt Heath soundwalk

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:48:34 GMT

A soundwalk around Holt Heath National Nature Reserve in Dorset, UK, during the Spring of 2025.

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Blanc Sceol

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 18:02:02 GMT

An interview with the environmental sound artists Blanc Sceol (Stephen Shiell and Hannah White), who work on the boundaries between sound, listening and performance, while fostering a reciprocal relationship with ecological communities. Their compositions, interventions and performances are strongly grounded in their sense of place, an an awareness of how human impacts are shaping environments. Much of their recent work has focused on rivers, especially the Channelsea river in central London. Further details at https://www.blancsceol.co.uk/

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Ecopoetry 2: learning to become ecopoets

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:51:43 GMT

Ecopoetry offers the possibility of writing creatively about the environment, and strengthening our connection with it. But what is ecopoetry? And more importantly, how might one create it? This show documents the beginning of our journey to learn how to become ecopoets, and the obstacles we encountered along the way - as well as the fun we had. Many thanks to Helen Moore of Wild Ways to Writing for so patiently guiding us while we took our first steps.

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Ecopoetry 1: Waterdrop and river / run

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:26:06 GMT

Field recordings of a launch event for Waterdrop and river / run, two collaborative ecopoetry books focusing on rivers. With readings from poets Clare Whistler, Kay Syrad and Helen Moore, hosted at The Watershed, Dorset, UK. This is a an ecologically designed experimental station for climate-focused residencies, and the HQ of Cape Farewell. The Watershed lies on the Sydling Water, which can be heard in these recordings.

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Kankyō ongaku

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:39:43 GMT

“Kankyō ongaku” is Japanese for “environmental music,” but also refers to a genre of electronic ambient music that developed in Japan in the 1980s. Field recordings were typically blended with minimalist melodies performed with synthesizers of the time. The music has its roots in the ambient music of Brian Eno, and the furniture music of Erik Satie, but has its own distinctive Japanese sensibility and aesthetic. This sound mosaic was produced as a tribute to this form of music, and was composed using similar approaches, blending field recordings collected in Japan with generative sequences performed on 1980s synthesizers, which were subjected to a number of randomisation procedures. With thanks to Spencer Doran, who has helped spread the word about this form of music, and how it is produced.

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Medway tales: entangled human and other-than-human voices

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 11:15:28 GMT

‘Medway tales: entangled human and other-than-human voices’ was co-created by sound artist Adrian Newton in collaboration with More-Than-Human researchers Valerie Nelson and Victoria Leslie, together with the River Medway and its pilgrims. Many thanks also to Toby Edwards for Medway recordings.

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The museum of failure

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 14:58:09 GMT

'The museum of failure' is a term that has been used to describe the accumulation of old vinyl records in charity shops. Strangely, wherever you are in the world, these abandoned records seem to be the same ones. This phenomenon raises questions about the cultural value of physical media, whether vinyl, cassettes or CDs. Further questions relate to the environmental impact of the dissemination of music, either as physical media or via the internet. Answers to these questions are explored through a visit to the museum of failure.

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Pyrenean soundscape

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 12:38:33 GMT

A mosaic of sounds recorded in the French Pyrenees, focusing on the species that live in the beech forests, rivers and meadows of this beautiful landscape. Can you hear the sounds of environmental change?

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Listening through waste

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:12:01 GMT

Featuring the work of environmental sound artist Chris Sciacca, who has recently been exploring the issue of e-waste using some innovative listening approaches. These include listening to waste processing facilities using microphones made from scrap materials, which have provided new insights into how these processes are affecting ecosystems.

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And the birds cry out

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 13:41:49 GMT

Around 1400 of the world's bird species are now threatened with extinction, mostly because of human activities. This show features a recording of a sound installation created in 2024, incorporating calls and songs of some of the world's threatened birds. The installation was designed such that the bird sounds were modulated by the presence of people, providing a metaphor for human impacts on the environment. The original sounds were obtained from Xeno-Canto.org, whose contributions are gratefully acknowledged.

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Into the Archive

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 14:19:58 GMT

A radio play, profiling the archive of previous works produced by Wimborne Community Theatre.

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Heal Somerset

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 17:09:28 GMT

A mosaic of sounds recorded at Heal Somerset, which is a rewilding project in rural Somerset, UK. A former dairy farm is being rewilded by allowing vegetation to develop naturally. https://www.healsomerset.org.uk/

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Sound walk at West Bay

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 11:06:18 GMT

A sound walk through the coastal environments near to the town of West Bay, Dorset. The walk follows the course of the River Brid, and features field recordings from both under the water surface and from the surrounding floodplain, which is partly a nature reserve. These recordings were made as part of the Ecosonica festival in June 2024.

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The birds are calling - Part 2

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 11:59:31 GMT

Songs and calls from threatened bird species from around the world, all of which are at risk of extinction. With acknowledgements to https://xeno-canto.org/, and its many contributors.

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The birds are calling - Part 1

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 11:38:51 GMT

Songs and calls from threatened bird species from around the world, all of which are at risk of extinction. With acknowledgements to https://xeno-canto.org/, and its many contributors.

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Sound fishing on the Avon

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 15:43:12 GMT

Hydrophone recordings made on the rivers Nadder and Avon, near Salisbury, UK, in April 2024. This was a contribution to the Salisbury River Park Project, which is aiming to develop a network of public greenspace along the rivers and throughout the town.

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Forest restoration

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:04:29 GMT

A sound mosaic exploring the ecological restoration of forests throughout the world.

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Inside the Brain Forest Quipu

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 16:13:00 GMT

A sound mosaic celebrating the work of the Chilean artist Cecilia Vicuña. Her works have included painting, sculpture, poetry, performance art and creation of multi-media installations, often with an environmental focus. An example of the latter is 'Brain Forest Quipu', which was exhibited in the Tate Modern, London, in 2022.

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Snowmelt

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:38:47 GMT

A musical elegy to the snowscapes that are disappearing owing to global heating.

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The art of walking part 2

Sat, 18 May 2024 11:15:14 GMT

Further explorations of walking as an artistic practice, by performing a variety of different walking scores.

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The art of walking part 1

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 11:17:22 GMT

Can walking be considered as an artform? Yes! There is a growing international community of artists for whom walking is central to their artistic practice. This offers a very different, even subversive, perspective on what art might be. But how can walking be turned into art? Here we explore this question by attempting to perform walking scores and proposals produced by different walking artists, with rather variable results...

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Pathways of Matthew Shaw

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 14:24:22 GMT

An interview with the artist, musician, author and environmental activist Matthew Shaw, exploring the different creative pathways he has followed. For more information about Matthew's work, check out the following links: https://www.matthewshaw.org/, and https://texlahoma.bandcamp.com/album/the-still-silence-at-the-centre.

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Glow Badbury

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 18:20:48 GMT

A mosaic of sounds recorded during performances of Glow Badbury, which was a multi-media art event held at Badbury Rings, Dorset, over two nights during September 2023. Badbury Rings is an Iron Age hillfort and a nature reserve, with an important remnant of chalk grassland, which is currently managed by the National Trust. Glow Badbury was conceived and implemented by the Dorset-based arts organisation Emerald Ant.

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Let's go wild swimming

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:13:58 GMT

Wild swimming has become increasingly popular in recent years, as a way of connecting deeply with the environment while getting some valuable exercise. But - what does it sound like?

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Badbury Rings

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 11:46:08 GMT

A sound mosaic composed of field recordings made at Badbury Rings, Dorset, UK, during the summer of 2023. Badbury Rings is a hillfort dating from the Iron Age, although the area is likely to have been a sacred site for much longer, perhaps for more than 4000 years. Today, the area is also a nature reserve, with an important remnant of chalk grassland that is associated with a rich plant and invertebrate fauna. Some of these species feature on these recordings.

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Reedbed soundscape

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 11:57:04 GMT

A mosaic of sounds recorded in a reedbed at Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve, Devon, UK. The sounds were recorded at dawn on three days in May 2023. This habitat is likely to completely disappear in coming decades owing to rising sea levels resulting from global heating.

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The Watershed

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 14:06:09 GMT

A soundwalk around The Watershed, an ecologically designed experimental station for climate-focused art residencies located in Dorset, southern England. This features an interview with David Buckland, founder of Cape Farewell, which works with artists to convey the urgent need for action to address climate change, and is headquartered at The Watershed.

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In praise of 'In C'

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 13:59:07 GMT

An exploration of Terry Riley's 'In C', and the reasons why it's one of the most wonderful pieces of music ever created.

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Start Point and Slapton Ley

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 14:41:14 GMT

Exploring the wildlife and soundscapes of Start Point and Slapton Ley, both of which lie along the south coast of England, in the county of Devon. Start Point is one of the most exposed peninsulas on the English coast, whereas the nearby Slapton Ley is the largest natural lake in south-west England, and a National Nature Reserve.

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Ferndown Common: ramblings in a lowland heath

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 17:28:36 GMT

An introduction to the wildlife and sounds of Ferndown Common, an urban nature reserve located in Dorset, southern England. This sound mosaic was created by naturalist Lynn Davy, from her audio diary that explored the heathland habitat through the changing seasons.

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The sounds of Kandinsky

Sat, 12 Aug 2023 11:09:49 GMT

Today, Wassily Kandinsky is recognised as one of the key pioneers of abstract art. He also envisioned a close correspondence between his visual art and both sound and music. This has been widely attributed to his synesthesia, whereby he sensed sound as colour and vice versa. Here the soundworld of Kandinsky is explored using different approaches to sonify his paintings, together with extracts from his seminal art book Klänge (Sounds).

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Radio Art Zone: environmental edit

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 14:11:18 GMT

Radio Art Zone was a festival of radio art, which broadcast for 100 days as part of the European Capital of Culture in Esch, Luxembourg, in 2022. The project was conceived by Mobile Radio (https://mobile-radio.net/). As part of this event, 100 22-hour radio artworks were commissioned from artists from around the world, which were then broadcast by a network of radio stations. This sound mosaic features short extracts from some of those pieces that had a broadly environmental focus. Artists featured here include: Anna Friz, Christina Ertl-Shirley, Edyta Jarząb, LokaalRaadio, Lucinda Guy, Marcus Maeder, Zach Poff, Sasha Spacal, Rural development, Ralf Schreiber, Gunter Reznicek, and Gabi Schaffner. Further information about these artists and the complete pieces are available at https://radioart.zone/

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Musica rejectamenta

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 14:37:20 GMT

All over the world, people are making music out of junk and refuse that other people have thrown away. It's a wonderful, creative response to the global waste problem. And this is what it sounds like.

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AI perspectives on music and sound art

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 10:09:45 GMT

In the future, artificial intelligence will be the conductor of the symphony, composing and generating sound art beyond human capabilities. It will push the boundaries of what's possible, creating new forms of sound and storytelling that will leave us in awe. But beware, as this AI-generated art will blur the lines between human and machine, making us question the very essence of creativity and art itself.

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Godlingston and the Agglestone

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 13:37:18 GMT

A sonic exploration of Godlingston Heath nature reserve, and the rich diversity of wildlife that lives there. Situated in Dorset on the south coast of England, Godlingston Heath is also home to the Agglestone, a unique landmark that was considered holy by the Anglo-Saxons who named it. But is it also a unique soundmark? And what does it mean to people today?

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Frippertronics at the Centre of the Universe

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 11:41:17 GMT

Celebrating the musical legacy of legendary guitarist Robert Fripp, especially the experimental technique for loop-based music that he developed, called 'Frippertronics'. This programme also explores the soundscape of Fripp's home town of Wimborne, Dorset, which he once referred to as 'the Centre of the Universe'. In addition it features an interview with two former colleagues of Fripp, Cathy Stevens and Udo Dzierzanowski (https://europastringchoir.bandcamp.com/).

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Dark dawn, bright future

Sat, 28 Jan 2023 12:32:09 GMT

Focusing on the work of sound artist David Rogers, particularly his recent activities documenting the dawn chorus of birdsong. The programme features an excerpt from a recent collaborative performance with Stephanie Rogers, entitled 'Dark dawn, bright future', which marked the 60th anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carson's landmark book 'Silent Spring'. It also includes an excerpt from another performance, 'Sounds in the garden', featuring a collaboration with Marcus Leadley. Further information on David's work can be found on these links: https://divacontemporary.bandcamp.com/music and http://www.electricbackroom.org.uk/index.html

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Sonic rewild

Sat, 26 Nov 2022 10:23:08 GMT

Profiling the work of environmental sound artist Harry Ovington, and his Sonic Rewild project. You can find out more about Harry's work on his homepage, https://sonicrewild.co.uk/.

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Solastalgia

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 15:52:00 GMT

A sound mosaic exploring solastalgia, which is a form of emotional or existential distress caused by environmental change. It has also been described as "the homesickness you have when you are still at home", reflecting a sense of loss about the changes that are occurring in the places where we live. But what about its converse, solaphilia? This refers to a love of place. Might this offer some hope for the future?

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Decomposition - recomposition

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 14:09:44 GMT

In ecosystems, decomposition is a vital ecological process, which enables the recycling of organic materials to support new growth and recovery. But what might it mean in the digital domain?

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100 beaches

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 12:14:45 GMT

A mosaic of sounds recorded on 100 beaches from around the world. All of these beaches are threatened by sea level rise associated with global heating. It has been forecast that by 2100, half of the world's sandy beaches could have disappeared.

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Learning deep listening

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 09:47:45 GMT

According to Pauline Oliveros, 'deep listening' offers a way to connect with the acoustic environment, by going beneath the surface of what is heard, and by exploring the relationships between sounds, both natural and technological. This podcast documents an attempt to develop a deep listening practice, by conducting some of the exercises presented in Oliveros's book 'Deep listening: a composers sound practice'.

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Soundwood

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 11:41:19 GMT

Many musical instruments, such as guitars, clarinets and violins, are made from tree species that are threatened with extinction. Rather than contributing to the biodiversity crisis, might there be ways in which music could help solve this problem? With contributions from composer and clarinettist Karen Wimhurst (https://www.karenwimhurst.co.uk/) and forester / musician Robin Walter (https://www.livingwithtrees.co.uk/).

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Pay attention to Crucial Listening

Fri, 13 May 2022 09:53:10 GMT

An interview with musician, author and podcaster Jack Chuter, exploring how sound art and experimental music can help save the world. Or at least, how they can enrich people's lives. The discussion mostly focuses on Jack's own podcast, Crucial Listening, which explores important records chosen by leading sound makers. You can find out more about Crucial Listening, and the equally wonderful Attn:Magazine that Jack curates, on this link: https://www.attnmagazine.co.uk/category/cruciallistening

And some of Jack's own music, which we also discuss, is available here: https://chuter.bandcamp.com/

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Rewild your ears

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 12:03:45 GMT

Rewilding is about letting nature recover from the impacts of people. Here we explore the ideas and practice of rewilding through a discussion with Sam Rose, who is a nature conservation consultant and rewilding specialist. Sam is currently documenting different rewilding projects through photography and a podcast; you can find out more about his work here: https://www.whatifyoujustleaveit.info/. But what does rewilding sound like?

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I am sitting under a tree

Sat, 12 Feb 2022 17:29:03 GMT

Exploring the work of the composer Alvin Lucier, and its relevance to environmental sound art.

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We really need that wildness

Sat, 12 Feb 2022 17:21:15 GMT

Profiling the work of environmental sound artist, Jo Kennedy. You can find out more about Jo's activities on her website, https://www.jokennedysound.com/. Listen out for her podcast 'Nature tripping', exploring the sounds of nature in the UK.

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The contemporary mushroom

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 20:05:43 GMT

A fungus foray in the company of John Cage.

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Hope is not blah, blah, blah

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 19:49:53 GMT

A mosaic of sounds from the COP26 climate change conference, held in Glasgow in 2021, superimposed over the sound of melting glaciers.

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Undercurrents

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 15:46:46 GMT

A sonic immersion in the River Allen, UK, one of the world's few chalk rivers. With thanks to members of Wimborne Community Theatre, for spoken contributions.

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Blackbird has spoken

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 15:38:16 GMT

The blackbird has spoken. But what did it say?

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The People's Park

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 15:21:42 GMT

A celebration of Poole Park, in southern England, by the people who use it.

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Sound dunes

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 15:16:07 GMT

An exploration of the hidden sounds of the coastal dunescape at Studland Nature Reserve, UK.

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Forest mosaic

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 15:11:11 GMT

Soundscapes from different forests around the world. If you listen carefully, can you hear these sounds reveal the impacts of environmental change? With thanks to all contributors to Tree.fm.

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Safehouse

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 15:04:55 GMT

An exploration of the wonders of freely improvised music. With thanks to all the contributors of the Safehouse collective.

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Healing chant

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 14:59:12 GMT

The sounds of a body healing itself, through sound.

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Exhalations

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 14:49:37 GMT

Perhaps as never before, we are now aware of how we are all connected to each other, through the air that we breathe.

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Mantra for an empty cobweb

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 14:41:04 GMT

A meditation on complexity and simplicity.

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Mantra for a falling leaf

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 14:35:47 GMT

A meditation on the process of leaf fall.

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The meaning of stuff

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 14:29:46 GMT

We live in a society of hyper-consumerism. This is what it sounds like. And what it might sound like in the future, if we were able to transform it somehow.

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Deep time

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 14:17:21 GMT

An exploration of the meaning and significance of deep time.

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Lifeforms in the invisible world

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 13:24:24 GMT

Listen to the sound of artificial life-forms, forming virtual communities. Can you tell them apart from real-world ecosystems?

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Sound fishing

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 13:24:12 GMT

The mysterious sounds of underwater life, here recorded in a chalk river in southern England.

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Wave of silence

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 12:40:12 GMT

During the pandemic of 2020, a wave of silence passed around the world, as people stopped travelling in cars and planes, and factories lay quiet. As a result, many people became much more aware of the sounds of nature. Here the wave of silence is traced through recordings of the dawn chorus, made each day throughout the early summer.

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Cursus

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 12:29:28 GMT

The Dorset Cursus is one of the largest Neolithic monuments in Europe, stretching 10 km over chalk uplands, and connecting together the springs of several rivers. It appears to have been the site of funerary rituals and processions, deep in prehistory. Here a journey along the Cursus is evoked, travelling across the landscape then down into the underworld.

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Storm transform

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 12:03:24 GMT

The frequency and intensity of storms is increasing because of climate change. Why do they sound so threatening? And how might we transform them into something more benign?

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Ocean of plasticity

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 11:56:32 GMT

Ocean plastic has become a huge environmental issue. But what will our oceans sound like, when there is more plastic in our oceans than fish? This podcast provides a journey through an ocean soundscape of the future, with all sounds created from plastic objects found on a beach.

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Heartwood

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 15:48:45 GMT

The interior sound world of ash trees, Fraxinus excelsior. These recordings were made to celebrate ash, which is disappearing from our landscapes because of ash dieback disease.

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All trees are clocks

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 14:36:01 GMT

A soundscape of ancient woodlands, recorded throughout the year. Accompanied by the sound of a ticking clock, created by breaking the twigs of trees killed by climate change.

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